The pregnancy bug is catching fast in my life at the moment. One day a friend gives birth, three days later and another is pregnant. This is one vicious cycle of pregnancy and birth announcements, I can barely keep up! I’ve currently got 5 pregnant women (that I know of!) in my life right now, all due to give birth at completely different times. The question always on my mind is to weather I should buy them a gift or not. Lately I’ve just been purchasing gifts once the baby has arrived. Unless I attend a baby shower then I’ll usually buy a gift then too, but I always find it so difficult on what I should buy. I know that when I was pregnant with Theodore I was so fussy (and still am) about the clothes he wears, that a lot of gifted clothes he got have either not been worn or I’ve already given to charity, because honestly no one is going to dress their baby in clothes they don’t like just to please others.
This makes me a little hesitant to buy baby clothes for people, so if I do I tend to go with neutral colours because you can always win with whites and greys. I tend to never buy cuddly toys because what baby really needs 20 of them? We literally have an army of teddy bears here at home now.
So if you’re struggling on what to purchase the new pregnant woman or new baby in your life, here’s a few great and different ideas!
Sickness Sweets/Teas
Most pregnant women would kiss the ground you walked upon if we were to gift them something like these. It’s not all about that baby you know! Especially since that baby still isn’t here yet. Anything to make a pregnant woman’s life easier is a good thing in my books, we make it look easy, but I’ll tell you it bloody isn’t. I carried 2 stone of weight extra when I got to 5 months, all of which was Theodore, waters and that lovely placenta.
Sickness or no sickness these treats are lovely and just an all round lovely thought to present your pregnant friend with. Relaxing teas to calm you down and help you unwind on an evening sounds perfect to me. I didn’t know of anything like these whilst I was pregnant, I had some awful sickness in the beginning, I was throwing up hourly and it was mostly stomach bile (beautiful I know). The doctor did put me on some medication though and it worked an absolute treat, would 100% recommend if you need it.
Badedas Bath Gel
This is the pregnancy product. Enter the shower rooms off the maternity wing at hospitals and the place will be devoured in this odd but amazing scent. Perfect for pre and post baby (does three months post baby count because I’m still using it). I spoke about this product waaaaay back in a Pregnancy Products post before I had Theodore and I have been obsessed ever since. The smell is so unique you could identify it anywhere. It must be something about all the natural goodness that attracts us pregnant woman to dive into a whole tub of it.
You can actually purchase the bath gel or a shower gel/shampoo 3 in 1. I use both and I could never fault them. I don’t think I will ever return to normal bubble bath, or any other shower gel now, I have found my calling in horse chestnut goodness.
A Maternity Photoshoot
I had the most loveliest maternity shoot and they are photographs I’m going to adore forever. My first ever little (big) baby bump. The home of my little Theodore. An amazing gift would be an organised photoshoot already pre-paid for that lovely pregnant woman in your life. Even if they don’t love being in front of the camera some beautiful bump shots would be just as lovely. Remember that special time because 9 months sure does fly by quickly, and before you know it the baby bump is popped and sagging like a poor deflated balloon.
Prenantal Massage
Something else which would be much appreciated, and something any woman could honestly enjoy when her pregnancy body gets a little too much nearer the end of the pregnancy. It’s also a great way to relax before their life becomes a living whirlwind when that new shiny baby squeezes it’s way out of her. A professional pregnancy massage would be totally worth it and I wish I got the chance to have something like it when I was pregnant. The best I got was a few measly back rubs from Bradley (still much appreciated though darling…).
New Born Photoshoot
This is something you could get as an gift alongside a maternity shoot. Most photographers will do this as a package deal so it’s one of those gifts that just keeps giving. I have been lucky enough to know a lot of photographers being in the photography world myself and have managed to get Theodore many shoots. His first shoot was done by my dearest friend Shannon, who also did my maternity shoot. I think any mother would appreciate a photoshoot for their wonderful new bundle of joy. When you’ve just had your new baby its honestly the last thing on your mind, and time flies by so fast their not even new born anymore, and managing to squeeze a baby photoshoot into your new hectic busy schedule is not easy. So do it for them.
Personalised Gifts
Once the new parents have announced their little ones name it’s the perfect time to get them something meaningful that they’ll keep forever. I got this beautifully engraved bracelet from GiftPup with Theodore’s name on with Rose Quartz beads and it is so stunning and elegant I wear it everyday. Everyone that spots it swoons over it and asks where its from, its such a different eye catching piece. I wonderfully feel so special wearing it like a very proud mum. I will certainly buying these in the future for new mums.
Perhaps your new mum isn’t much of a jewellery wearer, then there is this beautiful personalised piece which you can have whatever you like engraved on. This wonderful little trinket box which Bradley got me from Theodore for my birthday. It’s just another special little something to keep and remind me of my first birthday as a mum. It felt so wonderful to receive a gift from Theodore, so any new mum would love something on behalf of their new baby, to kind of say sorry for pushing their way out of this mums front bottom, or for cutting their way through her belly.
Are you a new or expectant mum? What would you love to receive? Or what did you find you got gifted too much of when you had your baby?
I never had a maternity shoot as I couldn’t really afford one and never thought to ask anyone to help us pay for one! But I wish that I had, especially after seeing your photos!! So beautiful! I’ll definitely be treating any of my friends of family to one if they’re ever expecting! Tyler is 14 months now and I still don’t have any personalised jewellery haha, but I love that rose quartz bracelet!! x
I wish I had a maternity photo shoot, but its something that i never got around to doing! i love those little keepsakes!
Thanks for sharing this is so useful x
I wish I’d had a maternity photoshoot! (You look fucking amazing as per). Defintely having one next time! x
I wish I’d had a maternity shoot, I would have loved someone to gift me one! x
Ah…. some lovely ideas here! Especially the maternity shoot ????Xx
Oh my goodness he’s just the cutest and so photogenic. Good thing Mummy is amazing at photography.
This post is literally my life saver right now! I have so many friends who are either just expecting or having little ones. I found that I ended up just buying the baby stuff then the mums would be left with nothing so this is amazing!
This is such a useful post! I always struggle to buy gifts for expecting mom’s.
Why did I not know about these sweets?!? Your maternity photo shoot looks amazing, let alone the gorgeous pictures from your new born shoot!
I never did a maternity shoot which I will defo do next time if I’m blessed to have another one. All your pictures are absolutely stunning. Great ideas for my expectant mama friends xx
There are do great ideas on this list! I wish I has known about those sweets as I was so sick with both my girls x
Great list and genuinely brilliant ideas too!! I’d have loved a maternity photo shoot or a newborn shoot! Such precious memories! We did a shoot with Stanley when he was 6 months and the pictures are incredible!!!
These are some amazing ideas! I know a couple of pregnant people right now (some who haven’t announced it yet) so it would be amazing to pick something like these for them. Cracked up at the sagging balloon comment!