By Hilary Metcalfe
Before becoming a mum, I thought I understood self-care: long walks, slow mornings, face masks, and quiet reflection. Then postpartum hit and self-care became survival.
I was exhausted but wired, desperate for sleep but unable to relax. Postpartum Anxiety moved in with intensity, bringing intrusive thoughts and a constant reel of worry. Was the baby okay? Was I doing it right? Will I ever feel like myself again?
The first time someone gave me a gift just for me with a handwritten note—I nearly cried. Because in those fragile weeks, the smallest gesture can be a lifeline.
Between Anna and me, we’ve done postpartum 6x (!) and we developed this guide based on what we know really helps. If you're looking for a truly meaningful gift for a new mum, one that acknowledges her emotional, hormonal, and physical reality, this guide is for you.
Xx,
Hilary
The SABI Co-Founder, a wellness brand built from the inside out
Why Self-Care Isn’t Optional Postpartum
“Take care of yourself so you can take care of the baby” is a well-worn phrase, but without tools, it can feel like just another pressure. Postpartum is a time of rapid hormonal shifts: oestrogen and progesterone plummet, cortisol spikes, and sleep deprivation makes everything harder.
These changes affect mood, resilience, and energy. Anxiety, identity loss, and even rage are common, but rarely discussed.
And if you struggled pre-baby with boundaries, burnout, or saying no (like I did), motherhood won’t magically fix that. It magnifies it.
We weren’t meant to do this alone. And while the village may be missing, support can still show up, in the form of a well-timed gift that says: “I see you Mama.”
Self-care in this hormonal window isn’t indulgent. It’s necessary. Daily rituals like sipping a supportive tea, applying a lush face mist, or sinking into a magnesium bath can rebalance cortisol levels, support oxytocin, and bring the nervous system back to baseline. Something EVERY new mama can appreciate.
This is where functional self-care comes in, offering real, physiological support. And that’s where SABI shines.
The Best Postpartum Self-Care Gifts Are Functional Pampering
1. The Gift of Rest & Nervous System Support
New mums aren’t just tired, they’re running on stress hormones. Supporting rest isn’t a luxury; it’s a hormonal intervention.
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Weighted blanket – Calms the nervous system and promotes restorative sleep, she may be sleeping in odd places (couch, chairs, etc.) some comfy bed essentials that are portable and do double duty like this, are helpful.
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Silk sleep mask – Encourages day naps by blocking overstimulation, and she may need to sleep with a night light to see what's happening with baby in a moment, but it doesn't allow for deep rest. So, this is where a mask comes in handy.
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White noise machine – Helps soothe both mum and baby, make sure it's portable and chargeable, no fiddling with batteries. In fact, don't even think about giving something without the required add-ons. If it needs batteries, GIFT the dang batteries too.
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Magnesium body spray – Supports muscle relaxation and deeper sleep. It's absorbed best topically, but can make skin itch, so magnesium chloride bath salts are a great alternative and so is magnesium glycinate supplement to support her sleep quality.
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The SABI Skin Radiance Set – Postpartum skin can be a wild ride. What once worked, may not work for her anymore. Redness, reactivity, acne, all can crop up with hormonal fluctuations. That's why we developed this totally EDC-free, all-natural, gorgeous and breastfeeding-safe skincare for micro-moments of recovery and pampering. It's a nourishing 3-step ritual for the woman with no time and formulated with hormonally reactive skin in mind.
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Mama Recover Postpartum Tonic – A functional blend of magnesium, iron-rich herbs, and nervines like Holy Basil, Oat Straw and Raspberry Leaf, formulated to ease cortisol spikes, emotional lows, and postpartum uterine recovery.
A warm bath and a cup of tea might not solve sleepless nights, but they help the body feel safe enough to rest.
Shop the curated SABI care set for new mothers here: The Nurtured Mother
2. The Gift of Nourishment & Replenishment
Did you know iron-deficiency postpartum can mimic depression symptoms? Replenishing stores isn’t just physical—it’s emotional support.
Postpartum depletion is real. Blood loss, breastfeeding, and round-the-clock caregiving drain essential nutrients. And when blood sugar crashes? So does emotional regulation.
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Postpartum snack box – Think oat bars, dates, protein bites: one-handed, blood sugar-stabilising snacks
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Meal delivery voucher – Because nutrition matters, but so does not cooking
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Insulated water bottle – Staying hydrated supports milk supply and energy
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Mama Recover – Contains adaptogens, bioavailable iron, and minerals to combat depletion and regulate mood
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The SABI Breastfeeding Tonic – Supports milk production and nervous system regulation while restoring vital postpartum nutrients, like calcium and iron.
