Ivana Poku Looking for the perfect gift for a first-time mum?
There are so many options: baby clothes, toys, pamper kits, candles… it can feel impossible to pick just one.
But here’s the thing: most gifts are for the baby.
What about the mum?
She just did something enormous. She brought a whole new person into the world.
She’s tired, overwhelmed, and facing massive changes.
She needs more than baby socks (or, apart from the socks).
She needs support.
Because the truth is… most new mums don’t feel supported at all.
And that’s exactly why the right gift can change everything.
But first, hello!
My name is Ivana, and I run MumsJourney, a blog dedicated to supporting mums through every stage of their motherhood journey. I’m also the author of Motherhood: The Unspoken and an award-winning maternal mental health advocate and mentor.
After giving birth to my twins in 2016, I experienced severe PPD. It was the hardest time of my life, but it also showed me how much there is to motherhood people don’t talk about and how many mums don’t get the support they need.
Since then, I’ve made it my mission to help other mums feel heard and supported.
In this post, I share:
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Why most gifts focus on the baby (and what mums really need instead)
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The unseen struggles new mums face that no one warns you about
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The one gift that can truly make a difference to her mental health and confidence
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How my own experience inspired me to create something every new mum needs
Let’s dive in!
Most New Mum Gifts Miss the Hardest Part of Motherhood
Most people buy baby clothes or flowers.
Or something cute that looks fancy but gets used once – if that!
But here’s the truth no one talks about:
The hardest part of becoming a mum isn’t the baby stuff.
It’s what happens inside her head.
That’s where most first time mums struggle.
And that’s where most gifts completely miss the mark.
I Thought I Was Ready… Until I Became a Mum
Before I had my twins, I thought I was prepared.
I read the books, went to every class, asked questions, Googled endlessly.
Then my babies arrived. And I felt lost.
I didn’t feel that “love at first sight” everyone talks about.
Breastfeeding didn’t happen naturally.
And I didn’t feel like myself at all.
I felt like a bad mum from the very start.
I thought something was wrong with me.
I Suffered in Silence
I was too scared to tell anyone how I felt.
So I smiled and pretended everything was fine.
But inside, I was falling apart.
For 8 months, I cried almost every day.
I felt lonely, ashamed, and hopeless.
At my lowest point, I thought my babies would be better off without me.
Today, I know those feelings came from one main thing: unrealistic expectations about life after baby.
Because there is so much about motherhood that no one talks about.
Not even prenatal classes, antenatal classes… or Google!
Every mum learns the unspoken parts the hard way.
And that silence nearly broke me.
Why I Created Motherhood – The Unspoken
When I finally understood this, something shifted.
I realised the hardest part of motherhood isn’t talked about anywhere — and that lack of honesty leaves so many mums feeling like they’re failing.
So I created the one thing I wish someone had put in my hands when I became a mum.
This isn’t a feel-good coffee-table book.
It’s the book I needed when I was smiling on the outside and breaking on the inside.
The one that would have stopped me thinking: “Why is everyone else coping better than me?”
What’s inside Motherhood – The Unspoken?
This book gently prepares a new mum for the reality of motherhood, not just birth.
Inside, she’ll find:
✅ The honest truths about life as a new mum no one warns you about
✅ Real stories from 10 first-time mums — and their personal messages of support
✅ How to cope when the days feel long, lonely, and heavier than expected
✅ Support for surviving the newborn stage without losing yourself
✅ Ways to protect her mental health before she reaches breaking point
It says what so many mums need to hear:
“You’re not failing. You’re not alone. And you’re doing better than you think.”
It’s like a big hug in book form.
“But That Won’t Happen to My Friend…”
You might be thinking: “She’ll be fine. She won’t struggle.”
thought that about myself too.
For almost a year, my friends and family had no idea how bad things really were.
On the outside, I looked happy.
But behind closed doors, I was falling apart.
And sadly, my story isn’t special.
Most new mums experience a HUGE emotional shock after birth.
Not because they’re weak, but because they aren’t prepared for postnatal life.
Antenatal classes focus heavily on birth… and almost nothing on what comes after.
I even knew about postnatal depression, and still didn’t recognise it when it hit me.
I didn’t think I was unwell, I just thought I was failing.
That’s why this book matters so much.
It prepares a mum for motherhood, not just labour.
And that knowledge can change everything.
Who This Book Is (and Isn’t) For
This is the right gift if she:
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Is becoming a mum for the first time
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Feels excited and terrified
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Puts pressure on herself to “do it right”
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Would never say out loud if she was struggling
This book is not for you if:
If you’re looking for something cute, trendy, or Instagrammable, this isn’t it.
This is for the mum you want to protect.
The Best New Mum Gift Isn’t a Toy or Blanket
So what’s the best gift for a new mum?
It’s not a baby outfit or a bottle of bubble bath.
It’s support.
The kind that helps her feel stronger on hard days, that reminds her she’s not failing, and most mums only get after they’ve already suffered.
Motherhood – The Unspoken is that gift.
It’s more than a book.
It’s a lifeline.
A quiet voice saying: “You’ve got this — and you’re not alone.”
👉 Get your copy here and give her the support most mums never receive.
I’m saying this with all my heart: this is the book I wish someone had given me when I became a mum.
Because socks get worn out.
Candles burn down.
But the right support?
It can rewrite her story.
You can give her another cute outfit.
Or you can give her what almost every new mum is missing: Support, reassurance, and the reminder she’s not alone.
That’s the gift I wish someone had given me, and what almost every new mum secretly needs.
Give her the support she deserves today: click here to get Motherhood – The Unspoken.
