THOUGHTFUL gift ideas for new mum with LOTS of medical problems

Hi all,

My best friend has given birth to 2 tiny twins who were suffering from Twin Twin Transfusion Syndrome (?correct term?). They are very tiny and are in special care. Actually, they are doing better than my friend - she suffered from pre-eclampsia and was intensive care for several days. She is in a regular private room now but is still very weak and on strict bedrest.

What thoughtful gift can I give her? She has had such a rough time. I have bought a gift for the babies, but I would like to do something other than flowers (as I'm sure she has a roomful) to show her I care.

Any ideas?

A cleaning voucher. When her babies are at home and she's flat-out caring for them a cleaner will be a big help. I think there is a company called Buzzy Bees but if they don't worl locally trere are lots of other cleaning companies you could contact (or dial-an-angel might do cleaning).
Depending on your budget you can also buy fingerprint charms (but you would need 2), a post-natal massage voucher, a photography voucher (or take some photos yourself and get the best ones enlarged and framed), some home cooked meals are always welcome in hospital if she's not on dietary restrictions or fill her freezer for when she gets home.

Along the same lines as Dachlo's suggestion, someone gave us a voucher for Gourmet Dinner Service - meals delivered which are frozen you just defrost and cook - they are really really good and save you thinking about cooking. Also good for stints in hospital where the food is :sick: you can defrost and cook them in the microwave. The food is excellent and much better nutritionally than hospital food. You choose what you like from the menu and they deliver it to you. We found it a very thoughtful and useful gift.

Hell yeah - take her FOOD. Its too hard to stomach hossy food. Find out her favourite comfort food, she will need strength xoxoxoxoxo

I was in hossy for 5 days and felt really disconnected from the world, even though I had lots of visitors. I'd imagine it's much worse when you are in there for longer.

Things that I appreciated or would have appreciated were:

- Fave chocolate & lollies. Yes I know you can get them from a vending machine but if you are feeling like poo you are not going to go get it and you don't always like to ask people to go for you.

- Fave soft drink. There's only so much water, juice and tea and coffee you can stomach.

- Current newspapers and magazines. There's lots of sitting around time where you can do with a distraction. If you are worried she may already have them get some English ones that no-one is likely to buy for her.

- Take her a nice takeaway. I had a chicken korma lunch on my last day that cheered me up no end as by then I was just so over being in hossy. The cafe's at the hospitals have some great food in them so you could always swing past it on the way to see her, check out what's on the menu, visit her and ask what she'd like (or call her from there) and get it for her. Even if the hospital food is good after a few days they tend to start repeating the menu so a change is great.

If you are looking for a gift for her for after hossy, you could offer to do her washing for her or clean her house.

Agree with all the ladies suggestions! Maybe talk to the nurses on the ward and see if you can take her for a walk outside in a wheelchair just to get her out of her room. Not sure if you can do that if she is on strict bedrest though.

Can you get a portable DVD player and take some of her favourite DVDs in so she doesn't have to rely on crappy TV?

Also for a bit of pampering, some possibilities are:
- a mobile beauty therapist for a manicure or pedicure
- a mobile massage therapist for a massage

As above!

There's a brisbane-based company that delivers gourmet meals, even catering quite well for vegan / gluten free if needed.

A gardener so she comes home to a beautiful front entrance!

A nappy service

Mobile hair-dresser and something like mary kay or avon for a mini make-over...

A diary for her to blurt her fears into so she can begin to heal inside

If she's religious, a lovely new family bible?