When you hire someone to catch your baby, they ought to be someone you can trust and confide in. As it often happens when a woman hires a homebirth midwife, the relationship can even be taken a step further. This is generally due to the long appointment visits, where a woman will get to know and like her midwife. Many women keep in contact with their midwives after developing a special bond with them during pregnancy and childbirth. Also, they play a pivotal role in a very special time in your life. As this can surely happen with doctor or CNM as well, it can prompt an urge in you to get something special for your caregiver.
But what do you get someone that catches babies for a living? Most midwives I know do not consider what they do a “job”. Rather, I’ve heard it referred to as a calling. With that sort of dedication in mind, they would most likely appreciate something related to the trade. Here are some suggestions for great, simple gifts for your midwife:
A birth-advocacy T-shirt – I made tees with iron-ons for my midwives, but you could easily find them online as well. It just so happens that I designed my midwife’s logo, so I had the right to put it on a shirt for her. For my other midwives, I put other art that I created on their shirt.
License plate frame – I got each of my midwives a frame the read “Peace on Earth Begins with Birth”. Now they can send their message every where they go. You can find online sites to order these from.
A relevant pendant, charm, or statue like this one would also be a nice touch.
Organic Endangered Species Chocolate – This brand makes their chocolate with organic, all-natural ingredients that were ethically traded. A portion of the profits goes toward endangered species organizations. This makes for a meaningful gift.
A fruit basket or flowers is also a simple yet wonderful way to say thank you.
A copy of the birth on video, or nice pictures of her or him doing what they do best, are two great ways to show your appreciation as well.
Make something – If you have a unique talent, such as sketching or knitting, make something special for your midwife. Just as she used her hands to help you, you can honor her by making her something with yours.
Since I actually gave each midwife a gift basket full of many things, I thought it would be nice to add in some goodies as well. Each got a box of my favorite Tazo tea, some goat-milk soaps, and fizzy bath bombs. Just for the record, my mother is my midwife, so I did not have to pay for services. Typically a small gift would do just fine, but since she and her colleagues cared for me free of charge, I wanted to get them each a large gift.
Get the baskets or gifts all ready to go before you go into labor. You will probably not have the time or energy to think of a meaningful gift after baby arrives. And don’t forget to get some for yourself, too!
Let’s Talk Interview: With the Midwife