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pre-baby talk

A Space to Reflect on Parenthood

How to Prepare a New Mom Care Package

This post shows you How to Prepare a New Mom Care Package. You won’t find typical baby stuff here, as this article is all about how to help the new mom, especially a first-time mom, recover, feel good about herself, and nourish her body and soul!

woman holding a candle

I am writing this as a first-time mom and as someone who talked about having a baby for years before I decided to have one.

There’s not a single topic about having a baby (and on this website) that I haven’t talked about with my husband, and I did lots of research before I wrote about them.

So, what’s special about this postpartum recovery kit? Its primary goal and purpose is to help the mom feel good about herself. She needs to feel good about her present self and not be forced to snap back into her old self.

By the way, I am writing this for you, mom-to-be, and for everyone who loves you. Maybe someone who just happened to stumble upon this article has a friend or a sister who’s soon going to become a mom!

You can also send this article to someone who wants to do something nice for you!

So, let’s get into it!

Get Some Good Food for Postpartum Recovery

I wrote a lot about food on this website, and I was so obsessed with food during my pregnancy that my husband even remodeled our kitchen because I wanted to have a healthier and more comfortable space to cook.

Food is very important to me, as I pay special attention to what I eat and how I nourish my body, and I knew that food would play a crucial role in my postpartum recovery.

So, if you’re making a care package, I suggest you think about all the nutrients the mom will need and then see how you can give her those.

Some of the ideas include:

  • A meal subscription service for the whole two weeks in your area with food that she likes. I know that in some cities, you can even find a menu for new moms, but this is something that can really help.
  • Healthy snacks like low-sugar granola, good quality cheese, stacks of yogurt, and nuts to support her breastfeeding, but also to provide minerals and healthy fats she needs to recover
  • Meal delivery gift cards from restaurants or credit for online food delivery
  • Hummus, guacamole, lactation cookies—anything that’s tailored to new moms

You can also prep lots of food in advance and include it as a gift. The mom-to-be will thank you for reading this. Here are some of the easiest and most nourishing postpartum freezer meal ideas that you can prepare and bring over!

Good and Cozy Outfits

We do so much baby shopping while pregnant, and we definitely forget to buy new things for ourselves!

That’s partly because it’s super hard to actually be aware of the changes in your body. It’s like one week, you’re fine in your old jeans, and the next week, you can’t zip them up.

I remember that I really didn’t want to spend too much money on maternity clothing, as I really saw those 9 months as something temporary, and maternity clothes were just not my style. But the first time I bought elastic maternity jeans, my whole world changed!

Even though I can’t wait to get back to my usual dressing routine and wear my clothes, I really don’t want to struggle with looking at myself in the mirror.

And that’s because of two reasons:

a) I’m we’re awesome

b) I’m we’re beautiful

So, having something nice and cozy to wrap up that beauty and awesomeness is essential!

If you’re preparing a new mom care package, you should definitely include a soft and stylish 2-piece set!

Choose light, breathable material, dark colors (if that’s her thing), or something chic and monochromatic, and she can wear it with anything!

capsule wardrobe for a new mom

I can’t recommend these types of outfits enough! You just feel effortlessly cool, and you really want to look cool while you’re going through postpartum recovery.

Another great idea is comfy pajamas, but with an adult design. Nothing with momma bears, baby avocados, kangaroos with babies in their pouches, etc. They can be nursing pajamas, but they don’t have to have a cartoonish design.

I know that everyone is different, and I hope you won’t take this the wrong way, but there’s a whole special thing about women and keeping their identity when becoming moms. I really wanted anything that reminded me of who I am as a whole (woman and mom) and not just a part of me (being a mom).

If you’re interested in exploring this topic, I encourage you to get in touch, as I’m really passionate about this! Say hi in the comments!

And if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the changes, here’s how to hold onto your identity while embracing motherhood.

Now, back to new mom care package ideas with stylish outfits.

