Gift ideas for a (soon-to-be) pg friend?

[justKate]

I'm going to visit a friend out of state this week, and I'd like to take her a gift. She and her hubby began TTC last month, and at this point there's no reason to think she won't be pg relatively soon. Can you all think of any early- or pre-pregnancy gifts that would be fun (and easy to pack in a suitcase)?

She is 30, WOTH 2/3 time, and very mainstream (I wouldn't mind influencing her a little, if it's gentle). She's not a big reader--the Dr. Sears Pregnancy/Baby books would probably be too dense for her. She does like tv and fitness-related anything. Not in to politics. No other children, two dogs.

Right now my only idea is a subscription to Mothering Magazine... any other thoughts?

TIA!

[MaerynPearl]

would ina mays guide to childbirth be too much for her?

That is my gift to a friend of my little sister who just found out a few days after her 18th birthday that she is pregnant.

Maybe something to encourage breastfeeding? Like an udder cover?

[justKate]

Ina Mays' book might be an option. I'll have to flip through it and see if she could handle it.

Unfortunately I'm afraid to even raise the issue of BFing--she was victimized as a child and I think she has negative associations with her breasts. And she thought it was "weird" that I BFed DD to 18 mos.

I love her, so I'm going to try not to let our parenting differences ruin our friendship. But I do have a lot of work to do!

ETA: rolling my eyes to her opinion that I'm weird, not her abusive past.

[MaerynPearl]

Its okay I understood what you were rolling at.

What about some sort of babywearing thing? I just got my first moby the other day (Im 38 weeks with baby #3!) and am so excited to try it out!

Or a couple fuzzibunz (or other adorably soft and cuddly) cloth diapers? If shes frugal at all, mention how much cheaper they are in the long run. If shes lazy, mention how much easier cloth diapered babies tend to be to potty train and how much earlier they tend to potty train!

If you knew she would be getting morning sickness I would suggest a seaband and some preggy pops!

Maybe a bella band? I looooove mine. at 38 weeks I still dont own any maternity pants! A well-fitting bella band holds my prepregnancy jeans just fine!

[nova22]

I would not bring her something pregnancy-specific, just in case she has difficulty conceiving. If there are problems, or if she suffers a miscarriage, a gift like a parenting magazine might cause a lot of sadness when she gets it in the mail. I would go with a natural pampering product for her, because she'll be grateful for some pampering in early pregnancy, but she can use it even if she has a hard time conceiving. I'm thinking bath bombs, essential oils, that sort of thing.

[Ashley_R]

If she likes fitness, what about a good prenatal workout DVD. You could get a yoga one that mentions how it helps you prepare for natural childbirth. I also second the carrier idea and the bellyband. The bellyband especially if you want it to be useful early pregnancy.

[MomtoJunebugs]

I have given a gift of a pedicure set with some pretty polish. Put a note with it that says. "If he's going to make you barefoot and pregnant, at least make him paint your toenails." or something like that. It gets a laugh and is usually appreciated, even if you give another part of a gift that's more baby/birth specific. This part is just for her.

Good luck choosing a gift and to your friend in TTC.

Marsha

[MaerynPearl]

LOL my sister-in-law bought me peppermint pedicure lotion as a wedding gift... basically told DH the same... you made her barefoot and pregnant, at least make those feet feel better!

[finnegansmom]

Originally Posted by nova22

I would not bring her something pregnancy-specific, just in case she has difficulty conceiving. If there are problems, or if she suffers a miscarriage, a gift like a parenting magazine might cause a lot of sadness when she gets it in the mail. I would go with a natural pampering product for her, because she'll be grateful for some pampering in early pregnancy, but she can use it even if she has a hard time conceiving. I'm thinking bath bombs, essential oils, that sort of thing.

I totally agree with this. You never know. She could get pregnant next month, or not. I think something more towards the TTC aspect, because being someone who's been there, it can be a chore sometimes. Candles, massage oils, bubble baths, wine....those would be thoughtful.
I would not get her anything baby related, that could prove to be torturous if she runs into any issues.

[justKate]

Originally Posted by finnegansmom

I totally agree with this. You never know. She could get pregnant next month, or not. I think something more towards the TTC aspect, because being someone who's been there, it can be a chore sometimes. Candles, massage oils, bubble baths, wine....those would be thoughtful.
I would not get her anything baby related, that could prove to be torturous if she runs into any issues.

Yeah, ya'll are right. It could be painful to have Mothering coming in the mail if there's a problem conceiving.

[Pearl1]

Edited by Pearl1 - 2/7/11 at 4:00pm

[WifeofAnt]

I also agree with the PPs. You really can't tell when or if someone is going to get pregnant. It really only takes a month or two for it to really get to you, even if you know it normally takes much longer. DH and I got extremely lucky and concieved in 4 cycles of him coming home from Iraq but those 4 cycles got progressively harder. When AF showed up after the 3rd I was away from home and ended up bursting into tears in a gas station bathroom, it wasn't pretty. When I got home I de-friended all my 'mommy friends' on facebook and suspended my account, I couldn't take reading another pregnancy/birth/parenting/breastfeeding article and needed OUT. 3/4 of the way through 4th cycle I'd already lost hope to the point where I was planning on how I was going to get drunk when AF arrived again! Lucky for my liver I got my BFP at 10 DPO that cycle and everything has been going smoothly since then.

[Ola_]

I liked "The complete book of pregnancy & childbirth" by Sheila Kitzinger. I actually read it when we were TTC, I liked that it went over the different things during pregnancy and then labour so that I could kind of get an idea of what to expect.

[Pearl1]

popping back in with another thought...the book "taking charge of your fertility" might be an interesting read for someone who is new to ttc, especially if she likes to read, like you said.

~ sarah

[myk]

Originally Posted by nova22

I would not bring her something pregnancy-specific, just in case she has difficulty conceiving. If there are problems, or if she suffers a miscarriage, a gift like a parenting magazine might cause a lot of sadness when she gets it in the mail. I would go with a natural pampering product for her, because she'll be grateful for some pampering in early pregnancy, but she can use it even if she has a hard time conceiving. I'm thinking bath bombs, essential oils, that sort of thing.

i completely agree. something for her, maybe fertility-related (the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility comes to mind), but not pregnancy-related.

[Aliy]

i saw this thread and thought oh no don't get baby gifts if she isn't expecting already.....

As i'm sure you know some women get pregnant really easy other do not. I have to agree with the ladies get her something for her and no something pregnancy related.

[WifeofAnt]

Depending on how close you are you could get her something semi-fertility related but not really enough to cause issues if she has trouble (like PreSeed or one of those back massage things). I know there's quite a few times I could have used a good back massage... probably every day now!

[lunarlady]

Definitly not parenting or baby related! I'd go for movie tix, wine, and resturaunt gift card. Sort of a date night package. You can say something like " enjoy this now because people with kids don't get out so often.". Or " here's hoping a great night out leads to more than one morning feeling lousy."

[HeatherB]

When she DOES get pg, I recommend a gift set from Earth Mama Angel Baby. There is a pregnancy one with belly oil, etc., and it's all organic and lovely. I gave one to a friend who came back begging to know where to get more of the belly oil!

[JessieBird]

I have to be another one to say absolutely don't get anything pregnancy or baby related. You just never know. Even just a few months of TTC can be extremely stressful.

I think the idea of a pedicure and a card mentioning the barefoot and pregnant saying is excellent! A fertility related gift would be great too, though they're hard to come by - a copy of TCOYF would be great if you think she'd read it. My brother gave me a fertility "charm" that he brought back from traveling in Asia - a carved fish that you carry in your pocket - and I really liked that.