Among the Frosted Cupcakes and Knitted Booties…Have You Been forgotten?

Here are 5 ways you can make the pre-birth party about the woman:

1. Consider a red-thread ceremony, where one red string is continuously looped around the wrists of every woman attending, a blessing is offered from every woman, then the thread is cut and tied as a bracelet that every woman wears until the birth.
2. Ask guests to bring a bead to string on a wire that she can wear or have at the birth.
3. Ask the pregnant woman what she would love to eat, and what will nourish her most. It might still be cupcakes, but at least that’s her choice!
4. Consider the woman’s taste. If she loves to upcycle and is environmentally conscious, consider that plastic plates and cups is not honouring her, so go for ceramic or recycled paper instead.
5. Organise a cork board so friends can write messages of love and pin them up for the woman to look at in the lead-up to the birth and when she’s home in those first few weeks

And here are 7 gift ideas that are for the mama:

1. A food delivery roster among close friends, to ease the stress and cost of trying to care for a newborn and feed yourself.
2. Engraved necklace with the birth date: kind of like awarding a gold medal for the toughest and best day of your life!
3. A thoughtful gift hamper filled with items to help her heal faster and feel better: If you don’t have time to DIY, try www.newmamakit.com who have three kinds of hampers and deliver to homes or hospitals.
4. A new iphone with loads of storage, because being a mama comes with great photographic responsibilities, and much more data storage will be needed (obviously a group present).
5. A pair of pure wool Ugg boots: hey, she’ll be spending a lot of time at home initially, and should be comfortable!
6. Bottom spray: Yes, we said bottom spray. A herbal perineum spray that doubles as a c-section scar spray will soothe any areas that are swollen or need to be kept clean…and they smell gorgeous! 
7. A massage: when she’s ready to have an hour to herself, there’s nothing more nurturing than a good quality relaxing massage. Try to choose one close to her home, and offer to babysit!