Gift Advice: new mom

Pinkinboca

I'm visiting a girlfriend at the hospital who just had her little boy. Best gift to bring for new mom or baby??? TIA

iadanza

Something to eat!

Katemr1146

Ooo awesome post! My girlfriend just had twins a couple weeks ago and I'm seeing her this week. This question is exactly what I was thinking about this morning.

melissamello

Maybe an edible arrangement? I'm pretty sure they have baby themed ones. She's probably hungry lol I know I would appreciate something like that if it were me.

tna112

It never hurts to ask her if she needs anything specific. You always forget something in your hospital bag. But my aunt brought me some really soft and stretchy yoga pants that were great! I was so ready to get out of that gown. And food! I wanted a Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich so bad, cause you know hospital food doesn't cut it

Junebug060609

Food and sleep! Seriously all I wanted was a few hours of continuous sleep.

chknma

Food was the best gifts we got Once we were home. It was awesome to only have to heat up some decent food. Is there a good delivery place near their house that you could pick up a gift certificate? Them just give it to her with a little something at the hospital.

LindsayB0505

Definitely food - freezer meals are best so they can put it away for when they need it if they get a bunch of stuff. 

Pinkinboca

Thanks for all the tips! They're all great

dollface777

I thought chocolate was a good gift! My other favorite was a big huge fluffy robe that my mom brought me. Didn't touch my c section scar and it was so huge that I felt more modest in it than the skimpy hospital gown. Nice to nurse in too. I wore that thing nonstop for about two months!

sthomas1222

My friend was most thankful for me NOT visiting while she was in the hospital lol. Our daughters our exactly 6 weeks apart. I remembered how exhausted I was & wished that everyone would go away so I could sleep. I asked if she wanted me to bring her any food or BFing supplies (she swore she was going to FF). She said no & I left it at that. But I always bring food for mom, dad & any siblings who are there. If I'm visiting at home, which is usually the case, I also do some laundry &/or dishes while there or whatever they need/want done. Light housework. That's so much more appreciated than a material item IMO. The moms around here are great & do a food train (bring the a meal website). If you're close, maybe set one of those up for her?

dcb101010

Sleep!! That's all new moms really want, honestly.

Ziegeficker

Some ideas: A hot meal after she gets home. A massage gift certificate. A bottle of wine. Anything for sore nipples. A coupon for two or three hours of babysitting. A gift certificate for a post-partum doula or lactation consultant. And last, but not least -- The gift of a quick visit :-P

jpbling

Newborn sized clothes!!

I think I got one or two outfits newborn sized at my shower, so I had one to bring her home in but then once we got home we realized we were going to need more sleepers to get us through the first few weeks! 

rebecca1198

Breakfasts are good too. She'll probably have lots of hot meals prepared for her by others, but muffins or scones, fruit salad -- things she can eat quickly with one hand -- are priceless. An offer to wash dishes or bottles, vacuum, or clean up is always welcome. And be sure to insist to take the baby so she can take a decent shower!

pistolpackinmomma

Quick easy to grab food.

mirdamae03

I agree with the snacky foods. I was so hungry at 2/3 am nursing and it was nice to have snacks to grab quickly.

Pinkinboca

Thanks for all of the great suggestions!

runningyogimama

Send an edible arrangement to her house! And I agree with asking if there's anything she needs before you head there.

Ziegeficker

sthomas1222 said:

My friend was most thankful for me NOT visiting while she was in the hospital lol. Our daughters our exactly 6 weeks apart. I remembered how exhausted I was & wished that everyone would go away so I could sleep. I asked if she wanted me to bring her any food or BFing supplies (she swore she was going to FF). She said no & I left it at that. But I always bring food for mom, dad & any siblings who are there. If I'm visiting at home, which is usually the case, I also do some laundry &/or dishes while there or whatever they need/want done. Light housework. That's so much more appreciated than a material item IMO. The moms around here are great & do a food train (bring the a meal website). If you're close, maybe set one of those up for her?

The food train my friend set up for me was a phenomenal help. The only reason I say bring food to them when they get home is because a lot of times the food is free at the hospital and delivered to the room. But at home, they're on their own. People love to help but may not have direction, so setting up an easy online food program gets people involved, gives them something useful to do, and most importantly gets hot meals into the bellies of very tired, very hungry new parents. If she's breastfeeding she will especially need the nutrition. And I agree that food and help like this is significantly better than a onesie.

Themetastic

Call and ask what she wants to eat. I was in the hospital for a week and the food was horrible.  The best thing anyone brought me was food I actually wanted.

Mittens14

I agree with the poster that said not to visit lol!  I had so many visitors all day long and the thought and gesture was so nice, but really, all I wanted to do was spend time with DH and DS and nap when I could.  I literally would have people in and out from noon till 9pm and it was rough for me, especially after a csection and being in the hospital for 4 days of that.  If possible, I'd offer to delay coming if she would rather squeeze in a nap and then visit her at home and bring her lunch or dinner and help straighten up her house, load the dishwasher, throw in a load of laundry or anything else that would be helpful to her while you are there!  Let her know you are coming to help and not for her to entertain you.  That part was sort of annoying, when people would come over and I felt like I had to entertain them when all I wanted to do was nap or take a quick shower, etc.  I would have to clean and prepare for guests and it was work for me, you don't want her to feel like she's entertaining.  If you do visit in the hospital then I agree with the other posters, call her first and see what she wants to eat or if she needs anything else,.  My sister brought me coffee everyday and it was so awesome!!!  I had such an aversion to it while pregnant but as soon as DS was born that's all I wanted.