Five Gifts for New Mothers
This weekend, my third baby turned one, and I’m finally starting to feel like myself again. But even now, I remember how special, raw, and incredibly hard those early months of motherhood were.
Every five minutes, I’d nestle my nose into Evelynn’s fluffy hair, breathing in her newborn smell. For the first two months, I always grew nervous as the sun went down, since I knew what waited for me was a night of back-to-back nursing sessions. Also, I felt so gutted and guilty at Evelynn’s first doctor’s appointment, when I learned she had lost weight, instead of gaining it.
My highs felt so high, and the lows were low. Thankfully, a few remedies always helped: Texts from friends. Visits with my mom. Listening to funny audiobooks on our stroller walks. And what also brought me comfort were gifts from family and friends that made me feel cared for, physically and emotionally. Below are five gift ideas for new moms…
1. A pretty vase to hold flower bouquets from visitors. For years, whenever she fills it, she will always think of you and that sweet newborn time. This one felt like a ray of sunshine.
2. Pick-me-up skincare. I rarely put on makeup during those first few months, but when I had time to myself, skincare products were such a treat. Korean skincare glow pads felt refreshing and cool and always left my skin soft and dewy. I wore them every night of my third pregnancy, when fluctuating hormones made my face feel bone-dry.
3. Slip-ons. My husband, Max, surprised me with Birkenstocks for my birthday, four days before I unexpectedly went into labor with our son. He was born seven weeks early and rushed to the NICU. While pregnant with him, I’d daydreamed of slow mornings together, snuggling in our pajamas in bed. Instead, I woke up to a 6:30 a.m. alarm clock in a room with no baby. Getting dressed for the hospital felt so hard — I didn’t have many pieces that felt comfortable on my new postpartum body, because I hadn’t expect to be leaving the house so soon. Thankfully, slipping on these clogs took two seconds, and I didn’t have to bend over tie shoelaces. Three years later, they’re still one of my most-worn shoes.
4. Drop-off meals that aren’t dinner. Of course, any delivered food is always appreciated, but in Caroline Chambers’s meal train menu, her editor Molly brings up a good point: “Instead of dinner, consider bringing snacks, a breakfast casserole, or a good-all-week salad for lunch,” she says. “A neighbor dropped off peanut butter energy balls when I was one week postpartum, and it HIT THE SPOT. I’d eat one for breakfast, in the car headed to doctor appointments, and while nursing in the middle of the night.” This make-ahead strata is chock full of vegetables, and these zucchini muffins are perfect for grab-and-go moments.
5. A hand-written letter for the baby. At my first baby shower, guests wrote heartfelt letters for my daughter, Ella, and shared their hopes and dreams for her. To this day, whenever I read them, I get a lump in my throat and marvel at how lucky Ella and I are to be surrounded by this community of women and men. In hard parenting moments, a new mom could reread these cards and take in what every parent wants to hear: their child is deeply, deeply loved, and they’re never alone.
Thoughts? What ideas would you add? If you’re a parent, what gifts/gestures did you appreciate most during those hazy early days? Congratulations to any new parents, and good luck and love to anyone who is trying.
P.S. Eight more gift ideas for new parents and Joanna’s advice for new mothers.
Source – Cup of joy
