[New post] Tips for Creating the Perfect Newborn Baby Gift Basket
Lara Hagen posted: " Labour is an ambivalent mix of stress and happiness, of pain and pleasure. The struggles of new moms are more than one would like to admit. Naturally, the focus is on the baby but does anyone wonder what do new moms need for self-care? She surely cove"
Labour is an ambivalent mix of stress and happiness, of pain and pleasure. The struggles of new moms are more than one would like to admit. Naturally, the focus is on the baby but does anyone wonder what do new moms need for self-care?
She surely covered the new baby essential items and the time has come for someone to pamper her. That's where you come in by making a DIY gift hamper or ordering new baby gifts online.
What is Usually in a Gift Basket for New Moms?
Chocolate
source: isogiftco.com.au
Once considered as "Food of the Gods", chocolate with its basic ingredient cocoa, is the perfect gift for the new-found goddess juggling everything that comes her way. Whether you make homemade brownies or stock up a basket with chocolate bars, one can never go wrong with some cocoa. Moreover, there is an abundance of new baby gifts online meant to satisfy more than just her sweet tooth.
When it comes to pampering, few items can carry the epithet of being so beneficial while being oh so tasty. Cocoa beans, and especially dark chocolate, are one of the best-known sources of dietary polyphenols, considered to be superstar antioxidants.
There have been many studies to pinpoint what chocolate does to your body.
Recent nutritional studies demonstrate that the consumption of cocoa is beneficial to promote cardiovascular health. The antioxidant polyphenols, especially flavanols, protect the vascular walls, modulate inflammatory markers, and decrease platelet aggregation, all of which have a positive effect on blood vessels. Moreover, there is evidence that cocoa polyphenols and flavanols can modulate some of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome, like hypertension, insulin resistance and disorders of lipid metabolism.
Furthermore, chocolate contains small amounts of caffeine and larger amounts of the closely related compound, theobromine, nature's healthy stimulants. Also, it contains anandamide, tryptophan and tyramine. Tryptophan is a precursor for serotonin while tyramine is a precursor for dopamine, 2 molecules that are intimately connected to happiness and our reward systems.
Anything that can put a smile on a new mum's face deserves a place in new baby gift baskets.
We clearly saw that chocolate can be beneficial for adults but is chocolate good for new moms? All of the abovementioned compounds are detectable in breastmilk in small amounts. There has been a report of a newborn infant with irritability and jitteriness at 12 hours of life which can be due to some of the stimulants like caffeine and theobromine. However, the mother ate about 250 grams of cocoa and chocolate daily during her pregnancy and nursing.
Although excessive amounts can cause harm, ow intake of chocolate by a nursing mother is perfectly safe. Remember, moderation is key. Including chocolate in the new mum hamper is caring and tender, not reckless.
Spa Products
source: irishtimes.com
A gift card for a spa visit might sound nice but let's face it, a new mom is barely able to go to the toilet unbothered let alone leave her baby unattended for hours. You need to think of ways how you can bring the spa to her.
Taking care of her body hygiene and her needs during the puerperium (period after childbirth where everything, especially the reproductive organs, are returning to normal) will not only increase her comfort level but also promote healing and prevent infections.
Specifically designed pregnancy bath salts are one of those new mom gifts that won't be taken for granted. These bath salts reboot magnesium levels in the body, reducing aches and pains and relieving stress and anxiety.
For those who are prone to yeast infections or have sensitive skin, a homemade bath soak with natural products made of Epsom salt, sea salt, a bit of baking soda and essential oils will surely take her by surprise. Such a simple recipe can inspire and motivate her to continue with self-care when the new baby gift baskets are all used up.
No woman will stay indifferent to a gently exfoliating body scrub, a hydrating face mask or deeply moisturizing body oil. A soothing gift set with hand cremes and a set of gloves for her to soak them in will make her very grateful. New mum hands go through a rough patch between changing all of those diapers and trying to be germ-free.
Moreover, there are some specialised postpartum care products that might actually be the best presents for new mums as they tend to specific problems.
Clearly, a nipple cream doesn't sound that exciting but she'll probably swear by it after a couple of days of breastfeeding or pumping. Choose a natural, rich cream packed with moisturizing organic ingredients like cacao seed, shea, mango butter, olive oil or calendula flower extract.
A sitz bath can be the MVP of postpartum recovery. It's a herbal spray that soothes perineal tears and hemorrhoids. She can use it with pads if she doesn't have time for a long spa-like soak.
Essential Oils & Candles
source: housefragrance.com
Anxiety, depression, nausea, low appetite, dry mouth or poor sleep have all been treated with aromatherapy for thousands of years. A new mom is likely to struggle with these conditions. Everyone knows a newborn is the most precious gift of all but 21st-century moms have much more to deal with than changing diapers. Stress is almost inevitable.
Aromatherapy works through your sense of smell and your body's biggest sensory receptor, your skin. Although a new mommy could use them in a variety of ways, adding a diffuser to the new baby hamper will save her time and energy.
Lavender is considered to be one of the best essential oils for aromatherapy. It provides stress relief, anxiety, and agitation reduction through acting on the limbic system. Moreover, it's been successful in treating headaches and migraines, relieving menstrual cramps and pain (dysmenorrhea), improving digestion, and boosting immunity.
Jasmine oil is perfect for new moms as it relaxes without causing sleepiness, leaving her calm but alert. Inhaling clary sage oil can lower cortisol levels aka the stress hormone.
As the diffuser is running, a burning candle will complement the whole atmosphere. Candles have multiple effects on one's home. Not only do they light up a room but they can brighten up any mood.
However, most commercial candles are made out of paraffin oil, soy or palm wax, none of which are environmentally friendly. Black carbon (BC) particles emitted while burning most commercial candles have been found in many organs, even the placenta. That certainly doesn't sound soothing for a new mom and especially for a newborn.
Beeswax candles can be the perfect new mum gifts. They're natural, have the lowest concentration of BC emission, no benzene, acetone, toluene and most importantly, no lead. They have a superior and longer burn, a golden flame, a honey scent and no added fragrances.
Furthermore, burning beeswax candles emits negatively charged ions that neutralise the positively charged particles like dust, odours, toxins, pollen, mould, purifying the indoor ambient air. To conclude, burning natural candles can be beneficial for both mum and bub.
A Bottle of Wine
source: wine.lovetoknow.com
A glass of red wine a day, which is considered moderate consumption, hasn't been proven as harmful or shown any side effects for the newborn while it can have many benefits for the new mum.
Same as chocolate, red wine is packed with polyphenols. Moderate red wine consumption has been related to low coronary heart disease rates, low HDL ("bad cholesterol") levels, improvement of gut microbiota, protection against lung cancer, (especially adenocarcinoma which is more frequent in women) and a decrease in overall mortality.
Did we mention that she just really needs to relax? On the other hand, whatever a mom ingests eventually ends up in the breast milk so it's important to know how long after a glass of wine can you breastfeed.
Breast milk alcohol levels are highest about 30 to 60 minutes after a single drink. Importantly, only 5 to 6 % of the ingested alcohol ends up in the milk. How much and how long does alcohol stay in breast milk depends on the amount she drinks and her metabolism. Even so, most of the alcohol should be out of her system in about 2 to 3 hours.
In conclusion, new moms should drink occasionally, in moderation and wait at least 2 hours after a drink before they breastfeed.
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