HI Sally,

I did end up giving my friend a gift basket and taking it up to NICU and leaving it there with a note from me as I didn't have their address or phone number - I tend to loose my address book a lot. I was shocked by the response from others to wait until bub was home to give a gift I thought that was so unthoughtful but on the otherhand I didn't want to give a lot of things that would be reminders if things went badly so based on the input from here I did up this basket
- bottled water
-little snacks (apples, little packets of biscuits)
-tin of activite and shaker for increasing supply
- a little slip in photo album to keep near for expressing and on the roadtravelling to and from hossy
- a diary/notebook to record dr notes and her own relfections
- a story book to read to bub
-a colouring in book for her other child
- a "congratulations on your birth" card
- a pink soft cuddly flower (little girl)

I also told her I will make her a wrap (like a hug-a-bub) when she is ready for kangaroo cuddles and bringing baby home and offered to sit with her or look after her eldest.

She rang back that night and was so grateful for us thinking of her and her family which was what I wanted to communicate - just that we were celebrating her baby and knew what a long journey she had to go.

Thanks so much for everyones suggestions it was soooo helpful to understand what is appreciated/needed with a tiny bub in nicu.

thanks