Midwife gifts- help!!

[Awaken]

I'm sure there are a million threads on this on MDC and I have to find the time to go look them up.

What are you all doing to thank your midwives (if anything!). We already paid them a big chunk of change, so we won't be "tipping" as I've heard other people do.

I want to give something meaningful, not necessarily expensive, but thoughtful and useful. I usually see people making something, which would be ideal, but I have zero creative/crafting ability so that's out for me.

Obviously I am going to write them a heartfelt note. I want to give something handmade (by someone else) or consumable (like good food). But they live in my same neighborhood so anything handmade or farmer's market food, etc is the same stuff they could buy any time themselves.

They've been practicing over 20 years each, so I'm sure they've gotten every type of gift imaginable, have every type of trinket, jewelry, knick knacks, books, etc.

I have been scanning etsy and most of what I see is jewelry (too personal) or vulva artwork (not quite what I had in mind). Plus there's 2 of them so it has to be something easily shared or that I can get 2 of.

Help!!!!

[evinmom]

Do you bake? Maybe a basket of goodies? I wasn't very creative. I gave both of mine pampering gifts - soaps, candles, lotions etc... I figure things they could use up would be better than trinkets that take up space. I know some midwives appreciate pregnancy or birth photos for their office walls or website.

[DoulaJulian]

My current mw's attended my last birth, as well ...so I made them placenta artwork from that birth to give them as gifts for this birth ( http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...8a&id=14225537 ).

I figured that they, too, had every kind of maternity/birth/midwife related item available on the market so buying something would be a bit silly! Maybe you could give them a framed photo of them attending to you at a prenatal visit or at the birth? OR of the baby in their hands afterward? I'm sure that you will see them postpartem which will give someone else (not you, momma!) some time to run off and develop some pics and get them framed?

Also, I gave this as a birthing gift one time: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QXD53E/...SIN=B001QXD53E which I though was lovely. Don't know it she ever used it or what, but it felt very "birth" like to me--the way that the flower gently opens...

[scarletjane]

I gave mine a couple of homemade gifts.. some homemade apple sage jelly and then a jar of body scrub. The body scrub was really easy... you just take salt (i used epsom salt, but any large grain salt will do) and added almond oil (any oil is fine- get whatever you can find that is cheapest: olive, apricot kernel, etc) until the consistency was like slushy snow. then i added a few drops of essential oil (i used clary sage and lavender). I put the mixture in a nice little mason jar. You could add some ribbon or a nice label or just leave it as is. I thought it would be a nice easy gift that i could make several of (2 midwives and an apprentice) but that is pretty certain to be used by them. Baking is another way to do something homemade that doesn't require an artistic streak.
Also, you commented that they live in the same area and could buy for themselves anything you could buy. But with food.. it doesn't matter if they could buy it, it's still nice to receive it. Also, with food, even if they already have some, they can likely still use it. So things like local jams, jellies, honey, etc. would still make great gifts if you'd rather buy something.
Hope that's helpful! Good luck!

[Awaken]

Oooooooooh, thank you for the ideas! I have some thoughts swirling around now!

Yes, I do bake, I'd have to think of what routinely turns out well for me!

And you're right about the local foods...I got some from a friend for Christmas, honey and cookies, etc and I loved it, so I guess it would be the same for them- it's still good to get yummy stuff! And they both have families, so hopefully they could all enjoy baked goods and food.

Julian- that placenta pic is gorgeous! I really wanted to do placenta prints this time and didn't get the stuff together in time. I'm hoping it is still possible at some point, even though mine is frozen!

AND- a donation to a midwifery organization is PERFECT! They have a paperless, "green" practice and make trips to help women in lesser-developed countries so I think that type of gift would be just right for them! Meaningful, and not just a "thing" to take up space!

[Tattooed Hand]

these are all great ideas. I'm not creative like that and am barely getting out or in the shower, so I got each of them a $50 gift certificate to a local hot tub/massage place where they can get back rubs for themselves or soak in a hot tub with a partner.