OB "Freebies"

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Does anyone give out extra freebies to new parents? Our hospital provides the usual Enfamil/Similac diaper bag, knit cap, small classic book and a baby spoon from the volunteers. Just looking for ideas to maybe change it up a bit.

Sorry to stray away from the breast/bottle feeding discussion, but a sort-of OB freebie that the hospital that I worked in offered was a free massage from a licensed massage therapist to all of our postpartum moms before discharge.

Now THAT is a wonderful idea. Only problem is that I would be so jealous. :D

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Now THAT is a wonderful idea. Only problem is that I would be so jealous. :D

Haha. Once in a while one of the massage therapists would do a quick shoulder rub for one of the nurses if she knew them well, and everyone around would just give the lucky nurse a good jealous stare down. Unfortunately that hospital recently discontinued the massages to cut cost in this lovely economy. Being the wonderful employer that they are, they offered all of the massage therapists other positions such as customer service rep, etc. but yes, the patients loved the massage.

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Specializes in LDRP/Nursery/Peds/Gyn, school nursing.

At our hospital, the volunteers would make huge flannel stockings for the babies. Come December, all of the babies would get tucked into the stockings Santa-style. There were also colorful flannel Easter eggs for the spring hatchlings to get tucked into. (Not an incredibly diverse community, so nobody objected to the religious symbolism there.)

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Specializes in Rural Healthcare, AIDS, Hospice, UR, LTC.

I love that idea! I was actually a Christmas Eve baby and came home in a stocking.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

We do Christmas stockings for the 12/24 and 12/25 babies too.

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I was born on Christmas, and I also came home in a stocking! I still have it, too! ;)

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Specializes in med/surg, tele, OB.

My hospital gives out the usual bags with coupons and diapers. But they also give out a handmade quilt to each baby. A local church group makes and donates them. I think this is a really nice keepsake. :redpinkhe

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We are currently struggling with this same issue and are no longer giving bags to our BF moms, but still giving to our FF moms. We are a very small unit - avg 10-15 deliveries per month, really have NO budget for gifts, but a volunteer makes knitted caps for all babies and last year (and this year) after Christmas, I went shopping and found some cute Christmas onsies/sleepers for really cheap - we dressed the babies in them after their bath who were born after 12/10 - Mom's were thrilled. This year I found cute caps and bibs for next year. I spent maybe $10 out of my own pocket, but it was worth it just to see the Mom's reaction.

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