Baby Gift Guide with a Difference: Life-Changing Pregnancy Presents
Hint: Nobody needs another fluffy toy.
Doula or Independent Midwife Voucher
A doula can be described as ‘your best friend who happens to know a lot about birth’. With our brilliant NHS being pushed to its limits, unfortunately birth trauma is on the rise. However, research has shown that having one-on-one care throughout your pregnancy and birth can transform your experience for the better.
Doulas or Independent Midwives can seem like a big investment (although there are lots of ways to access a doula for those experiencing financial hardship) but if it means your loved one begins the often-wobbly journey of parenthood feeling supported, heard and advocated for, the investment suddenly seems priceless.
Locally around Colchester there are a growing number of doulas and independent midwives, here are just a few who offer vouchers. Contact them directly to arrange.
Click below to be taken to their websites.
Doula Tracy Gooding
Independent Midwife Bethany Rose
2. Pregnancy Pilates
Practising pilates during pregnancy has been linked to major improvements in physical health during pregnancy and birth for both mother and baby.
Here at Colchester Pilates we offer a weekly Pregnancy Pilates class that is designed to support pregnancy and birth but also to build community, because finding a mum mate to text during the 3am nightfeed can be the difference between feeling isolated and feeling part of a village.
We also run a Mum and Baby Mini Retreat a few times a year so the babies can meet while the mummas move!
Class passes for Pregnancy Pilates come in bundles of 4 or 10 and make the perfect present. Using the pass, your loved one can book the dates that work around their schedule. Hardcopy vouchers can be printed and posted to you or, alternatively, emailed for a last-minute gift.
To purchase a class pass as a gift, just email laura@colchesterpilates.com
3. Nourishing Food
New parents can be overwhelmed with the thought of keeping themselves nourished in the early days. With so much of their time and energy spent on keeping the baby fed and tended to, new parent’s own nutrition falls to the bottom of the list. The Food Doula offers vouchers to go towards fourth trimester deep nourishment packages including a huge delivery of lunches, dinners, snacks and herbal blends to stock up your loved one’s freezer for the nights when cooking is the last thing they want to do.
Order online at www.thefooddoula.co.uk
Don’t have the funds but love the idea of helping nourish your friend or loved one with food? How about a ‘meal train’. Get together a group of friends to drop dinner over to the new parents each night. Freezable, easy makes like lasagne, one-pots, stews and soups that can be re-heated easily work best. Getting together 14 mates would provide two whole weeks of dinners!
You can find free resources online to help you plan, like this one: https://www.mealtrain.com/
4. A Photoshoot
Some days pregnancy might feel like it will last forever, but when we look back the months will be fleeting. What better gift then, than making your friend or loved one feel special with a relaxed and informal photoshoot that gives them beautiful pictures that last forever.
Sarah Everett is a great local photographer with a fun and informal style who specializes in outdoor photoshoots offering maternity, family and newborn shoots. To enquire about gift vouchers email sarah@saraheverettphotography.co.uk
5. Postnatal Doula
If a doula can transform the experience of birth, a postnatal doula can be a revelation for the upside-down days of early motherhood.
Whether they support with feeding, hold the baby while your loved one has an ‘everything bath’ or offer a non-judgemental ear over some homemade food, a postnatal doula is a life-changing gift for any new parent.
Ginny Croxford is Colchester-based Postnatal Doula, Infant feeding coach and baby massage facilitator. You can purchase gift vouchers by emailing hello@ginnycroxford.co.uk
6. …and lastly, a massive muslin!
Not just a burp cloth but also a swaddle, sun-shade, blanket or even a makeshift sling…a massive muslin has a thousand uses, making it an incredibly useful gift for under £20.
Buy from a small business for extra points. I love these ones on Etsy.
About the author: Laura Harding is a Pilates teacher based in Colchester, Essex, UK. laura@colchesterpilates.com
Instagram: @colchesterpilates
To checkout Laura’s timetable head over to www.colchesterpilates.com