Gifts for mum/baby born 25wk

[ElleyBear13]

Hello mnetters, i need your help again.....i was at the hospital last night (currently 32 weeks pregnant) as babys movements had reduced thankfully all was well....however on the way out i bumped into a friend of a friend. We ended up chatting away for half an hour and swapped numbers...she was a month or so behind me but her baby boy was born two weeks ago very premature at 25weeks. She doesn't have many family and friends in this area who can drop by and i feel she was a little lonely. Firstly as im more of an aquatance than a friend would it seem weird/odd that i took her a congrats card and gift? I was really moved by her strength and after i have lost my first baby to mc i cant imagine how hard it is esp with not many family and friends around to go through. Honestly it really struck something in me (im blaming my hormones!) Secondly if this is acceptable what would you suggest taking for both mum and baby (and dad?) if anything? Many thanks elle x

My DS was born a lot later than that so very different situation but I think a card and small gift would be lovely. So many people ignore the birth if it's premature it's nice when someone cares. Maybe some hand cream as hands get dry from all the washing. I don't expect the baby will need anything yet and I imagine even the small sizes might be massive anyway, maybe a small comforter?

Hi, ElleyBear, my DD was born at 25 weeks and yes, please do send a card and a gift - I found that many people held off on sending a card until DD came home and it was really hurtful; I had just become a mother and wanted someone to say congratulations! It was, often, people we knew less well who sent cards and well wishes early on and we were really grateful for them, so I don't think it would look odd
Handcream is a good idea, clothes probably not as it may be a while before he's able to wear them (their skin is really delicate).
She'll probably spend a lot of time sitting watching her DS sleep/expressing, so maybe something to read/do? We were given a toy which we took pictures of DD with at various points - seeing her grow against the toy was amazing, and it's a nice "normal" baby gift.

Hand cream is a great gift, or possibly a nice blanket (our unit let us use it during kangaroo care once her baby is stable enough for that - may be a little while) or a comforter (I was bought one that I had at home until he was allowed it). Another lovely gift was a food hamper from a company called the food stork - great not to have to worry about cooking for busy weeks commuting to the hospital when you need to eat healthily to express milk but you are too emotionally exhausted to bother with cooking. And in terms of useful stuff a mini cool bag with ice packs was good for transporting milk to hospital, pret a manger voucher for the coffee shop, hand sanitizer for the tube, chocolate for me!

I was just about to start a thread about this, so thanks for the info!

I was given SO much hand cream when DD was in NICU. Useful but I won't need to buy any for years now!

Definitely send a card. I was a little bit sad when I either didn't get a card or got a 'Thinking of You' card instead.

Some good friends found a preemie baby clothes shop and I was given some lovely blankets, which are great for kangaroo care and placing over the incubator.

I second the food idea. My baby weight disappeared in weeks due to stress and not eating properly. If they're staying in hospital accommodation or travelling from home, time to cook will be minimal. Can you drop round some homemade meals or get some M&S supplies in?

I also read to DD whilst she was in NICU so maybe some poems or fairy tales?

Friend of mine had her son at 24 weeks. She said the most important thing to her was that people acknowledged his birth with cards etc in the usual way. We clubbed together and sent cream roses with blue Irises and rallied round with meals etc (she also had a 2 year old). Sadly, he died when he was 3 weeks old.

The "miniboo" here is an ideal gift. It's a tiny soft toy which has nothing like eyes or tags that would mean the hospital didn't allow it in the incubator and the mum can keep it in her bra for a bit to make it smell like mummy and then put by the baby it is very comforting.