I’m a gift giver. At least, I try to be. Whenever someone makes my day or goes out of their way to do something for me, my family or someone else I know, I like to say thanks by giving them a meaningful gift. It can be something small, like a batch of home made cookies or a hand made card, or something larger to go along with a larger gift.

Thinking along these lines, I started to wonder: what kind of gift could I give the nurses who help with my labor, delivery and recovery in just a few short weeks? What sort of gift would be appropriate for the men and women who are going to be helping me with one of the best gifts that anyone could ever receive? How can I possibly express my gratitude?

With all the expenses of a newborn, money is definitely tight, so here are some inexpensive ideas I came up with:

• Flowers. A single rose or other flower (perhaps the birth flower for that month?) for each of the nurses.

• Candy, Cookies or Snacks. Small boxes of candy, a tin of flavored popcorn or a fruit basket that can be shared.

• Breakfast. Bagels and cream cheese or a box of doughnuts in the morning is a great way to start the day on a positive note.

• Gourmet Coffee. The coffee in most hospitals is pretty bad – treat the nurses to the good stuff!

• Handmade Ornaments (for the holidays) or Other Hand Made Items. I enjoy knitting, and have thought about knitting up wash cloths or some other small items that I can hand out to the nurses. Bath salts or other crafty items also make nice gifts.

Don’t forget the thank-you notes and birth announcements!

What will or did you bring to the nurses when you delivered?