Around the Web…

Check out these news stories:

• “Push presents” are gaining popuarity, but are they necessary? — ABCNews.com
• Did you eat foods made with alcohol while pregnant? — lilSugar
• How to cope when your baby is kept in the NICU — AlphaMom
• A lesson in bee stings — BettyConfidential
• Activity during labor may decrease actual pushing time — New York Times

Comments

eternalcanadian on April 21st, 2009

i think instead of calling such things “push presents” they should be called “parent presents” because what about women that adopt, or men that adopt, or the fathers (which without them there would be no baby in the first place)?

Aelys on April 21st, 2009

I was very much surprised at the article about “push presents.” Even though my dad did gift my mom with some jewelry when my sister and I were born (some 30 and 28 years ago), I always thought it was “normal” and a nice gesture of my dad towards my mom. I never thought of it as a “push present,” probably because my grandma also gifted my mom with jewelry when we were born. What shocked me most is how, apparently, some women come to expect something, and something expensive nonetheless, and go as far as hinting about it or buying it themselves. I’m not a mom so I never went through labour (yet), but I don’t think I’d like my partner handing me a gift because they felt compelled to get me one.

MZ on April 21st, 2009

I agree, eternalcanadian. For instance, I had to have a c-section so there was no pushing on my part. And I felt like my husband did a lot of work, too. We were going to get “parent presents” for each other, but then things got so busy we ended up not doing anything, and that was just fine too, b/c we were so excited to have our baby home with us.

As far as eating foods with alcohol, I did just once. I was really craving fish and chips and the only ones at the restaurant were beer battered. I knew the alcohol would cook off, so I gave in and ate them. I never cooked with alcohol b/c sometimes when I do that all the wine doesn’t cook off and I didn’t want to risk anything.

Megan on April 21st, 2009

Expecting a push present seems frivolous and a little materialistic to me. And yeah, I have seen sites promoting push presents to give to dads.

kmf on April 21st, 2009

I agree, the “push present” seems kind of silly to me. My husband actually got me something, but I wasn’t expecting anything at all. He was getting pressure from his female co-workers to get me something (they were sending him links to necklaces and jewelry they thought he should get me). In the end, he got DVR for our home… a gift I use FAR more often than jewelry, especially after having a new baby!

But I think having a new parent present is a better idea… the daddy’s deserve something too!

Julie on April 21st, 2009

I feel like saying “Give me a break” about push presents. You should just be happy to have your baby and not be thinking about what present you deserve. Sorry if it sounds harsh, but being a mother of a preemie who had to spend his first 5 weeks in the hospital, I was just happy with the precious life I had been given and didn’t expect my husband to give me a present for “pushing”. I knew he appreciated what I did anyway.

Mrs. R. on April 21st, 2009

I agree with you Julie, to a point. I mean, what is the harm in one parent giving the other something to commemorate the birth of a child. My husband gave me some little earrings with the birthstone of our daughter that I’ve worn especially at her baptism, birthdays, and other special occasions just for her. She even knows they are ‘her’ earrings. My husband asked if I’d like some for our son to be born later this year, and I don’t see anything wrong with them. It’s not about getting a present, but about having something a little special to remember the experience. I know that my child could be rememberance enough, but it was a loving gesture from my husband and just added to the specialness of the newness of the birth.

Rach on April 21st, 2009

I think push presents are fine. I absolutely hate the name. It is no easy feat to have/deliver a child. My husband knew after seeing me go through a rough pregnancy and all the joys of hyperemesis, bedrest, preecampsia, induction, birth and a NICU baby, he knew he wanted to get me something to know how much I meant to him and how much her really appreciated me.

Julie, I understand what you mean, but I think these presents have always been done by husbands to appreciate their wives. Of course they are both thankful for their child, but it is nice that there are husbands out there that realize that it isn’t easy and they try to show you how much they appreciate you.

I think what is dumb is the thought that it should always be jewellery.

My “push present” was a hospital grade breast pump..And after two days of being engorged.. I could not love my present or my husband more.

theyearofasking on April 21st, 2009

i love that CBB has started posting links like these each day. the articles are always so interesting and lead to great conversations like this one!

Julie on April 22nd, 2009

I see what you guys mean….my husband also got me the hospital grade breast pump to rent as long as I wanted and went shopping with my mom for things to make me more comfortable after I got home from the hospital and I was very appreciative. I think what I was getting annoyed with are the women who pick out very expensive push presents before the baby is even born and act like it’s an automatic requirement…which I’ve had some acquintances do.