[Carimel]

We started with our agency on the 17th of January. We were matched on the 13th of February. Our little bundle of joy will be born in May. My question is, has anyone given the birth parents a gift the day they from the hospital? I have been really thinking about doing this because we want to thank them for making our life complete. I know they are making a huge sacrifice so their child could have a better life. I would love to hear everyone's input! We do not know the sex of our baby yet!

[sheababy]

Yes-our agency recommended it. I know some people have just done flowers and gift basket (lotions etc) type stuff. We just did a card with a personalized note/letter with a gift card to Target since we had little notice.

[Steph-Jason]

I would check with your agency & see what they recomment. Ours recommended against an actual gift but we were able to do a floral arrangement the day DD's bmom was leaving the hospital- i know she really like that alot. Ours told us not to because it might be seen as trying to sway the bmom's decision.

[Chiefs_dip]

We gave an empty photo album and told her that she'd fill it up soon with all the pictures we'd be sending her.
We also gave a phone card if she wanted to call us anytime.
We also gave stationary and stamps and encouraged her to write us anytime.

Other people I know have given pampering gifts to help with her recovery after delivery. Lotion, massage stuff, bubble bath items, etc.

[sams-mommy]

We didn't use an agency, we did a private adoption and we gave her gifts. We gave our Sons Bmom a bag of stuff for the hospital, pj's, flip-flops, lotions and body spray and all kinds of toiletries. Magazines, crosswords and snacks. We also got her a digital camera. We knew form her mom that she wanted one. We got the case for it and a memory card and a picture printer.
She was able to take alot of pictures of the baby which was really nice.
We then sent her a necklace for her birthday. Which you can use this as a present after the birth too, it is a heart wrapped around a triangle. It represents the triad, The Birthmom, The Child, and the Adoptive Parents, all brought together by love. We ordered it from an ad in Adoptive Families magazine. It comes in silver and gold.
She loved it.
Good Luck, whatever it is and comes from your heart will be good.

[dklevy]

I don't remember if my daughter's aparents gave me something atthe hospital but they did give me a double sided locket to put SN and SE's pictures in. That meant so much to me and at first I never took it off..... They also sent me a dozen yellow roses that first mother's day which helped me more than they will ever know....

[KLL08]

We gave our dd's bmom a diamond heart necklace. I wasn't sure if she prefered white gold or yellow gold because we had only met her once before our daughter was born and she wasn't wearing any jewelry. I was so happy at our first visit...she was wearing it. It meant alot to me that she liked it. I'm trying to decide what to do for the first mother's day this year. Thank you dklevy for the idea of yellow roses. I've also thought about doing a bound photo book with --A day in the life of S.

[devildogwife]

Always check with your agency or attorney beforehand. We gave my son's birth mom 2 dozen roses and we bought her lunch.

[maryabr]

I agree with others - check with the agency first. Many states have rules about monies going to the bmom and how much you can give, and you don't want to "mess anything up" at such a critical time. We were given the OK and encouraged to give something personal. They recommended something like a spa basket or bracelet. We ended up buying a heart with diamonds necklace in white gold. We included a gift receipt and note that we didn't mind if she decided to exchange it. Also included a card with a personal thank you note added in. We received a very nice thank you note about a month later.

[furrybluemom]

Since our adoption is very open and nontraditional (like us) we spent a lot of time in the hospital with birth mom and her bio son. We brought small gifts of snacks and drinks, bathroom slippers, toys, and crayons. We also did a lot of errand running and even some childcare for her son so she could rest after her c-section. She was really alone at the hospital. Our funniest gift has to be the bed frame. She was sleeping on a matteress on the floor in a rented room and couldn't get in bed because of the stitches. Later, after I got home I sent her a birthstone locket bracelet with some of Q's hair in it. I think birthmom would say that photos are the greatest gift of all. We text her photos frequently of Q doing just daily things and she loves them. We will be with birthmom on Mother's day after 5 months apart. I can't wait and I think I will bring those roses!