Welcome home, baby! Ahh, postpartum. I talked about it here too, but those first few days (okay, weeks) after having a baby are quite possibly the craziest time in your life. And all people want to do is come into your space and hold your baby! Nothing made me more hormonal and mama bear angry than seeing someone hold my baby in the beginning. Like, seriously I had to sit on my hands. My husband and I did a great job (we were well prepared by our midwives and doula!) of making our home a sacred space and didn't allow any visitors right away. Well, except my mom, who mostly just made food, ran the dishwasher, and did laundry. But once the visitors are welcomed, here are some ideas for the perfect gift.
First of all, tell her "YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB!" Because she is. Shower her with compliments. "I've never seen such a cute baby!" "What a glow-y mama!" The constant thought running her head is "Can I do this?" and a little support can be so affirming.
2. Nursing friendly, cozy pajamas or a cuddly robe- when you re getting up multiple times a night its nice to have something nice to wrap around yourself.
3. Fuzzy socks.
4. Make sure she has a Netflix subscription! Entertainment is key. I remember watching The Office every night with baby Ophelia and laughing at something lighthearted was so comforting. And maybe bring a copy of Us Weekly!
5. I was thinking a gift card for a massage would be nice (and it totally would be!) but I know how hard leaving the babe can be, especially in the beginning. So some home beauty products would have been amazing! This at home facial (I love the name!) has caught my eye, and this dry shampoo has rave reviews!
6. A gift card for Bite Squad! We got one of this with Ralph and it was perfect. If you want to bring food, takeout is good, especially if you know a place she likes. Don't text a bunch of questions, just bring something wholesome (something like fruit or good chocolate would be amazing!) Energy bites are perfect for eating one handed- and good for nursing! Even better would be dropping it at the door and texting Dad that it's there. Don't ring the doorbell!
7. Offer to clean while she just snuggles with her babe. This was my absolute favorite thing my mom did for us- every time she came over, she was doing laundry, emptying the dishwasher, or bringing me food. She'd tell me to go snuggle with baby, and it made me feel so much better about just laying around. If you ask what you can do to be helpful, and she can't think of anything, offering to run errands for her would be sweet too. Put gas in her car! If she has older kids, take them to the park while she gets a chance to bond with the new babe.
AND if you really do need to hold the baby- wash your hands. Without the mom asking you to!
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