Friend had twins yesterday, help with gift?

[DeChRi]

I have a new friend I met in a prenatal class, and she had twins yesterday. I don't know her super well, but these are her first kiddos and one is struggling a bit. She brought me a wonderful meal last month when my LO arrived.

I am wondering if it would be better to go buy a traditional baby gift, or something else? I had a rockstar vacuum packer and before DD3 came I cooked and sealed a TON of individual servings of things so I could microwave them when i just needed food vs thawing a cooking a whole casserole. Is that a dorky idea? If I showed up with a bunch of individual servings of things vacuum sealed?

[MamaChicken]

Not dorky, amazing! If you know what kind of food she likes, that would be fantastic.

[poppan]

I think that would be a wonderful gift! When my twins were born I literally didn't have time to eat between nursing and pumping (I had supply issues and they were preemies). I remember being hormonal and angry because I had asked my mom to stock my fridge and she showed up with stuff to make sandwiches and I just about broke down because I didn't have the 5 minutes it took to make a sandwich, I only had time to nuke something in the micro.

[attached2mason]

Your idea is fantastic. Another thing I have found helpful is one handed food . . .i.e. muffins (ideally with some protein added like hemp hearts or whatever), power balls, that sort of thing. We have also found premade french toast helpful (we made it up and then froze it a few to a bag - then I just pop it in the toaster and eat it with jam, plain, or syrup if I have a bit of extra time to actually eat food on a plate ).

More 'traditional' gifts that have been helpful were take out gift cards, baby store gift cards, diapers (we use cloth but sposies have been helpful this time around too ), hand-me-downs (one friend showed up with a huge bag full of boy clothes and a used Ergo carrier, score!).

[stik]

When I saw your thread title in new posts, my first thought was easy-to-reheat frozen meals. I have a hard time cooking with a single newborn, and I can't imagine how hard it would be with two.

[dknees]

FOOD! When my twins were born, one had to stay in the hospital for about 10 days. Even after she came home, it was total chaos here, and food was one thing that was hard to keep up with. There were a few friends/neighbors who brought food, and that was a godsend. Also, one neighbor wasn't sure what to make to bring, so she brought me a gift card for a really yummy Italian place that happens to deliver, so I could just call and order something.

My boss got us a Harry & David gift basket, and it was pretty heavenly. My dh had to go to work pretty quickly after the twins were born, so I was stuck at home with a newborn and a hungry 3 year old. We had yummy pears with cheese and crackers for breakfast for several days (my dh leaves for work at 4am).

I also had a neighbor offer to pick up something for me any time she went to the grocery store. It was really helpful to have someone bring me milk or fruit or something so I wouldn't have to worry about having healthy foods around. Even if you were to just call and say, " I"m planning to run over a few meals for you, would you like me to stop and pick up anything at the store on my way?" I'm sure she'd really appreciate that.

[DeChRi]

Thanks so much!! I took the food advice. Luckily they eat ANYTHING, so that will be easy. I baked a load of my banana protein muffins (oats, cottage cheese, protein powder, organic eggs, wheat germ, flax and other goodies) and froze/sealed them 4 to a bag (4 only has 200 calories). I made up single serves of organic chicken enchiladas and some bean burritos. I also made high protien breakfast cookies and froze in packs (oats, bran flakes, wheat germ, unsweetened applesauce, plain yogurt, protein powder, etc). I am going to make a few small casseroles too.

Her babies were soooo sweet. The were 4lb11oz and 5lb1oz. The 4lb11oz (girl) nursed within minutes and is eating wonderfully. The boy (first one out...little harder birth for him and the gril just slipped right out after) is taking to work to nurse. They were actually going to go home today but the hospital is letting them stay a few extra days to have the LC help every 2 hours to make sure he is solid in his nursing skills. I am impressed by her commitment to nurse them both.

They have no health issues other than the boy being a slow nurser...they are regulating body temp well, no jaundice, needed no help after birth, have roomed in since birth, which was a natural vaginal birth.

Pretty cool.

[MamaChicken]

Hey now, some recipes would be good! Especially the muffins! Hint hint...