DH's BF's wife just delivered a preemie. Need gift suggestion

[Anonymous]

We can't travel and they have plenty of help to cook/clean/run errands. Visiting won't be possible in the near future. What are our options?

The baby is 28weeks and a fighter!

TIA

[Anonymous]

your dear husband's boyfriend's wife delivered a preemie? i'm so confused.

[Anonymous]

Obviously it's the husband's best friend's wife.
In this case I might say clothes since they sell preemie ones now and they likely didn't have them ahead of time?

[Anonymous]

I'm the original PP - I SWEAR to you I had no idea what BF meant! I actually thought she meant birth father (as in her DH was adopted). Sorry OP!

Ditto preemie clothes and preemie diapers. My sister in law had a very tiny newborn (full term but 4 lbs) and they were completely unprepared to clothe her.

[Anonymous]

Pampers preemie swaddles for sensitive skin. They have a stripe that shows up when diaper is wet, so you don't have to open up for no reason. A little splurge for newborn life!

[Anonymous]

-Books/videos (or giftcards to itunes or amazon) - there will be lots of downtime in the nicu where they will not be able to hold the baby, but will be hanging out. Mom may be pumping and may need a little something to focus on to relax while she does. Also, if they have a private room, they may be able to set up some music both for while they are there and to keep the babies company when they are not.
-Books they can read to the baby.
-A couple preemie outfits for when they can dress the baby - kimono type wraps or button ups - stuff that can accommodate the wires.
-Suggest/help them set up a twitter account or email group so they can update/post pics for friends and family at their leisure. Its very, very difficult to "man the phones" for weeks at a time when all you really want to do/have the energy to do is sleep and hold your baby.
-Comfy outfit for mom - again lots of sitting. Not to comfortable to be spending that much time in the hospital and definitely not after recovering from a c-section.
-A nursing cover-up if she is trying to pump. A saviour even if they have a private room - people will be constantly in and out.
-Volunteer to help them get a thank you card/gift for the nurses and doctors. Another thing that they will probably want to add to their to do list since they will be there for awhile and something you can take off their plate.
-A pretty blanket to cover issolet if allowed.
-Volunteer to gather information on online/local resources related to preemies for them if and when needed. The NICU might help with this too, but I think some NICUs are better than others when it comes to on going help. You can start with Preemies Today which is founded in the DC metro area.

As a preemie mom to twins, thanks for helping out. It is a tough time and they need support.
My best to your friends.

[Anonymous]

-preemie clothes are really nice to get as gifts. [We received several lovely Janie and Jack outfits that I never would have bought myself.]

-a nice bag to bring haul all the stuff she will be bringing back and forth to the nicu. If she is pumping, a inner bag with a freezer pack would be helpful.

-gift certificate for restaurants right near the hospital.

-photo album

[Anonymous]

Preemie clothes, which really are hard to find. Buy Buy Baby has a pretty good selection.

[Anonymous]

gymboree and janie and jack also have preemie sizes

[Anonymous]

When my friend had a preemie she most appreciated the gift cards and simple basics. One thing she commented on was the cost of parking when going to the hospital every day so she appreciated having even grocery gift cards that helped offset the expenses they had otherwise.

[Anonymous]

gas gift certificates.
cash for the parking lot.
a new comfy outfit for mom with a nursing tank.

[Anonymous]

I got someone in a similar situation a subscription to something like US Weekly or People -- something mindless to help pass the time.

[Anonymous]

OP, I just read your post again- you said 28 weeks. I mentioned clothes, and at that "age" that's actually a no-no. I'm sorry. They don't usually allow babies that young to have anything touch their skin.

Looks like a long NICU stay and that's a whole other ballgame. My daughter was in for 2.5 months, but not a preemie. I agree- a visa gift card to help with parking. A friend sent me an incredible pillow for the long days and nights we spent sleeping in the NICU. If you can find a baby book or memory book specifically for babies who will have to stay in the NICU (there are just different memories you want to jot down- like the nurses who cared for your child, etc. ). If you can find out the name of a cleaning service near the family, and get them a gift card - our house looked like a whirlwind because we were only dashing in to shower and change. And breastpump stuff- she'll likely need a hospital grade pump at home, since she's not going to be able to hold her baby close to help with supply. And if nothing else, a gift certificate to a spa or something...after a while, I know I got to a point where I felt like I couldn't both feel bad AND look bad. So I took a day for me.

[Anonymous]

This is the OP. Thanks for trying to help but I don't think clothes will work (like PP pointed out) or diapers... this child will be there for a long time... and they already have family pinching in with meals and help keeping the house. .

We don't know if she's pumping and DH thinks it's not appropriate to ask so we'll skip the pump stuff.

I wanted something different and special. I love the idea of the pillow and the blanket.

[Anonymous]

My DD was born at 28 weeks (now a healthy 6 year old) and was certainly allowed to wear clothes. In fact, since very young preemies can't regulate their body temps by themselves, the clothes can help with that during feeds and holding.

This may be too personal for your purposes, but I am throwing it out there in case it's helpful to others. I found a woman on the Internet who made a doll to my DD's birth measurements. We still have the doll and it's very special to us, because our former 2 pound, 28 weeker is now a 50 pound 1st grader. Google 'preemie doll' and it should hit on her site if she's still in business.

That said, personalized blankets and the like are also always appreciated.