little idea for expecting moms or a little gift idea for moms to be

[octmom]

This morning, I decided that whenever any of my friends are expecting and plan to nurse, one of their gifts from me will be some sort of cute bracelet on an elastic cord that they can wear to help them remember which side to start with at the next feeding. In those early days of little sleep and very frequent feedings, I had NO short term memory and found myself writing down which side I started with at each feeding so that I know which side to start with at the next feeding. (DS has always been a one-sided nurser.) I have heard suggestions about attaching a safety pin to your bra strap and other similar ideas, but never employed them.

Last week, I was at daycare at lunchtime feeding my son and mumbling to him, "Now which side did I feed you from this morning?", when his teacher mentioned that a friend of hers wore a stretchy bracelet that she could move from one wrist to the other very easily. Such a simple idea, yet brilliant. I had a bracelet at home that worked, so I've been doing it for the last week. And it occurred to me that something like this would be a useful little gift for new moms.

Just thought I'd share it for those of you who are expecting and for others with friends who may be...


Jerilyn
DS: Sean, 10/29/03

[hez]

And much less of an invasion of privacy than the gift of a tube of lanolin and package of breast pads that a friend of mine received at a shower. The person who gave them to her didn't even know if my friend planned to BF or not (it was from the grown-up daughter of another guest)... I'm pretty laid back & thankful for things like that so I probably wouldn't have minded the gift, but my friend was offended even though she did plan to BF. A bracelet seems a little more benign, especially when you're close to the person and can choose something special just for them.

I originally started to reply because I use a stretchy bracelet, too. It's got polished round stones of multiple colors, so it almost goes with everything I wear! Definitely helps keep me sane!

[s_gosney]

This is a timely thread! I have a friend's shower to go to on Saturday and had been trying to figure out what to get for her. I had been tossing around the idea of a bf mommy package, so this is an interesting idea. I had though been thinking of lanisoh, a big water bottle, and so forth. Does everyone else agree that breast pads and so forth are too personal? FWIW, in this group of mommy friends, I've been to a shower where a mommy hospital kit was given with all sorts of embarrasing things. The recipient was just warned that they might not want to pull everything out of the gift bag.
All this to say that I love this idea! What does everyone think about the rest of a bf care package?

[octmom]

One of my close friends who had a baby about 10 months before me gave me a package that included nursing pads and Lansinoh. I wasn't offended at all because she knew I planned to breastfeed. And, I liked the pads she bought for me (Lansinoh) better than the other samples I had that were thicker. I knew nothing about these things, so I was glad to have someone with experience point me in a direction. She also included diapers and wipes and a book or two-- The Baby Whisperer was one of them, I think.


Jerilyn
DS: Sean, 10/29/03

[cinrein]

I wouldn't be offended by a BFing care package. Then again, I love gifts that are off the beaten path.

It would be really nice to have an assortment of breast pads, but I'm not sure how you could do this without having to buy boxes of each type. Some people love the disposable ones, while other swear by the washable ones. You just never know which will work for you until you try them.

Maybe do up a sheet of paper with links to sierrablue, breakoutbras and other places that sell nursing bras. Or maybe the places that sell cool nursing clothes.

A water bottle is great--needed one for each room. Could also include a little notebook and pen--I used to write down what Anna was doing that week while she nursed. Some snacks too---always hungry when nursing. Maybe a boppy or similar nursing pillow? Or an extra cover is she already has one?

Cindy and Anna 2/11/03

[octmom]

Jumping on the BFing care package idea. A copy of The Nursing Mother's Companion could be a good addition.


Jerilyn
DS: Sean, 10/29/03

[JenaW]

I LOVE both ideas - the bracelet AND the BF package gift. I think as long as you know the recipient pretty well, it should be fine. And I really like the ideas of websites for nursing bras and breast pad samples.

I got a "labor pack" at my shower from a BTDT mom and it was one of the best things I received. She even included 2 packages of bright red underwear and a huge box of maxi pads! Hey, it beat having to go out an buy them myself! My shower was all famliy and super close friends, so I didn't mind.

BTW - Jerilyn, I am a Geralyn too! I spell mine a bit different, and I go by Jera. I have never met another person witn a name so similar!

Jera
Mom to Carter ~ 05.13.03
Cautiously pregnant with #2 ~ EDD 10.13.04

[octmom]

Another Geralyn/ Jerilyn! Yay! My mom is one too, but she goes by Jeri. Also two distant cousins on her side of the family. There aren't too many of us! :)

Jerilyn
DS: Sean, 10/29/03

[JenaW]

Wow! Your family has a few! My parents thought they "made up" the name - my dad is Gerald (Jerry) and my grandma is Geraldine (Gerri).

Jera
Mom to Carter ~ 05.13.03
Cautiously pregnant with #2 ~ EDD 10.13.04