What were your unexpectedly lovely post-birth gifts (mother or baby)

[Couchto5ktowine]

A friend is about to have a much longed for baby after a very long journey to get pregnant. We’ve only had sporadic contact in the last few years and she’ll be flooded with the “usual” gifts from closer family and friends but I’ll love to send something to celebrate.

So does anything spring to mind on what I could send? I haven’t made up my mind on whether I’m sending something for mother, baby or both. Budget is probably £50 max and it would need to be posted.

Ready meal voucher? Possibly for Cook or similar

Not me but two that my best friend loved were a voucher for a newborn photo shoot and also an illustrated framed picture for the baby's nursery with baby's name.

Water babies voucher? Any voucher was well received in our house.

The meals were definitely the best bit.

Some really fancy expensive shower and body products for me :)

Silk pyjamas with a very stretchy waistband 😁
Such a luxury, and made me feel special

Brownies/biscuits etc. something that doesn’t have to be eaten immediately. I’ve not got a sweet tooth, but when people came over it was great to be able to offer tea and a treat. Also breastfeeding takes a lot out of you and I really appreciated the sugar hit!! We had cook vouchers given to us but didn’t use them until nearly a year later!! Little space in the freezer and for some reason I found choosing meals (they have so many) overwhelming. But, they were used for a fancy date night meal later on, so we’re appreciated in that respect. A good friend sent over a brunch delivery which was heaven - if they live somewhere that does that I would highly recommend!!

One friend sent a box of nice cheese that was off limits in pregnancy; my sister sent a box of ready to cook pizzas from Rudy’s in Manchester, and they were absolutely the best thing. Second baby so I really didn’t need more muslins or jelly cat bunnies!

Contigo flask!!!! Keeps your tea piping hot even hours later.

Yep, food - or clothes for 6 months / 12 months + (but be mindful of what the season will be then)

A friend came round the morning one baby was born at home overnight with a baguette, soft cheese and pate, and champagne. It was a brilliant lunch.
Other winners were a really good hand cream and a massive bar of chocolate.
I got myself a massive 48 box of juice cartons and kept them by the sofa for the times I was stuck under the baby feeding and had forgotten to get a drink before sitting down.

Oh, I forgot the best present - pizza and negronis!! That was a lovely treat!!

We got a pasta evangelist voucher for Xmas. It allowed us to have a delicious and easy pasta meal delivered once we week for about 3 months.

One of my best friends sent me enormous bottles of very good gin and mixer, alongside a big chocolate bar and an Amazon gift voucher. Blissful.

Defiantly a travel mug to keep tea hot - make a little basket of goodies to go by the sofa -
Loved the hand muff for the pram that clipped on.

One friend did me a basket of all sorts of little bits for me, that went down a treat. Eyeliner, nail polish, miniature skincare bits, chocolate, herbal tea bags... but the highlight was a miniature Absolut Vodka! I didn't drink it for a few months but it was really lovely to be like the old me for an evening.

“On the night you were born” book. It still makes me tear up now 🥲

I'm a bit weird but the best post-birth gifts I've had are:

Baby 1: 16 cupcakes FedEx-ed to us by a client of my husbands. I pretty much ate all 16 of them!!

Baby 2: Big tub of Haribo and 24 cans of Coke Zero.

But seriously, I hate random stuff so edible gifts work well for me (plus I love cakes and sweets).

Best thing I got was a little basket, it could hold my water bottle my charger nipple sheilds ect all stuff that if your under a baby for hours you want around

Family tradition of buying Ten Little Fingers, Ten Little Toes for all new babies. So much charm!

My neighbour baked a coffee and walnut cake. I ate the whole thing by myself. It was delicious 😆

Vouchers for LoveKeepCreate - often long journeys to pregnancy mean she'll likely only have the one so rather than throw away clothes etc you can have them made into a quilt or teddy

French stick & nice pate, I missed it so much whilst pregnant!
Plus, cashmere socks & some fancy brownies. The cashmere socks were such an unexpected indulgence. I absolutely loved them & still wear them regularly now.

Oh something I bought for myself that was one of the best things & something I still use daily now at 18 months is a nappy caddy.

DMIL and FIL were abroad when I gave birth. They had booked the holiday before I fell pregnant.

They had already bought nursery furniture for DS, so I wasn’t expecting anything else.

When I arrived home from hospital there was a massive box from them. There was loads of stuff in it including: baby books, teddies, baby clothes, shawl, chocolate, wine, fancy shower gel, dry shampoo, massage oil (maybe they were wanting another grandchild soon lol) bubble bath, lip balm.

MIL has just passed away. I miss her and her thoughtfulness and kindness so much.

The absolute best present she gave was looking after DS one day a week while he was small, and taking him one evening a week for dinner and a play