Gift Ideas for Doula

[summerforever1977]

I need some help with gift ideas for my doula. She was my doula/midwife apprentice with my first birth and I gave her a fabulous gift bag filled with my favorite things (think Oprah). I really cannot top that gift and I worry I set the ar a little high and now cannot think of anything. She is earthy and into holistic and natural things. Any ideas? What are you giving your doula?

[GreenTeaGinger61]

I'll be following this thread but am thinking of midwife not doula. I'd like to get a little something (we're broke right now so it won't/can't be a lot). I love the idea of a gift basket just not sure what I'd put in it.

[ivymae]

If she is going to/graduated from a local midwifery school, consider donating money to their scholarship funds. You can also go to globalgiving.org, and help fund a midwife in the Congo, or search for similar charities, if you know an area or cause she is really interested in. Most of the midwives/doulas i know have been given the standard gifts already, and it is a powerful gesture to say "You impacted my life in a way that I want other women to have the benefit of experiencing."

[Carita]

hmm - duh - that is a great idea to buy something for my doula... I bet something off of etsy or hyena cart would be nice, but IDK what... hmmm

[Carita]

lots of cute ideas if you search etsy under doula or midwife...
love this
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...age=2&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

In fact, I am thinking I will make something similar (I live right near a glass crafting shop).

[GreenTeaGinger61]

Originally Posted by ivymae

If she is going to/graduated from a local midwifery school, consider donating money to their scholarship funds. You can also go to globalgiving.org, and help fund a midwife in the Congo, or search for similar charities, if you know an area or cause she is really interested in. Most of the midwives/doulas i know have been given the standard gifts already, and it is a powerful gesture to say "You impacted my life in a way that I want other women to have the benefit of experiencing."

I was thinking about this at some point. I know dh and I would like to do something for the center once we have more money. I was thinking about starting up a small scholarship for other women who might not have the money for a birth center birth.

But that's going to not happen until next year. We're broke this year. I was trying to think of something useful for her... a gesture of thanks. Maybe I'll bring our "birthday" cake for all to share

[Dena]

I gave my midwife at my last birth a gift certificate for a massage (she took care of me, and so I wanted her to get some special pampering). If there is a massage school near you, you can probably get a gift certificate for a fraction of the price of a private massage.

As for our doula, she was a good friend who gifted her doula services to me (and shut down her chiropractic practice for half a day to be at my birth). She was also in the process of moving when I gave birth, so I got her gift certificates for a house cleaning, some dinners at "dinner's ready" (one of those take and freeze places) and a massage. The total of the three was far less than I would have paid any doula, plus she loved the pampering too.

[HollyRhea]

Gifts I have received lately as a doula: (I call them "doula perks" and they make my husband so jealous. hee.)

GC for massage
GC for acupuncture
GC for BeByBaby (natural baby store)
GC for fabric store (from a student who knows I sew)
local artisan-made bag to carry my stuff
a label-maker (from a client who was as Type A as me. It's been great!)
gift-baskets with food
wine

I'm sure there are more, but I'm up with pregnancy insomnia and not too awake yet. The massage gift certificates are really great - especially after a long labor. My job is so physical and can be really taxing. I never expect gifts, but lately it seems to be really common for my clients (or even just my students) to give me something at the end. Some just give me a big tip, especially the partners who were really thankful for my presence at a long labor. I love the gifts that refer to something I share in common with the client (like sewing or office supplies, etc).

But honestly, one of the best things my clients can give me is referrals. I have a handful of previous clients who have sent SO MANY women my way. In this business, I'm constantly having to market myself - which is just not part of my personality. People listen to their friends who have had good experiences far more than they listen to an ad on a website. So even if you can't afford to give a gift or spend much money on a gift, taking a handful of her cards or brochures or posting referrals to her on mothering.com or wherever - that's invaluable. I also collect all the hand-written thank you cards I receive. They mean a lot to me.

[Oztok5]

Since I'm in a constant battle with stuff, I always gravitate to things that are consumable. I would love to receive a beautiful bouquet of flowers, although it might be hard to time getting them if you want to give them to her the day you give birth.

[bclare]

I posted about gifts for midwives a while back and went with one of the ideas. My midwives are constantly on the go and I know getting meals, etc, is a bit of an issue. I made them large baskets full of all sorts of healthy and tasty snacks (okay, some aren't quite so healthy, but not bad) mostly from Trader Joe's and put in a ,etal water bottle and some teas they like.

[tarama]

There are a lot of cute things on Cafepress:

http://shop.cafepress.com/midwife

http://shop.cafepress.com/doula

I'm thinking about the bag with the baby feet on it and putting some goodies in it.

[rhiOrion]

If your doula is married/in a relationship, then how about a picnic basket loaded with non perishable goodies, a bottle of wine, and maybe a whole foods gift card (or similar store). I bet doulas' husbands/SOs get overlooked a lot, but they have to pick up the slack while the doulas are at births- i would assume, at least. So this would be quality time together, and a treat for him, too.

With a whole foods gift card they can go to the picnic whenever they want, without worrying about food spoiling. They can get food off of the hot bar on their way!

And the time of year is perfect.

[is it puppies?]

ddc crashing here from June, but I noticed the post...
is it common practice to gift something to a doula or midwife? It never even occurred to me. I am paying about $800 for my doula, I've thought of it more as a business service, though I haven't used her yet for anything... I don't know how I feel about spending another $100 on a massage or something even though it's a fantastic idea!
my midwife (if she's who I end up birthing with) is covered by health care, but again, never occurred to me! is it expected? how about if I end up birthing with my GP or end up transferred to an OB? I think of medical personnel as professionals who don't need tips, whether they be midwives, GPs or OBs! (I know here it is not expected, and possibly weird, to tip a massage therapist in a medical clinic, but I do it in a spa)
thanks for any advice!

[summerforever1977]

Thanks to everyone for the great ideas. I really wanted a gift for my doula and thought the Etsy suggestion was just wonderful so I went over there and ended up buying this for my doula: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=42980421
I think it's a unique and tasteful gift without being too generic. I would love to get it as a gift anyway! Plus, I like that I am not spending so much compared to last time.

Is it Puppies, I am using a doctor for my care this pregnancy and have no intention of gifting him or his office anything, although I suppose flowers would be nice it just doesn't FEEL necessary. When I used midwives for my homebirth last go around it was a very personal experience. We spent at least an hour each visit at my main midwife's home, then we had visits at my home in the end. We connected on a deeper level than professional relationship and I felt like friends with my midwives. This is why I felt a gift was necessary; they gave me so much more than my OB practice can give me now. I guess it all comes down to the deep personal relationship that developed with my midwives. Anyhow that's why I gift in this situation.

[DoulaAlicia]

I've received wonderful things from clients such as massage gift certificates, oils, lotions, candles..

But I would have to say my favorite was a basket of flowers delivered to my door with a note thanking me! I don't know why. I just thought that was so special to get a package like that. I almost cried.

But overall ANYTHING is really special. Many clients don't give gifts and I don't expect it all all. After all they've paid me for services already. So getting any kind of gift I know comes from their heart so it doesn't matter that much what it is!

[balrog92]

it might be worth having a look at Extrafilm.co.uk, they offer unique and individual photo gift ideas.

I've used them in the past and I've always been happy with their products.