post partum gift basket for the mama

[amberdcm]

A few of us are getting together tonight to bring our girlfriend (due 1/25) some homecooked meals to freeze as well as a basket of goodies that usually get overlooked at a baby shower. So far our list includes:

a six pack of real hoppy beer
nursing/breast pads to curb leakage
lansinoh/lanolin
few mixed cds of kid friendly music
mother's milk tea
a number of good magazines
a new jade plant (symbolizes friendship, luck, prosperity).

i'd love to hear any items/comforts you found essential during the first few weeks postpartum. Tell me!

[MegBoz]

Hm, it's too early to give before baby is born - but FRUIT! Oh, I was hungry & thirsty & it was SO DELICIOUS! My co-workers sent one of those fancy fruit baskets where they are cut to look like flowers - so it was convenient to grab a skewer out of the basket to eat melon, pineapple, grapes & berries. (Oh, + some chocolate-covered strawberries!)

For other food, things that are easy to 'graze' on - homemade granola/snack bars, mini muffins, etc.

I say give her a variety of nursing pads - some stayed put better, some showed less in certain bras, etc. Trying different kinds is good. I brought my sister a 'sampler pack' so she didn't have to buy a whole box just to discover how, for example,the Gerber brand REALLY show throw (ends aren't tapered.)

I like your other suggestions!

[beep]

Some nipple shields, just in case.

[thefreckledmama]

Lotion. My skin always gets so dry after I give birth-but nothing too strong smelling. I also liked having an assortment of different flavored teas that I would drink over ice. It helped break up the monotony of water constantly when staying hydrated. If she likes movies at all, one or two new releases she'd like.

Definitely take snacks, things she can keep close by to nibble on when she's nursing, or just resting and doesn't want to go to the kitchen.

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by beep

Some nipple shields, just in case.

I've read that if you're going to get those, they need to be sized properly.

Additionally, they reduce the amount of milk the baby gets - which means, of course, the amount of milk that is removed from the breast is decreased - and THAT can reduce supply.

Personally, I had cracked nipples & when I read this about nipple shields, I decided not to trade one problem for another. My supply was great & I didn't want to compromise it.

I used All Purpose Nipple Ointment along with Medela "soft shells' (wear in your bra to stop anything from touching your nipples.) That, and simply TIME helped me heal eventually (Although it took a good 4-5 weeks before I was totally healed!!!!!!!!)

[icy02]

Don't have anything to add, but I wanted to drop in to say that a post partum gift basket sounds like such a fabulous gift! Along with the meals and snacks....I would personally be really touched by a gift like that.

[*MamaJen*]

I would also be incredibly touched to get something like that -- that's really nice of you. The dark beer is an especially good idea.
Lanolin and breast pads were the only two essential nursing things I needed, though a boppy was great as well -- wouldn't be surprised if your friend had one already. You could bring her oatmeal, which is good for milk production. And chocolate, which is good for everything. Also, one nice little touch would be flexible bendy straws, since you get crazy thirsty when you're nursing and you usually have a baby in your lap. Oh, and I loved my super fuzzy socks right after the birth.
If you have any spare baskets lying around, I found it really convenient to have a basket set up with all the essentials: lanolin, diaper stuff, a squeeze bottle of water, magazines, that kind of stuff. Maybe you could give her the basket too and help her get it set up.

[MammaB21]

A water bottle with a straw. If you're giving it to her before baby is born, she can use it in labor too. Someone can hold it for her to drink. And when baby starts breastfeeding, you get thirsty fast without warning.

Also maybe one of those small pillows filled with rice that you can heat up. My mom has made a couple herself that have all sorts of different herbs for different purposes instead of the rice. I know there is lavender in it amongst other things. I feels great and smells amazing.

That is all I can think to add. What a great idea!!! You're a good friend.

[beep]

Originally Posted by MegBoz

I've read that if you're going to get those, they need to be sized properly.

Additionally, they reduce the amount of milk the baby gets - which means, of course, the amount of milk that is removed from the breast is decreased - and THAT can reduce supply.

Personally, I had cracked nipples & when I read this about nipple shields, I decided not to trade one problem for another. My supply was great & I didn't want to compromise it.

I used All Purpose Nipple Ointment along with Medela "soft shells' (wear in your bra to stop anything from touching your nipples.) That, and simply TIME helped me heal eventually (Although it took a good 4-5 weeks before I was totally healed!!!!!!!!)

A friend and I had similar experiences of babies who had really hard times latching and were helped by the nipple shield. My baby ended up needing the shield to get his mouth in the right shape. It was so hard to watch him scream for food but not succeed in getting it. I wish I'd had shields on hand for him, not my nipples. He has just transitioned to not using them at 4 weeks, and my supply has been ok. Nipple shields do come in sizes, but only two of them-I'd think you could likely guess and do ok.