Choosing the Right Support at Home — Nurse, Midwife, or Nanny?

New parents often don't know the difference between a midwife, an infant care nurse, and a nanny — or when they need each one. Getting it right in the first weeks after delivery can meaningfully ease the pressure on a recovering mother.

Midwife

A midwife's expertise centres on pregnancy, labour, and delivery, and often extends into the early postnatal period — monitoring the mother's recovery, supporting breastfeeding, and watching for early complications in both mother and baby.

Infant care / neonatal nurse

A certified infant care or neonatal nurse focuses specifically on the newborn — feeding routines, sleep patterns, hygiene, and spotting anything that warrants a paediatrician's attention. This support is especially valuable in the first few weeks, when a mother's own recovery and the baby's round-the-clock needs can overwhelm even a well-prepared household.

Nanny

A nanny typically enters the picture a little later — providing ongoing, ordinary childcare rather than clinical postnatal support. Some families bring in a nanny for a few hours a day; others need full-time, live-in help, especially where extended family isn't nearby.

Questions worth asking before hiring

What certifications do they hold, and can these be verified? What is their experience with newborns specifically, versus older children? Are they comfortable with your household's routines and, where relevant, dietary or religious practices? And critically — do they understand postnatal recovery well enough to also look out for the mother, not just the baby?