Avoid the Christmas Birth Rush!

July 10, 2004 -- The Christmas rush is on – and we're barely into Autumn! If you're expecting to give birth on or around Christmas or New Year, make sure you book your birth support now.

Maternity units around the country are thin on staff during the holiday season and baby specialists like doulas (birth partners and post-birth partners) and maternity nurses often go away at this time. Those that are left are often booked months in advance because they are at such a premium. Added to that is the fact that December is one of the most popular months of the year to give birth (see figures from the National Statistics Office below).

"We always find that there's a desperate rush for doulas and maternity nurses in November and December," says Jean Birtles who owns both British Doulas and Top Notch Nannies, "and many of our maternity nurses are booked at least six months in advance anyway. Anyone who is due to give birth at Christmas or New Year should get their skates on and book their doula and their maternity nurse now."

Birth doulas cost between £250-400 for a birth. They are women who have had a baby themselves and have taken the British Doulas course. They are there to support the mother – and the father – for the whole of the birth, however long it takes. Post-birth doulas will look after a new mother when she gets home with the baby, doing everything from making sure there is food in the fridge to advising on breast-feeding, shopping, caring for the other children and making a hot meal for the couple in the evening. They cost around £10 an hour and can work full-time or part-time, depending on your need.

While doulas are mother-centred, maternity nurses are baby-centred. They are experienced nannies who specialise in newborn babies. Maternity nurses are on duty 24 hours a day, six days a week and will set a routine for the baby, get up in the night if the baby cries or needs feeding and will help with all the babycare necessary. For one baby a maternity nurse will cost between £650-700 a week.

"We have some clients who have a birth doula for the birth, then a maternity nurse for a few weeks to set a routine followed by a part-time post-birth doula to keep the support going while the baby is still tiny," says Jean Birtles. "We have many clients who say that having that level of professional help at the start of a baby's life is worth every penny, both for the child and for the calm and sanity it creates in the home."

Notes for Editors:
Birth doulas and post-birth doulas can be hired from British Doulas on 020 7244 6053 or through the website at www.britishdoulas.co.uk.

Maternity nurses can be hired from Top Notch Nannies on 020 7259 2626 or through the website at www.topnotchnannies.com.

Information on births (from the National Office of Statistics):
Seasonally adjusted live births (in thousands) for 2000, 2001 and 2002:

Jan     Feb     Mar     Apr     May     Jun     Jul     Aug     Sep     Oct     Nov     Dec

51.0     50.0     50.5     50.8     50.4     50.2     50.6     50.4     49.2     50.3     50.7     50.4

50.4     49.7     49.6     49.5     50.0     49.8     49.4     49.4     49.5     49.7     49.3     48.2

49.0     49.6     49.2     49.4     49.3     49.3     49.6     49.9     50.5     50.4     49.6     50.4




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