As a fourth-time mama, I’ve grown to deeply appreciate the labor and delivery nurses and hospital staff who cared for me and each of my babies. Their compassion, skill, and steady presence during one of the most intense experiences of life have made a lasting impression on me.
They are absolutely amazing people (even the few who seemed a bit gruff at first).
The first nurse who looked after me after my cesarean with my firstborn remains one of the kindest people I’ve met. She anticipated needs, adjusted my pillows, and helped me feel as comfortable as possible during recovery. I’ll never forget her thoughtfulness.
For my most recent birth—the hardest and most exhausting—I had a nurse who became my advocate. When an on-call doctor restricted me to liquids, she called my regular OB, got approval for me to eat, and brought me breakfast. Small acts like that mean so much in a vulnerable moment.
Every nurse has been a hero to me in one way or another
Nurses work difficult hours and often give their best with a smile. I’ve had staff toss extra pads, Tucks, and diapers into my discharge bag to help out at home. They also deal with things most people don’t want to think about—fluids and messes—and they do it professionally while treating new parents and babies with warmth.
I’m grateful for each and every one of them
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Before my first baby, someone suggested bringing small thank-you gifts for nurses and staff. I made little bags with notes and planned to hand them out, but after a c-section the pain medication left me loopy and I only remembered a few times. With my second I forgot again despite preparing gifts.
By baby number three I learned a simpler system: gather a variety of individually wrapped snacks and mints, put them in a sturdy plastic basket from the Dollar Tree, and set up a clear sign inviting staff to take one as a thank-you. That approach was much easier to manage while in recovery, and staff appreciated the low-key offering.
When it was time to leave, I asked the last nurse on duty to leave the basket at the nurses’ station. No handing out required, and the treats were available for whoever needed a quick pick-me-up during a busy shift.
I used that experience to pack intentionally for my fourth birth. The idea is to keep things simple, practical, and durable so they survive sitting in a bag from 37 weeks onward.
Here are the winning items based on what people actually took
Choose individually wrapped items that won’t spoil or get crushed. These are the items that disappeared first from my baskets:
Instant coffee packets (huge hit)
Single-serve instant coffee or single-serve creamer packets are convenient for nurses between shifts. A warm or caffeinated pick-me-up is often welcomed during overnight hours.
Plain chocolate bars
Simple chocolate bars are a classic snack and tend to be enjoyed quickly.
Butterfingers
Candy with resilient packaging that won’t melt easily works well when stored in a bag for several weeks.
Reese’s
Peanut butter cups and similar individually wrapped treats are popular and compact.
M&Ms
Small portion candies like M&Ms are easy to grab and share among staff.
Mints
Breath mints are useful for quick refreshment, especially after long patient interactions.
Gum
Gum is another practical, small gift that’s easy to store and use.
Tip 1
Pack mints separately in a sealed baggie. Strong mint flavors can transfer to nearby chocolate or candy if everything is packed together, and you’ll want to avoid that mix.
Tip 2
Place all treat bags into a gallon plastic bag. When you arrive at the hospital, have your support person dump the sealed bags into the basket and hang up your sign. I keep the basket and treats in my labor bag so it’s ready as soon as I get to the hospital.
Choose items that travel well
Avoid perishable or crushable foods
Since your labor bag is ideally packed by 37 weeks, items that spoil (fresh fruit) or crush (chips, popcorn) are better left out. Stick with shelf-stable, individually wrapped snacks.
To make things even easier, I created a printable sign you can use on your basket. Print it on cardstock, fill in your baby’s name if you like, and place it near the treats to let staff know the snacks are for them.
Free printable
A final note: there is absolutely no pressure to bring gifts. Preparing for a birth is demanding, and if you don’t have time or energy to put together a basket, that’s perfectly okay. A sincere verbal thank-you and gratitude go a long way and are deeply appreciated by nursing staff and hospital teams.
Download the thank-you printable from the resources or freebies section of the blog if you’d like to use it with your basket.