The Essential Gift Guide for Moms: Wellness Edition
Bringing a new life into the world is wild. New moms deserve the sun, the moon, and the stars. Thoughtful support and proper recovery work too.
Over the last few years, new studies have come out about the changes that take place in a woman’s brain before and after pregnancy, not to mention the major changes our physical bodies go through as well. After diving into some of these findings, I am struck by the sheer marvel of the human body once again. Changes in the brain have taken place since the beginning of time so that mother and baby can survive. But the thing is, the world has changed. Humans have changed. Staying alive thousands of years ago was very different than surviving today, especially for mom and baby.
I’ve written this up for moms of all stages and ages, with an emphasis on newbies. I would have loved to know about these services when I was pregnant. I hope this helps you and the ones you care about, whether you're on the hunt for a thoughtful “no frills” gift that makes a difference to a new mom or perhaps you know a mom-to-be who could use help to build her village as she prepares for the next chapter.
I am fortunate to regularly come together with a community of remarkable women who have dedicated their lives to ensuring that everyone has the chance to flourish. I am honored to share information about this special community of practitioners specializing in the field of family wellness, with a strong focus on women’s health.
Think pelvic floor practitioners as the unsung heroes of post-baby recovery, holistic nourishment navigation, and chiropractors who know how to align both body and spirit. This gift guide doesn’t do trinkets. It's about real support from professionals who understand the new mom hustle and the rays of beauty in the trenches of life while raising small humans.
Let’s dive in.
The Gift of Sleep
A call with a pediatric sleep consultant can change everything. We can guide a new mom in the right direction depending on her goals and comfort level. Personally, the book, 12 Hours by 12 Weeks and a very specific chat with a sleep consultant changed everything for us during a challenging time in our new parent journey. Do not underestimate the power of a phone call and a passionate coach cheering you on.
At Sleep Well Thrive, I offer certificates for 40 and 70-minute gift calls for moms-to-be and new moms. These gift calls are available for children up to 5 years old. I also offer newborn sleep shaping sessions, in person or virtual. My friends, Kristen at Sleep Wise Solutions, and Mariah Martin Postpartum Doula also offer gift vouchers toward their services, and they are also local to the Philadelphia suburbs and Bucks County PA areas, in addition to virtual services. Contact one of us for more information. Sleep is life!
Sleep Well Thrive - Emmy Clendenny
Sleep Wise Solutions - Kristen Rusnack
Mariah Martin Postpartum Doula - Mariah Martin
DOULA Love Me?!?!
Yes, of course! Imagine having a compassionate and knowledgeable ally throughout your entire birthing experience and during the fourth trimester (or both!) – that is what a doula provides. From easing anxieties with personalized emotional support to offering pain management techniques, breastfeeding assistance, household help, and empowering guidance, a doula becomes your unwavering companion, ensuring you feel supported, informed, and empowered throughout the life-changing journey of bringing your precious baby into the world.
Birth and Post-Birth Doula Services can be a great gift for someone in your life who you already know is going to be embarking on this journey. An example of what you could say: “Hey, I know you are thinking about working with a doula. Can I help give you names of trusted doulas in the area (and / or), can I contribute to your package with a certificate?” or “Do you need to top up on additional services with the doula you are working with?”
Many doulas offer various levels of support and find that parents are knocking on their doors more than once or twice. I would take an extra hour with a doula over a new sweater any day. If you are looking for in-person local to Bucks County, Lehigh Valley, Philly burbs, and NJ reach out to these amazing women:
Kerri the Doula - Kerri Pavlik
Nourished Families - Liz Lehmann
Lightwood Maternity - Lauralee Lightwood-Mater
The Gift of Alignment
Proper Chiropractic care is like a tune-up for your body and mind, leaving you feeling refreshed, balanced, and ready to take on life. After giving birth, both myself and my colicky bub needed chiropractic help just a few weeks after giving birth, which I was not expecting. This service was a crucial part of our recovery on our new journey together.
Offering gift cards for their postpartum package and regular services, Willow Wellness and Chiropractic Care of Doylestown is a must if you live in the area. They also offer red-light therapy, sauna sessions, and other holistic wellness services. So good!
Regardless of where you live, this is a unique gift to think about for a new mom in your life. Ask around to find a trusted provider if you do not already know of any. See if they offer gift cards.
Willow Wellness and Chiropractic Care of Doylestown - Dr. Sydney Mitton, Dr. Heidi Randall
Personal Health with a Big Bow on Top
Give the gift of wellness, a personal roadmap, to someone you love with a Functional Nutritionist. Yes please!
Post Glo Nutrition - Post Glo Nutrition is a busy mom’s bestie, but food. They offer gift cards that can be used for education sessions for postpartum nutrition, lactation nutrition, meal planning, and recipes. In-person or virtual available.
Kennedy Integrative Wellness - We are all different, every single one of us. Wendy Kennedy offers gift cards for tailored services including functional nutrition counseling, patient advocacy/education, and Occupational Therapy. We all need a Wendy in our lives.
The Gift We Didn’t Know We Needed
A Pelvic floor practitioner should be in everyone’s corner. Danika and her incredible team at Flourish Pelvic Health and Wellness, based out of Montgomery County, are changing the game below deck. Seriously, check them out.
We all deserve to feel and function well from head to toe and everywhere in between. Their easy-to-purchase gift cards will leave someone feeling extra special, and without a doubt, add a pep to their step. Buy here.
Yoga Me What?
A gift card to a yoga studio, especially one like Yoga Gnome, who offers an array of classes, big kids to baby and me, and their very special prenatal yoga class will crown you the goddess (position) that you are.
We are strong and worthy of happiness and yoga delivers every time. Grab a gift card for someone you love, especially if it’s yourself… yes, YOU.
Other unique gift ideas for the new and expecting moms in your life:
Feed Me! A gift card to a favorite restaurant or food delivery service
A Massage or Spa: A pre-natal massage sounds like a luxury, but it shouldn’t be. Our bodies need help staying healthy during these major life transitions. Sciatica pain, for example, plagues many during this time. There is so much we can do for relief like a massage, yoga, stretching, or physical therapy. How about before the pain starts? Sharing is caring. Let others know about what helps and what doesn’t. We all have different journeys, but
House Cleaning Service or High-Quality Cleaning Tool: I would be pumped to receive something that made cleaning around here easier.
Laundry Service Pick up & Delivery Gift Voucher
Organizational Help, Service, or Products: If you are close enough to this person and know this would be a welcome gift, home organization assistance is beyond useful. Life gets pretty messy in those early stages so every organized drawer, corner, and room count! There are several
“Some gifts are big. Others are small. But the ones that come from the heart are the best gifts of all. ”
I hope you found some gifting inspiration here.
Dream big. Sleep well,
Emmy
