Newborn Care Services in Northern Virginia with The Classical Baby Nurse

"Allison Time"

Often potential clients ask me, "What does a typical night look like?" Here's how it may look:

10 pm.   I arrive at your home. I take off my shoes and put on yoga socks while greeting your family and giving your dog his required pats! I wash my hands and find out how your day and the baby's day have been. We talk about how your baby has been eating and sleeping, celebrate milestones ("At his 2 week appointment today the pediatrician said he is doing great!").

Together we plan the care I will provide for the night, and I will make sure I know your preferences, especially since so much can change from one night to the next in the early weeks! ("Since he is gaining weight well, the doctor says we don't have to wake him up at 3 hours anymore - he can have a 4 hour stretch now! So since he was fed at 9 we are hoping he will sleep until 1!")

I make sure I have enough breast milk or formula for any feedings I will be doing. Then I go upstairs to settle in, and find the baby sleeping peacefully in her bassinet. I check the baby first, putting my hand close to her nose to check her breathing rate and rhythm and tucking a finger under her swaddle to make sure it's not too loose or too tight and to make sure she doesn't feel too warm or too cool.

Then I'll check supplies and let you know if anything critical looks low. Knowing where you keep back-up supplies (especially diapers, wipes, paper towels, and liquid soap) is very helpful so I don't have to bother you if I run out unexpectedly during the night. Do you have a load of clean baby laundry that just came out of the dryer? I'm happy to fold it overnight.

I'm always happy to bring baby in to you for breastfeeding! Some moms want to stay in bed, so I bring the baby in, while others want to feed in the nursery. We'll do what's most comfortable for you! While you are nursing I can bring you water or a snack. I can burp baby and do a diaper change if necessary during the feeding and then bring baby back to you for the second half of the feeding. When you are ready you can just text me and I'll come get her.

10:20 pm       Parents whisper a last "Have a good night!" to baby. Rest well Mom and Dad! I will make sure lights are off and white/brown/pink noise is on at a safe volume.

11:45 pm        Baby is stirring, but not ready to wake up yet. I do a few sh-sh-shs and baby settles back into sleep. Fingers crossed for baby to sleep another hour!

11:57 pm        Baby is awake! (Best laid plans of mice and men . . . ) I'm seeing clear hunger cues. So depending on the plan we made, I'll either bring baby in to you or warm up a bottle. If baby has a dirty diaper we'll do the diaper change before the feeding, but if it's just wet we may start the feeding and let baby take the edge off her hunger first, then do the diaper change and finish the feeding after the change.

12:20 am       Baby is finished feeding and has a clean dry diaper. So she is comfortable and falling asleep. I'll hold her upright for at least 30 minutes after she finishes eating, and then put her in her bassinet or crib and swaddle her.

2:15 am          Baby is stirring. I do a few sh-sh-shs and baby settles back into sleep.

3:25 am          Baby is awake - and it's been 3 and a half hours since her last wake-up so we're making progress toward that 4 hour stretch after all! Baby needs a diaper change!

3:35 am          As we planned at the beginning of the shift, I'm doing this feeding with pumped breast milk. Depending on the baby's unique needs, I may use regular "paced feeding" (holding baby upright and giving her breaks so the feeding is spaced over 15 to 30 minutes), "responsive feeding" (holding baby upright but closer and at a slightly different angle than paced feeding and giving baby more control over the pace of the feeding), or "left side feeding" (baby is held as in paced feeding but then leaned to the left, which allows any milk that is not swallowed to pool in the cheek - learned from top NICU nurses!). I burp the baby during and after the feeding and again I hold baby upright for 30 minutes after she finishes the feeding.

6 am               Keeping in mind that baby is likely to need a feeding before my night ends at 7, I straighten the nursery and stock diapers and wipes for the day. I make sure clean laundry is put away and dirty laundry is in the laundry basket or the washer, and that a clean baby blanket and burp cloth are set out for Mom and Dad.

6:25 am         Baby is awake! I'll do a Good Morning routine, opening the curtains/blinds to let the daylight in and maybe singing or playing a morning song. If Mom is doing this feeding I'll change baby and get her ready and bring her in to Mom. If I am doing the feeding I'll feed her as at the earlier feeding.

6:45 am         Baby is finished feeding. I burp her, nestle her on my shoulder and finish my notes, usually sending them to Mom and Dad by email before the end of the shift so you have them when you wake up.

7 am               Mom or Dad comes in to pick up baby. I give a quick oral report and answer any questions. "Allison Time" is over - we had a great night, and I'll see you this evening!