Doula Gift

[tls]

Hi, I am new to this board but have been lurking for a couple days. I noticed there is at least one Doula here if not more. I have a question for you. I am due in early August with baby #2. My sister-in-law has trained as a doula and my delivery will be her 2nd out of 3 needed for certification. She is doing it for free, of course, but I really wanted to get her something to thank her for all the help she has done and will do. Does anyone have any ideas for a gift we could give her in appreciation for all her work? I wonder if there are any “tools” that are extremely useful for a doula to have. Any ideas would be helpful since I am really not sure what to get her. Thanks in advance.

Tracy

P.S. I hope to get to know you all better and hopefully even get together sometime. DD is 2 yrs old and we live on the east side of St. Paul.

[momileigh]

Does she have a rebozo? How about her own birth ball?

I'm a doula up in the Duluth area. I had 2 doulas when dd was born and I gave my doulas each a rebozo and a book w/ pictures of fetal development. I also am going to give them a small "brag book" album with the pictures from the birth, but I haven't made them yet :rolleyes:

[mamarsupial]

i would love some ideas too! my doula is also a dear friend (you know who you are!) and i would love to get her something special. i was thinking of a gift certificate for a massage or something, since she cares for so many of those around her...about time she get a little pampering too. thoughts? (hint hint!)

[Golden]

I am also a doula! You guys are so sweet! A massage would be a fabulous treat! I also love gift certificates to amazon.com or powells.com. I ALWAYS have a list of about 4 or 5 books I am drooling over. Especially if your sis is just starting out.

Golden

edited, sorry, can't spell....

[DoulaSarah]

I have received some great gifts as a doula!! I threw away coffee in disgust at a recent birth and the dad noticed..I was given a great new stainless steel thermos from Caribou Coffee as well as some great coffee. I also got "Pure" from Anne Geddess. It is all about pregnancy and birth. I really like the thought of it having something to do with each individual labor and birth. Even a Thank you card is great!! I have gotten flowers and bath stuff...Mamar...being able to attend to you will be more then enough!

[MammaV]

We gave our doula extra $$$ from her regular fee. It's kind of impersonnel, but we thought she could spend it on what ever she needed or wanted. Hey Doulas, is that tacky???

[momileigh]

Money is not tacky! But it does run the risk of being used for the phone bill instead of something special. That's why gift certificates are nice... you have to buy yourself something.

[smittenmom]

Okay, I read this post a couple of days ago and have been obsessing because I didn't get my doula a gift! Am I a horrible person? Does everyone do this and I just didn't know? How socially inept am I?!?!

I've been thinking of writing her a nice thank you letter on dd's first birthday (in three months) to make up for the lack of a gift. How does that sound?

[momileigh]

No, you aren't a horrible person! I don't know any doulas who expect a gift because they love what they do so much. For me, my doulas didn't charge, so I felt I needed to give them something for their time. But they would have been happy without it, I am sure. I think if you wrote that letter and maybe included a photograph of Scout that would be an awesome present for your doula.

[DoulaSarah]

I don't want it to sound like I always receive a gift. I don't. And that is just fine! I think that there are some clients that I work with that bond with me better then others. Does that make sense? We have maintained a freindship afterwards. Even if it is a call once every couple of months. I think that a great gift would be a letter on the first birthday of you child!! That would definately make me cry and smile at the same time!

[smittenmom]

Thanks, Leigh and Sarah. I feel a little better now. I wish I had kept in better touch with my doula, but I haven't talked to her for a few months. I told my dh that I should have given her a gift, and he said, "We did give her a gift-- xxx dollars! She was just doing her job!" Well, yeah... but... it's not like her job is changing the oil in my car; it's a lot more personal than that. Anyway, I'll do the letter thing and hope to get the crying/smiling response! :)