When there's a new baby on the way, people often get so excited about the child they momentarily forget about the mother's needs. If you're close to a mother-to-be, giving a pregnancy-themed gift that's just for her can be a great gesture of support and friendship at a time when her identity is rapidly changing. Gift ideas for expecting women include keepsakes to labor and delivery support.
Sonogram or Ultrasound Frame
For many women, the first time they see the baby or hear the heartbeat at a sonogram appointment is when it really hits home that they're pregnant. These first precious pictures of the new baby are important keepsakes. Giving a newly expecting woman a frame to preserve and display her ultrasound pictures is both thoughtful and practical.
Pregnancy Scrapbook
If the mom-to-be is into arts and crafts, she may love the idea of documenting her pregnancy with a special pregnancy scrapbook. Scrapbooks books come both blank and with designed pages to help record all the important monthly pregnancy milestones. You can buy stickers, photo accents, decorative pens or other scrapbooking supplies to make the gift a complete kit.
Belly Casting Kit
Belly casting involves using plaster strips, similar to paper mache, to create a three-dimensional sculpture of the pregnant woman's belly. These casts are often painted or decorated and hung on the nursery wall. They're also often used for newborn photographs depicting the baby inside the belly cast. They can be done at any time during the pregnancy, but are usually done after six or seven months, when the belly is larger and more defined.
Doula
Doulas are like personal assistants for pregnant women. They provide support and education all throughout pregnancy, labor and even after you bring baby home. It's part of a centuries-old process of women providing caring pregnancy support to other women. Many women find having a doula to be so helpful they pass this experience on by hiring a doula as a gift for pregnant family members and friends. The key benefit of a doula is that she spends more one-on-one time with you, including constant support during labor, which many doctors are unable to do. They also provide pregnancy massage, lactation education, emotional support and preparation assistance--like birth planning and hospital registration.