So, for lounging at home, you can get:

  • Soft and stylish 2-piece loungewear sets that go well with sneakers, ballet flats, and Birkenstocks
  • Comfy pajamas and nursing gowns with a stylish design
  • A cozy hoodie
  • A preppy cardigan that can turn even the simplest white t-shirt into a Pinterest outfit
  • Flowy dresses that don’t sit tight around the waist

I’m sure you know the mom-to-be pretty well and that you can find something that will fit her style!

Instead of focusing too hard on getting back to where we were, we should do these small good things, like getting a new outfit, to focus more on where we are now.

Hydration Packages and Solutions

fruit infused water

I don’t know if you’d believe me if I told you that I was planning how I was going to manage my postpartum water intake even before I got pregnant. You’re probably thinking I went overboard with baby prep, but hey, I do own and write for this website, so go figure.

Even before I got pregnant, I knew I had to tweak some of my habits (like drinking too much coffee while overworking) and learn how to actually listen to my body.

Buying my first hydration package (mine was Waterdrop) was a game-changer. I started drinking more water and began using micro drinks instead of juice or soda!

I stopped drinking anything with sugar and focused more on getting enough electrolytes and vitamins.

Hydration is so important for postpartum recovery. The body needs fluids to heal, and women often feel extra thirsty during this phase. And if you’re breastfeeding, drinking enough water is absolutely essential!

Since new moms are going to be sleep-deprived, staying hydrated and not relying too heavily on coffee can help keep energy levels more stable. It also helps regulate mood and hormones.

There’s also the issue of headaches and fatigue that can come from hormonal shifts and exhaustion, and being well-hydrated makes a big difference.

Here’s what you can include in the new mom care package:

  • A new water bottle or water cup that keeps her drinks cold and fresh!
  • If she’s a nursing mom, some lactation teas can help with milk production! There are lots of great options on the market, and honestly, most of them taste amazing!
  • Hydration solutions with added vitamins and minerals

Supplements and the Fancy Ones for Hair and Nails

woman styling hair

Let’s talk about supplements, especially the fancy ones that promise stronger hair, glowing skin, and nails that won’t break at the slightest touch.

Postpartum is such a wild ride for your body. Even if you’re eating well, there’s just so much going on hormonally and physically that it’s easy to end up depleted.

Hair shedding, brittle nails, dry skin, fatigue, yep- are all common and tied to your body’s nutrient demands during healing and (if you’re breastfeeding) milk production.

So, what can help?

First, I want to say this clearly: supplements aren’t magic, and they don’t replace rest, food, and hydration.

But they can support the recovery, especially when you’ve lost a lot of key nutrients during birth and postpartum.

And for some moms (me included!), they can be a little confidence booster when you start seeing small changes, like your nails not splitting every other day.

I had a horrible situation with my hair, where I had to deal with lots of hair shedding during pregnancy and lots of changes. First of all, I slowly transitioned from blonde to bronde, and after a year of growing my natural hair, most of my hair snapped (probably due to bleach overlap) and ended up in a mess.

I really wanted good hair and nail supplements, as I lost a lot of confidence here. Now, I am working on my hair journey, and I definitely feel better knowing that I’m doing something to help my body do its stuff again.

Let’s break down the main ones to consider:

  • Biotin is probably the most talked about when it comes to hair and nails. It helps your body make keratin, and while actual biotin deficiency is rare, many women notice improvements when they supplement, especially after a dip during pregnancy.
  • Collagen is another popular one. It’s great for skin elasticity (think: your belly, boobs, and face), but it also supports nail strength and hair regrowth.
  • Vitamin D often drops during postpartum, and not having enough can lead to low energy and fragile nails. It also plays a role in hair follicle cycling. Since most of us are inside a lot with a newborn (and probably not sunbathing), it’s something worth checking.
  • Omega-3s are another go-to. They help reduce inflammation and improve hair and skin, and they do so much for our brain and cognitive health.

Now, if you’re nursing, always run supplements by your doctor or midwife first. Some herbs or doses may not be suitable, and it’s better to be safe.

Also, stick to brands that do third-party testing or have clean-label certifications. Not all supplements are created equal, and some of the “fancy” ones are all marketing with no substance.

