by BabyCenter Staff posted in Pregnancy

Last week, we got into an argument on Facebook. Is it polite, thoughtful, and expected to bring food or gifts to thank the nurses who attend to laboring mothers" Or is it an outrageous and sexist expectation" Here's our thinking.

By Sabrina Garibian
When I was having my first babe my labor nurse's name was Mandy, but I kept calling her Latoya. My only explanation is that being in so much pain, stuck at 6 cm for 6 hours with no relief, messed with my brain.
She never acted annoyed and she never even corrected me. In fact she took excellent care of me and I am so thankful for that.

We sent Mandy some treats along with every other nurse we could remember. I also always intend to write a thank you note but haven't always followed through on that. After my firstborn we ordered a delivery of cookies one day, pizza another night. After my second child was born we sent a fruit platter to the nurses' stations. After our third, my husband left for 24 hours to go to a wedding which is another entire story. I forgot to order something for the nurses, but miles away at his best friend's wedding, my husband remembered and ordered food for our nurses.

Here are 4 reasons I think you should make any kind gesture they can toward their nurses:
1. Nurses are underappreciated. The doctors check in now and again but the nurses are the one who take care of you at every single step. I remember buzzing a nurse in the middle of the night as I ...