What did you get as a maternity leaving present from work?

[LKM]

I'm interested to know what others got as leaving presents from work. Were they completely impractical? When I was told that a collection had been done and what did I want? I made the mistake of letting a colleague who was also a mother select some items for me as I thought it would be awful of me to just ask for the money! The sad thing is the gifts I received must have added up to a reasonably tidy sum but I have hardly used any of them - box full of lotions and potions from Mothercare (I have used nappy cream on dd exactly twice), babygrow which only had poppers halfway down the front so was a nightmare to get dd in and out of, and a large grey hippo soft toy which she might like when she's older! The only useful thing was a special request from me - a changing mat!

Mothercare vouchers here - enough to buy our buggy! Still using it 2 1/2 yrs later. Plus nice bodyshop smellies and thorntons choccies for me!
On the day dd was born I got flowers from my work (even though I wasn't going back) and from dh's old and new work! (he had recently changed jobs). Then when ds was born got flowers from his work and my old school - couldnt beleive it as it was over 2 yrs since I had worked there even though I am in touch with several people.

LOL Sobernow! Shooting himself did seem a bit extreme, Jasper, till I read it again!

sobernow, if you knew him this would be even funnier

I got a pull the string musical bear (which dd has learnt way too early to play first thing in the morning when she woke up, again and again...she's stopped now thankgod), a teddy bear (her favourite), a baby book (always nice) and a photograph album (which amazingly is the only one I haven't used as it's one of those with cut out shapes which I don't like).

then I had flowers once dd was born.
I must say I'm amazed at the numbers of you who did not get anything, maybe we were spoilt but the people I worked with ahve always been very good with this kind of thing. ( I was even sent flowers once when I was off for a couple of weeks for an emergency operation)

I got a bouncy chair,baby book,some hand knitted cardiesand a box of choccies.When i had Ds a couple of girls came to hospital with a little outfit for him which he wore to come home in and flowers for me.

I got Pride and Prejudice on DVD! My boss was right when she said that it would take my mind off the first few hours of labour. It has since been quite soothing to watch during some rather extended evenings too

The bank where I worked bought me a Sony Discman with a radio, so I could use it it labour with my hpnotherapy tapes. I had coveted one for ages and used to borrow one from the girl on the opposite desk. I was really touched as she knew that what was what I really wanted and organsied getting it. Plus flowers, Harrods vouchers( our biggest customer) and baby stuff, but can't remember what!

I always get the task of buying the presents from our team and this thread may prove useful in the future - most recent purchase was for a young lady with her unplanned new addition and not alot of spare cash - book on babycare and £100 of John Lewis vouchers!!
When I had ds I got various bits and pieces all of which were very useful - another girl in the office was pregnant at the same time and we bought each others presents!! When dd was born ds was three - I got a new baby bag and a famoly annual pass to Whipsnade Wildlife Park - what an excellent idea!! Well used too throughout my mat leave!!

I got a pile of Pooh!

Lots of lovely Pooh themed items from Mothercare including a changing mat to remind me of the s**y job I used to have! I took voluntary redundancy so I wasn't coming back from maternity leave.

I didnt get anything, just a card
A

I have worked at the same company for 17 years and in that time have had my 3 children.

With the first, I got a car seat, changing mat, few outfits, etc.

When the second was born I really did not expect anything, but got £80 Mothercare vouchers and £50 Allders vouchers which was lovely.

With my third, when I really, really was not expecting anything - third baby, only work part-time and all that, they have me £100 Mothercare vouchers and £50 Boots vouchers.

I have told them categorically I am not having any more babies.

I have been very lucky with the company I work for, but I suppose I have been here since leaving school, my dad was a director here (before he died at a young age) and everyone knows me really well. I am now a mature(!) woman of 35 and started when I left school - wow! when I think back what I used to look like - dyed orange hair, different colour nail varnish on every finger, used to wear very short skirts with woolly tights - I am surprised anyone that remembers me from the early days still talks to me.

Just as an aside on this thread, does anyone else hate the presentation aspect of getting a gift at work. I'm not unusually shy, but for some reason I feel really uncomfortable with all eyes on me as I open the present. Is it just me?

I thought I'd revive this thread, as I got a really expensive cystal fruit bowl, which shocked me as I thought I would be getting baby stuff. You know the scene, everyone waiting in a circle eagerly for you to open your presents. so I blurted out something like 'Oh, a really posh top and tail bowl' Didn't go down too well. but hey, what the heck?