The Evolution of the Modern Baby Nurse

If you’ve been researching postpartum support, you’ve probably seen a few titles used interchangeably — postpartum doula, baby nurse, night nurse, night nanny, and newborn care specialist. While these roles can overlap, they’re not the same, and understanding the differences can make it much easier to choose the right kind of support for your family.

Below is a simple, evidence-informed overview of what each role typically includes, how the professions evolved, and why the terminology matters.

1) Postpartum Doula (PPD)

The word doula originates from Ancient Greek and is often translated as “woman who serves.” In the United States, doulas became more widely known through the natural childbirth movement of the 1970s and 1980s. For a long time, doulas were sometimes stereotyped as very holistic or “crunchy,” but that perception has shifted as the field has grown and more providers pursue formal training.

Birth doulas focus on supporting the mother and partner during pregnancy, labor, and birth. Postpartum doulas, on the other hand, specialize in supporting families in the early weeks and months after baby arrives — a time that can be joyful, disorienting, exhausting, and everything in between.

Formal training specific to the postpartum doula role did not begin until the 1990s. Many postpartum doulas are mothers themselves who feel called to support other families after having profound postpartum experiences of their own, but the profession increasingly includes people from a variety of backgrounds who share a common goal: to provide practical support, education, and reassurance during the transition into parenthood.

2) Newborn Care Specialist (NCS)

You may also see this role referred to as “baby nurse,” “night nurse,” or “night nanny.”

Prior to 2012, this service was largely non-standardized and most commonly called baby nursing or night nursing. It was especially popular in large metropolitan areas such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Historically, many baby nurses were significantly underpaid and often worked around the clock, resting only when the baby slept.

Because there were no organized training programs, standardized curricula, or widely accepted professional standards, practices varied dramatically from person to person. Caregiving approaches were frequently rooted in personal experience, cultural tradition, or old wives’ tales rather than evidence-based newborn care. In many cases, individuals came from nanny backgrounds rather than postpartum support training, which also differed from the more established doula community.

Intermittently, between 2005 and 2012, I was part of a small group of highly educated, elite career nannies who specialized exclusively in newborn care and provided discreet, temporary support to high-profile and high-net-worth families.

In 2012, after years of using terms like “baby nurse” and “night nurse,” the profession collectively moved away from the word nurse, since in some states it is illegal for an unlicensed individual to use that title. While most families understood that baby nurses were not licensed nurses, it became clear that a new and more accurate professional designation was needed.

That designation — Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) — was officially adopted in 2012 at an annual nanny conference board meeting. Since then, the field has evolved significantly. The term NCS has gained nationwide recognition, and experienced professionals have developed training programs to meet growing demand for standardized, evidence-based education.

Today, NCS training programs are widely available, and there is increasing overlap between the two professions, with many postpartum doulas pursuing dual training as NCS and vice versa. As of 2026, there are numerous reputable, evidence-based training programs for Newborn Care Specialists, and NCS professionals may pursue certification if they choose to do so.

If you’re trying to decide what kind of support fits your family best — daytime postpartum help, overnight newborn care, feeding support, or simply a calm, experienced guide through those early weeks — I’d love to help you sort through the options.

Reach out to connect and tell me a little about your baby, your goals, and what support would feel most helpful right now. From there, we can determine whether postpartum doula care, newborn care specialist support, or a blended approach is the best fit — and build a plan that feels grounded, personalized, and truly supportive.