Things people should have given you post-birth...

[Norfolkinhope]

One of my friends is having a baby imminently and we're putting a "baby box" together. Any suggestions for things people really wanted just after they'd given birth?

Message withdrawn

I gave a friend Arnica which I had bought for myself - babies 2 months apart - it had been recommended to her but she kept forgetting the name. After I gave birth, the doctor asked me about my views on homeopathic remedies as she would recommend Arnica - I had already bought some more for myself. Lots of people swear by it for speeding up the healing process but not neceesarily something you would think of for your hospital bag.

DH got me Gin and tonic but I breastfed for 6 months so never got around to drinking it. Have made up for that since.

Babysitting vouchers a very good idea.

summerfruit, yes it's a real story, TBh I felt a bit sorry for her as she just didn't seem to have a clue.

Food. Lots of it - especially cakes (seriously, proper meals were the best presents we could've had!)

Baby-sitting vouchers for when baby's a bit bit older...

Food for the freezer, offers of housework, offers of sitting with baby while she sleeps, books, and a lovely friend bought a big bag if nappies as she does for everyone who has a new baby

Ear plugs (ditto Saltire's horror story - had her English cousin in the bed opposite me, with the addition of a 'leaky' walkman!)

Freezer meals

Books but only if nothing even slightly weepy in them - I'd taken in my half-read copy of the Time Traveller's Wife and spent most of my time in hospital crying my eyes out while finishing it!

Kamillosan cream for cracked nipples (if your friend is bf)

Spare change for phone calls

take-out menus that will deliver to the hospital - if it's anything like our local hozzie, it's the only way they'll get a decent meal...

lots of visitors! I was stuck in there nearly a week, OH decided to take the opportunity to work (oh, you won't want me just sitting there, will you? - gaaaah!) and I was climbing the walls for company by the end of it.

Glycerine suppositories for that first, post-birth expulsion.

nice m&s food, someone who could come and do a bit of housework, voucher for massage

bag of nappysacks, some kamillosan or similar, box of chocs, some trashy novels, takeaway menus, some freshen up face wipey type things for when you need to feel fresh but cannot drag your sorry arse to the bathroom (or have a newborn permanently attached to you), voucher for a massage/reflexology session (especially if you can find one to come to the house) and accompanying offer to babysit, cakes, meals in freezer foil tins ready to stick in the oven, some nice body lotion as your skin really seems to dry out just after the birth and you are so busy not looking after yourself that you end up like a crocodile! especially for post baby tum, um......... more chocolate, and more popper under the bum vests and plain babygros, can never have enough imho and the last thing you feel like doing that first week is washing!

Lovely idea !

clarins hand cream (or similar)
lip balm
Guerlein (?) midnight secret (mega expensive stuff that makes you look like you've had a proper night sleep)
Touche eclat
nice plain cards for thankyou notes
proper chocolate

my friends also got me the biggest round of stilton i'd ever seen (i'd been craving it all through being pg)

Two things:

a slip of paper with www.mumsnet.com written on it (I really mean this, I actually think HV's should include this in their list of support groups etc that they give out and have even suggested it to ours)

The one product I wish I'd known about in the early days of motherhood is Toni & Guy's dry shampoo. It's a spray that miraculously and instantly transforms your hair from greasy, limp and messy into a clean, voluminous mane.
Perfect for those days when you think "AAAAARGH I'm going to go insane if I don't get a change of scenery soon" but the dear child you have birthed will not allow you to put it down for a nanosecond, let alone have a shower.

... and another card with the following on:
National Childbirth Trust Breastfeeding Line 0870 444 8708
La Leche League Telephone Helpline 0845 120 2918
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers telephone helpline 0870 401 7711

Foam ring to sit on. Never felt so grateful for a gift my entire life.

All of their favourite foods/ drink that they couldn't have whilst pregnant, eg. smoked salmon, chocolate mousse, etc.

A handcream in a pump to have by the sink because you're forever washing your hands when you have a newborn
A mahooosive bar of chocolate
Tokens for this website
That shampoo tatat mentioned sounds blardy marvellous, never heard of such a thing
A pretty but practical (is there such a thing) nightie or pjs as you don't always manage to get dressed...

agree with freezer food but have really snuck on to find out about the dry shampoo... does it really work tatat? there are days, you know, when i Just Can't Be Arsed washing my hair.

also my sister brought me a big tray of sushi to eat in the hospital which made me cry a little. the hosp food was shite, it was very hot on the ward and i hadn't had sushi in an age. it made me feel a bit human again...

I saw the title. I instantly thought 'gin'..only find the first reply from MI was 'Gin' Cheers!

kamilosan cream

babysitting vouchers

muslin squares (you can never have too many of those!)

disposable camera, wish i'd taken more photos of DS when he'd been born and with visitors.

Photo album for said photos

Personal Trainer
New functioning pelvic floor muscles
Gin (I hear you Motherinferior)
A contractual agreement for a weekly babysitting service.
Cheesecake
Someone dedicated to telling me daily how good I look
....oh and some baby stuff.

agree about the forbidden foods - pate, brie, alcohol etc. that you mis out on when pregnant.

A friend hugging me and whispering in my ear 'you have done really well, it will be fine' made me cry.

Ooh - careful with the stilton - my db brought round tons of the stinkiest cheese a few days after ds was born - I stuffed my face and poor ds had the runs all night - oops!

A total makeover

A ban on visitors for the first week.