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?

i was given a huge tube of arnica cream which i thought was very funny but quite useful.

Earplugs and an eye mask. I found it really hard to switch off the first few weeks so that I could have a daytime nap while lo was napping. If I knew there was someone else who could deal with it, I could go off and have a nice little sleep...bliss

i wouldnt be tempted to buy bath products etc - unless baby organic or something - i got lots of johnsons which made my baby go blotchy so they ended up in bin

saw some in charity shop the other day so that might have happened to someone else too!

Handcream, like others have said. Unscented, probably.

Chocolate
Something healing to put in your bath to help with stitches (like lavender or tea tree oil)
Oat biscuits
Kamillosan - for sore nips
Voltarol (strong painkillers )
Offers for someone to come round and iron/cook dinner/clean

Forgot.......A large bottle of Lactulose (for when you feel like you are sh*ing glass) New mother might wonder what this was for - she will soon find out ......
Vouchers for nice clothes that will fit when she looks normal again
The NCT breastfeeding book

A little bottle of lavendar oil. A few drops in your bath water are amazing to help soothe post birth fanjos.

Hypericum & Calendula tinctures to mix with water & dowse the poor bruised lady parts

Pate pate pate and more pate.

Also really nice bubble bath.

Earplugs
Big pants
Maternity pads(you can never have enough!!)
Answerphone

a few weeks down the line..
Cleaner
Housekeeper
Cook
Someone to take baby for a few hours so she can catch up on sleep.

For 2nd, 3rd time mothers etc, offers to take the elder children out for a few hours.

Thanks for all the ideas - some of which are v. different from conventional wisdom.

You are all truly wonderful people and I would like to shake you all electronically by the hand.

In case any of you are interested, the final box will look something like this:

Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo (150ml spray - couldn?t find the Toni & Guy one)
Card with contact details for breast-feeding helplines (what an excellent idea)
Cartons of organic fruit juice (lots)
Chocolate (lots of Green & Black?s milk choc and butterscotch)
Dried organic fruit (lots - Mango, Banana, Pineapple, Papaya)
Earplugs
Eye mask
Grobags (2x nearly-new newborn-size 2TOG for the summer, as v. expensive new and one will get pooed or puked on)
Inflatable rubber ring
Insulated mug
Kamillosan
Lansinoh
Maternity pads
Moisturiser E45
Muslin squares
Rennie
The Mumsnet Book ?Mums on Babies? (it took some finding - we got the last copy in any Waterstones store in London!)
Wet wipes

Inflatable rubber ring?? That might be more comfortable in the short term but will make her stitches more swollen and hurt more. Plus what about a box of tissues for day 3. Glad to see there is lots of chocolates included!

Probably not clothes, I had outfits from everyone and though kindly intended, they were usually not to my taste, and/or didn't fit - a lot of carrier bags in the hall to try and exchange once back on your feet, is not good! Vouchers are better really.
I would love someone to come and invade my kitchen, just do the washing up, bring a few basic groceries like fruit, stuff that you need to get every day but haven't the stomach muscles to get to the shop...
but I DID love having flowers!

Also people expect to see the baby in their outfit, and if you cannot cram the child into the tiny waistband or collared shirt they have given you, it can mean you avoid the givers for weeks in case they ask, 'where's his little jerkin?'

Best present we got was a large box of posh cakes. Was appreciated so much as when all the visitors started arriving we had adequate tea and cake supplies and didn't have to think about that sort of thing. Also it was great for us snacking on when we were up at all hours of the day and night.

Best present I got was a large box of muffins - all individually wrapped. Invaluable for bfing munchies whenn I couldn't walk to the kitchen with ease