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burping), but to do all the things you won’t have time to do or will be too exhausted to do yourself (say, shopping, cooking, cleaning, and those piles of laundry).
    Help wanted? First, you’ll need to figure out what kind of help you want, what help will be available to you, and, if you’re thinking of paying for help (at least part-time), what kind of help you can afford—and feel comfortable with. Which set of hands (or sets of hands) do you envision giving you a hand in those challenging first weeks and months? Will it be a grandma (or two)? A friend? A baby nurse? A doula? Or someone to care for the house while you’re busy caring for yourself and your baby?
    Help Wanted
    Looking to hire a baby nurse or postpartum doula, but not sure where to find the right one? As always, your best resource will be recommendations from other parents—so put the word out to friends, colleagues, and neighbors who’ve used (and been happy with) a baby nurse or doula. Agencies are another good place to start—even better if you’ve been referred by a satisfied parent customer and/or if objective online reviews seem promising. Just keep in mind that agencies can charge a hefty fee—sometimes a yearly or monthly membership, sometimes a surcharge on each service, sometimes both.
    Consider the job description before you begin considering candidates. Are you looking for baby care only—or a side of housework, errand running (with or without a car of her own), and cooking? Full-or part-time? Live in or out? For night duty or day, or some of each? For a week or two postpartum, or a month or two—or longer? Will you hope to learn some baby-care basics from the care provider, or just cash in on the extra rest? And if price is an object, how much will you be able to budget for?
    There’s no substitute for a face-to-face interview, since you can’t judge personality or your comfort level on paper (or on the phone, or via an email exchange). Check out references fully, too, and if you’re hiring through an agency, make sure the candidates you’re culling from are licensed and bonded. Any care provider should also be up-to-date on immunizations (including a Tdap booster and a yearly flu vaccine) and screened for TB. She should also be trained (and recertified within the last 3 to 5 years) in CPR and first aid and safety, as well as up-to-date on baby-care practices (back-to-sleep and other safe sleep recommendations, for instance).
Baby Nurse
    The care (and, if baby’s not nursing, the feeding) of newborns is their specialty—though some baby nurses will also tackle light housework and cooking. If you’ve determined there’s enough money in your budget for a baby nurse (they don’t come cheap), you’ll probably want to consider several other factors before deciding whether or not to hire one. Here are some reasons why you might opt for professional help from a baby nurse:
    â€¢ To get some hands-on training in baby care. A good baby nurse will be able to show you the ropes when it comes to the basics—bathing, burping, diapering, and maybe even breastfeeding. If this is your reason for hiring a nurse, however, be sure that the one you hire is as interested in teaching as you are in learning. Taking charge is one thing—taking over is another. Letting you get some rest is great—not letting you get near your baby isn’t. Ditto constant critiquing of your baby-care techniques, which can wear on your nerves, and your confidence.
    â€¢ To avoid getting up in the middle of the night for feedings. If you’re formula feeding and would rather sleep through the night, at least in the early weeks of postpartum fatigue, a baby nurse or doula, on duty 24 hours a day or hired just for nights, can take over or share baby feeding duty with you and your spouse. Or, if you’re breastfeeding, bring baby to you for nursings as needed.
    â€¢ To spend more