What To Put in a C-Section Gift Basket

If you have had a c-section or know of a mom who has had one, you know it can be a tough recovery. A simple c-section gift basket can go a long way towards helping the new mom recover. These practical c-section gifts will help more than you know.

I don’t dilate past one cm so had to have an emergency c-section with my oldest and a scheduled one with my youngest. But true to form, neither of my kids paid any attention to my scheduled c-section date. My son decided he was ready to get some fresh air three weeks before I was due. My daughter was scheduled to be delivered on a Monday–so she decided to make her appearance the Friday before and disrupt all of our weekend plans. (Just kidding, I was uncomfortably large so my only plan was to play with my son who was barely a year old.) 

Regardless, I figured that being a new mom would be tough.  But being a new mom while recovering from major surgery was on another level.

Cesarean Section Deliveries are Not the “Easy Way Out”

I don’t entertain the idea that c-section moms don’t go through “real labor.” I assure you, I labored through very real and very regular contractions for over 15 hours with my son. When the doctor explained that I needed an emergency c-section, I was overcome with relief.

With my daughter, I had my first real contraction after taking a few bites of my breakfast. Since I knew that they wouldn’t do my spinal tap until 8 hours after I last ate, I finished my meal! For some reason, the nurses didn’t tell my ob gyn that my contractions were as close as they were. A couple of hours into labor, the doctor took one look at me, timed my contractions, and called for anesthesiology. Up until then, I had been in active labor with no pain medication for hours. So I totally dispute the notion that I didn’t go through real labor. 

Rant over.

Most women don’t  expect to have a c-section the first time around. So they don’t prepare for one. But the surgery does add an extra layer to those first few weeks postpartum. These thoughtful gifts will offer comfort without intruding on her recovery.

Best Gifts for C Section Moms

A few extra pillows or support pillows

Before having children, I had 3 abdominal surgeries.  I do think it gave me an edge when it came to knowing what to expect. However, I didn’t have a colicky newborn when I was healing from those first 3 surgeries. My newborn son did not like to eat. He struggled with latching on then spent hours crying, because he was hungry. (By the way, he is only now starting to eat everything in sight–and he is twelve. It was always a struggle when he was younger to get him to sit and EAT.) 

Read: Weird but effective way to overcome nipple confusion while breastfeeding

Pain causes stress

C-section moms are in pain. I remember feeling discomfort everywhere. I also think that my weakened core (you know, the one that was cut open to free my kid) contributed to the discomfort I felt in my back.

A lumbar support pillow like this one and a sleeping wedge helped relieve the pain so I could focus on my new baby and recovery.

I also preferred My Brest Friend to the Boppy when it came to nursing my newborns. The pillows help support the mom and the baby. I liked stuffing extra cloth diapers in the little pocket of the My Brest Friend to make spit up clean up easy. The My Brest Friend also buckled so stayed in place, unlike the more popular boppy. No lie, it’s the little things that make a huge difference. 

I was given a Boppy as a baby shower gift. It became my “guest” pillow. More specifically, it was the pillow I placed on my Dad and sisters laps when they want to hold the baby! They were both terrified of dropping him and felt more comfortable sitting while cuddling our new family member. 

Another kind of support is helpful too for c section moms: the postpartum belly support panty. I felt like all it would take for my guts to fall out of my incision was one good sneeze. The support underwear helped with that.

A huge Yeti or Rtic cup

It irked me that nobody warned me about all the swelling following the cesarean. The swelling in my legs and feet were no joke. 

A large Yeti cup of ice water is a lifesaver. In order to relieve the swelling and heal, you have to drink lots of fluids. But the swelling and pain make pushing yourself off of the couch less than fun.

Having a huge container of ice cold water by your side is glorious! Then you don’t have to ask your husband refill it as often.

I also loved this Mother’s Milk tea. It’s a soothing way to help boost milk supply.

A basket full of goodies

I was parked on the couch for a couple of days with my son.

A lot of people who have never had abdominal surgery don’t realize how immobile you are after surgery. Your abdominal muscles are called your core for a good reason. They are involved in almost all the body’s movement!  It was hard to get up and down. My best gift advice for moms after a c-section is to get them a basketful of goodies to keep near her.

Self-care items for her, and mini items for baby, like (baby powder, diapers, butt balm, and so on) make it much easier to rest and recover. These breast pain relief pads are also a huge hit with new moms, whether c-section or not. The milk is going to come in whether you are mobile or not.

For some, the idea of a scar can be an added source of stress for an over-tired and highly emotional new mom. This new organic skin and scar balm would be a great gift idea. 

Several other moms have noted that their baby carriers were lifesavers! I agree. I definitely put my Baby Bjorn and my Moby wrap to good use. 

A gift card for mom

Nothing makes a c-section mom feel better than her first adventure out after being inside for weeks at a time. Get mom a gift card, so she can enjoy lunch or dinner when she is able to drive again and leave her house. She will love having that guilt free time.

Bring her family dinner

One of the most helpful thing to do for a new mom, c-section or not, is to bring her family dinner. There is just something nice about not having to cook. Freezer meals also work great, so she can just put them in the crock pot or instant pot.

Take the older kids for her

Resting is always a dilemma for a mama who has had multiple c-sections. Offer to take her older kids for her, so she can get a break. Being able to rest will make her a way better mama to all of her kiddos.

Finding the perfect gift for the c-section mom in your life is as simple as knowing what she likes.  One of my favorite gifts to receive and to give are fluffy sherpa blankets or heated blankets. My husband keeps the house cold and I love to snuggle in a soft blanket while recovering. The babies love it too. 

Honestly, the smallest gifts help those mamas heal. Knowing she doesn’t have to make dinner or that she can get a break from the older kids for a while is very helpful. Being there for her in anyway physically possible is a great gift.

Have you ever had a c-section? What were your favorite gifts? For more gift ideas for new moms check out these practical gifts.

More ideas for c-section moms: 

Give the ultimate post c-section gift basket

How to fix nipple confusion

Breastfeeding Tips and Advice