Hi all! So one of my best friends is due with her first at the end of the summer. I’ve had two babies in the last 3 years so you’d think I’d be able to offer decent advice on labor and postpartum items but I swear I’ve blocked it all from my mind. I could remember the basics of what I had with me in the hospital (clothes for baby and mom’s return home, night gown for hospital stay, flip flops, chapsticks, chargers, toiletries, any comfort items) and for immediate postpartum (numbing spray, sitz bath, types of pads, nipple cream, Tucks), but I was trying to think of other items that a new mom might enjoy receiving in the initial days home from the hospital or something that you found comforting during labor. Any suggestions? I’d love to send her a gift and while flowers are always nice to receive, I was trying to think of something more geared to postpartum needs. Thanks!!
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Granola bars, a case of seltzer, a long phone charger cable
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@castilrm: What a sweet gesture! So if I were to make a gift basket, this is what I would put in it:
1. Motherlove Birth & Baby Oil for Labor and Infant Massage
2. Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter for Breastfeeding and Dry Skin
3. Earth Mama Herbal Perineal Spray
4. Pretty nursing night gown
5. Bamboobies Pads (or similar)
6. Starbucks gift card -
I loved friends who showed up with food. And I had a couple close friends that I trusted who offered to hold the baby while I showered or ate something with 2 hands.
Physical things were nice pajamas and seasons of awesome shows -
Other than the "needs" some nice luxuries might be:
An extra long charging cable for her phone/iPad
Gift card for food delivery
Gift card for Netflix
Snacks
A large water jug
Housecoat/robe
Dry shampoo
Newborn footprint kit -
Instead of pads, I used Depends!
I think I got the idea here on HelloBee. I liked them better because they felt more like underwear, less like I was using a giant period pad. I still made padsicles, and then just put them inside the Depends.My other two suggestion
1) a straw bottle like a Camelbak Eddy. I was so thirsty all the time, and could not open a regular bottle with one hand while nursing or holding a sleeping baby - my husband and I each got two camelbaks each!
2) a back scratcher! We got an extendible one from amazon because its that totally unreachable spot that you NEED to scratch, as soon as that newborn falls asleep. We also used it to reach/drag items across the coffee table.These are the two items we give to new parents now
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Thanks ladies!! My friend lives cross country from me so unfortunately I can’t pop by to help out around the house or with baby (I would love to!), but I love these suggestions! I never would have thought of back scratcher but that would have been better than trying use my foot to drag over the remote, ha!
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Long charging cable, big water bottle (can use with one hand) and healthy one handed snacks (bonus if it helps with milk production if she is nursing).
I'd just write in your calendar or remember to check in on her. For example, last time I checked in on my friend, she was telling me how her baby boy was so miserable from like 5-9 and I was like oh girl it's normal, it's called witching hour and instantly she felt better knowing it's not just her!
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@castilrm: this is the one my husband bought!
https://www.amazon.com/WOVTE-Bear-Black-Telescopic-Scratcher/dp/B018EBNSBO/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1532020421&sr=1-4&keywords=back%2Bscratcher&th=1 -
I second the bathrobe idea! I went through house clothes so fast when my kids were babies... either they'd get spit up on once too often, or they got stretched because I was always pushing them around to nurse, or they'd get milk stains (ick), or something else. And of course I never had time to shop for nice replacements.
Also, nice tea. I was really thirsty and drank tea pretty much non-stop.
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It sounds generic but someone sent me an edible arrangement. I normally hate those but having all of that precut readily accessible fruit was AMAZING
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Tucks pads!
Earplugs
Edible arrangements would have been much appreciated
Robe -
Donut cushion. This one is awesome.
Kieba Hemorrhoid Treatment Donut Tailbone Cushion for Hemorrhoids, Prostate Cushion, Pregnancy Cushion, 18 Inches. Ultra Premium Comfort Foam Hemorrhoid Pillow (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A5CRM6W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_a3uuBbZY7HTEW
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Fridababy Fridet, The MomWasher https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VO65XB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4mEuBbWYGDJZX
Something different but My postpartum recovery was rough and this was amazing. Much better than the bottle the hospital provides.
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