3. The Gift of Emotional Support & Mental Clarity
Isolation is one of the leading risk factors for Postpartum Anxiety.
Maybe you aren’t in her shoes, but empathy and empathic gifting, that acknowledge the emotional terrain she is navigating, without trying to fix it, can be a game changer.
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Handwritten letter – A personal reminder that she’s doing an incredible job
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Postpartum journal – Helps process identity shifts and emotions
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Therapy or meditation app – Mental health support, accessible anytime
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Mama Recover Postpartum Tonic – Combines nervine herbs and adaptogens to calm the mind, nourish the adrenals, and bring emotional steadiness
- Asking how she is doing and hold space for her honest reply. DON'T OFFER SOLUTIONS OR ADVICE unless you ask first if she is open to it. Most of us aren't (in that moment).
How to Curate the Ultimate Postpartum Self-Care Package
Want to gift a new mum something she’ll actually use (and love)?
Follow this quick cheat sheet:
What to Give vs. What to Skip
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Give This |
Not That |
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Herbal teas to calm & support (like Mama Recover) |
Caffeinated/detox teas that overstimulate |
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Whole-food snacks, meal delivery vouchers |
Sugary snacks that crash blood sugar |
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Magnesium spray, essential oils, gentle soaks |
Synthetic scents and hormone-disrupting ingredients |
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OB-approved skincare (like The SABI Set) |
Products with retinol, parabens, or endocrine disruptors |
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Supportive books, journals, robes |
“Bounce back” plans or baby milestone pressure |
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Breastfeeding-friendly herbal tonics (like Mama Milk) |
Herbs like peppermint or sage that reduce supply |
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Encouragement and presence |
Advice without action (“Sleep when the baby sleeps”) |
A truly thoughtful gift doesn’t just help her “relax”—it says:
“I see you.”
“You’re still you.”
“You deserve all the care you are giving too.”
Final Thoughts
The best gifts aren’t for the baby. They’re for the mother who’s pouring from a waning cup.Give her tools that soothe her nervous system, replenish her nutrients, and remind her that her wellbeing matters.
And if you’re unsure where to start, start here: a warm mug of Mama Recover, or a homemade meal, a loving note, and a moment of calm she didn’t have to create for herself.
Because in the tender weeks after birth, that is everything.
ABOUT HILARY
Hilary Metcalfe is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, whole foods chef, and product developer passionate about helping women understand their bodies, cycles, and hormones. After navigating her own hormonal journey—including fertility struggles, miscarriage, and Adenomyosis—she brings deep empathy and insight to her work. At The SABI, Hilary formulates OB-GYN-approved rituals and hormone-conscious skincare designed to support women in the seasons they need it most. Originally from Los Angeles and raised in Baja California, she now lives in Todos Santos, Mexico, with her husband Kees, their rescue pup Flint, and their rainbow babies, Paloma and Bea.
References
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O’Hara, M. W., & McCabe, J. E. (2013). Postpartum depression: Current status and future directions. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology.
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Brummelte, S., & Galea, L. A. (2016). Postpartum depression: Etiology, treatment, and consequences for maternal care. Hormones and Behavior.
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Kendall-Tackett, K. (2007). A new paradigm for depression in new mothers: The central role of inflammation and how breastfeeding and anti-inflammatory treatments protect maternal mental health. International Breastfeeding Journal.
Groer, M. W. (2005). Differences between exclusive breastfeeders, formula-feeders, and controls in immune function, mood, and maternal-infant bonding. Biological Research for Nursing.
HORMONAL & PROUD
Created as a brand to help women navigate the toughest moments in pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum — and practically every stage of life –– The SABI is changing the narrative around our hormones from one of taboo, embarrassment, and loneliness to awareness and even, pride. As more than a wellness brand, The SABI offers a carefully-crafted line of products to carry you through your hormonal journey, including rituals, supportive tools, and ancient herbal remedies that have been tested time and time again by women and now come backed by medicine. The SABI is a blend of science and nature conceived by women who have experienced the joys and deep struggles of bringing a child into the world, the pains of a heavy, difficult period, miscarriage, and difficulty conceiving.
We invite you to get to know your body and its cycles better –– to really understand what is going on inside. Learn to use your hormones to your advantage no matter your stage of life, and know that you can support and balance your hormone levels. We are here to help with the information, understanding and natural tools to support your body and the emotional process along with it.