You can absolutely build a thoughtful care package around this theme:

  • A pretty jar of collagen powder
  • A bottle of biotin or a well-rounded postnatal vitamin
  • Hair and nail vitamins (not the ones influencers recommend, but the ones with certificates)
  • Postpartum multivitamins recommended by doctors. My doctor told me to continue taking my pregnancy multivitamin for 3 months after the baby comes.

Subscription Services or Streaming Service

woman reading kindle

I was really surprised to hear this, but most parents I interviewed told me that Netflix was their lifesaver in those first days after the baby was born.

How do new parents even find time to watch TV? It turns out that sometimes the only way to decompress is to watch a comfort TV series or just have something on to zone out.

It didn’t make sense to me at first since I know most new parents don’t even have time to shower, let alone watch TV! But since newborns do sleep a lot (between 14–17 hours per day), you’ll actually have some time to watch something and relax during the day.

This is something you can discuss with the mom-to-be, but you can get gift cards for TV streaming services and let her and her partner enjoy some unlimited TV time while they decompress and zone out during the day.

I would add an Amazon gift card for all the Kindle books she wants! I’m not sure I’d recommend Kindle Unlimited, as most bestsellers aren’t available there. But for me personally, stocking up my Kindle with 50 of the best 2024/2025 books gave me peace of mind, knowing I’d have books to keep me busy! I even added a bunch of thrillers and romance novels in case I had to spend some time in the hospital before giving birth.

Comfortable Shoes and Slippers

During pregnancy, it’s perfectly normal for your feet to grow in size. They can grow in width (because of the swelling) and length! And they can grow by half a size or even a full shoe size!

It’s a bit depressing, I know, but for most women, things go back to normal once the baby weight is off and the hormones are back to normal.

However, this doesn’t mean that the mom-to-be should be uncomfortable, suffer, or miss out on wearing something trendy and stylish!

Feet can grow due to swelling, pregnancy hormones, and weight gain (which puts pressure on the feet), and the arches of the feet may flatten out due to a hormone called relaxin that also relaxes the muscles and ligaments. So, until things get back to normal, a new mom needs some new shoes!

I love:

  • Good comfy sneakers
  • Stylish flats (preferably made of leather so they are soft and stretchy)
  • Then good slippers or sandals
  • And finally, something cozy and soft to wear indoors!

I said at the beginning of the article that preparing a new mom care package is not about typical mom and baby stuff. It’s about the new mom feeling like herself again and feeling really good in her (changing) body.

Hair Salon and Beauty Appointments

Once, I was towards the end of my second trimester, I couldn’t even see my feet because of my belly.

I couldn’t paint my toenails.

My hair was always in a ponytail because I was sweating buckets due to hormonal changes.

Unless I had a mirror, I couldn’t even see some parts of my body, let alone wax or shave.

So, I made a list of things I wanted to do once I gave birth and was partly healed!

Think:

  • hairdresser appointment, cut and tone
  • full body waxing
  • pedicure
  • facial
  • full dental cleaning
  • dermatologist appointment to get rid of hormonal skin tags
  • literally everything!!

So, if you can, get some vouchers or gift cards, or simply book the hair appointment and pay in advance!

I can’t tell you just how much she’ll appreciate it! It feels so good to have someone else take care of you, to get out and about, and to enjoy some pampering!

I would add some extra stuff here, like skincare, good body butter, and lotions for stretch marks, and some nice hair accessories (that can help her deal with pregnancy or postpartum hair loss).

I hope I helped you and inspired you to prepare a nice new mom care package so your wife, friend, daughter, and sister can feel good about themselves and enjoy their new role with some extra confidence!

Preparing a new mom care package is a big part of the Pre-Baby Talk. That’s why, when the baby comes, you’ll be ready and prepared for…

…all the love in the world.

Which of these ideas do you think she’ll like the best? Let me know in the comments!

Don’t forget to pin this post so you’ll always have these ideas handy!

This post showed you How to Prepare a New Mom Care Package.

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Hello! I’m Lola.

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Welcome to Pre-Baby Talk, a space to reflect on parenthood—love, identity, purpose—and how to raise a child while staying true to ourselves.

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