House Cleaning Services

• The weeks immediately following a baby's birth are a time of great upheaval and exhaustion for a new mom, and the last thing she has the energy for are chores like vacuuming or cleaning windows. Until she has adjusted to life with a baby, help her out by purchasing the services of a cleaning company to lighten the domestic load. Consider joining forces with others to purchase a group gift of six months worth of cleaning.
  
  

Postpartum Doula

• Purchase the services of a Postpartum Doula. "Postpartum" refers to the time period immediately following the birth of the baby, and a Postpartum Doula is one who supports the mother and family after the baby is born, rather than during the pregnancy and birth like a regular Doula. She assists the new mom and dad in learning how to care for their new baby and adjust to their new parenting roles. If the cost is prohibitive, consider making this a group gift with others. Service length and schedules are flexible and can be customized to the needs of the family. Since not everyone appreciates a person they have just met in their home during a time of great change, this is a gift that is best offered before it purchased.
  
  

Reading Material

• The Internet is an abundant source of information for new moms, but it's hard to surf the web with a baby in your arms. Treat a new mom to the latest in-print information on infant care and childcare. She'll have it handy while she is chair-bound with a feeding infant. Baby care and milestone books, or a subscription to a parenting magazine, will both assist her in learning the ropes of childcare and help her pass the time. Audio books are another excellent option, allowing her to listen to content while her eyes are busy watching her new baby.
  
  

Your Time

• Sometimes the best gifts are free. Compare calenders with the new mom and arrange a time or two (or more) for you to go to her house and help out. Cook, clean, grocery shop, change diapers, fold laundry or help out with whatever is needed. This will allow her to get some much needed sleep as she recovers from childbirth, or nourish herself with an uninterrupted hot meal.
  
  

Diaper Service

• If the new mom is environmentally inclined and would like to use cloth diapers, make a payment toward a diaper service. A diaper service will drop off clean cloth diapers and take away the soiled ones at a regularly scheduled interval -- usually once per week. All the new mom has to do is place the soiled diapers in their bags and have them ready on pick-up day.