At a glance:
The lotions and potions in this beautiful gift set are not only all natural and vegan-friendly, they smell incredible. Our personal favourites are the cooling spray and the 'Ooh for Fuller Breasts' solution. It might be on the expensive side, but this is a great gift for all mums-to-be.
What they say:
"This beautiful gift set contains all of the essentials you will need for pregnancy, birth and life as new mum. All four of our full-sized products together with two luxurious organic cotton flannels are presented in a beautiful gift box making this the perfect present for any mummy to be. Great gift for Baby Showers, Christmas, Birthday, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, leaving work on maternity leave or just to say 'Congratulations on being pregnant!'"
Tested by mum Kate Glyn for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
The product itself is very well designed and looks great, making it very appealing to use. The packaging is attractive and contains organic flannels and each of the bottles is clearly marked and designed individually for ease of use. All products are small enough to transport or pop into hospital bags. The products have been developed by midwives which gives you confidence to use them during these crucial early days.
How did this product make your life easier?
Midwife in a Box is full of several products that help to soothe mums-to-be and also once you have become a mum. The products are designed to help you on that journey and take away some discomfort. The products are vegan friendly and don't contain petro chemicals - things that as a new mum you would worry about with your new baby.
Would you choose this product to win?
The packaging is very appealing and clearly sets the tone of the product. It states that it is developed by midwives at the Natural Birthing Company and there is a list which sets out what each product does or does not contain. Each product has been carefully thought out and is tailored to the needs of new mums and mums to be.
What changes would you make to this product?
Despite the well thought out products this box contains, I think the price is quite steep and would put me off buying it either for myself or as a gift. I think if there was a way that the price could be reduced, either by less packaging or smaller quantities, that would make me more likely to buy this item.
Tested by mum Aisha Ruqqaya for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would and have recommended this product to fellow pregnant friends and mums because it's a useful and handy set that includes everything you'll need during and after pregnancy. It's useful for all breastfeeding problems and to keep cool and calm. It even includes two separate flannels and a fragrance free oil for down below.
How did this product make your life easier?
This product makes life as a mum more comfortable. I didn't use anything like this in my previous pregnancies and can see how useful they are. The breastfeeding oils are so useful, whether you have supply problems, sore nipples or enlarged breasts, the answer is in this box! I used the Cool It Mama Spritz so often, too!
Would you choose this product to win?
No, although this product is very useful and handy, I think this product is quite expensive. The bottles aren't very big at all so I don't think it's very good value for money, especially the three breastfeeding oils which are only 10mls each. I would buy this for friends and family if the price was more reasonable.
What changes would you make to this product?
I would change the price of this set to make the value for money better. I would also change the size of the bottles and make them bigger. The price is extortionate considering the amount of product in the box, but everything else is spot on.
Tested by mum Monika Leszewska for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this product to any expectant mum, especially one who is planning natural birth. It's a lovely set that contains everything you need to prepare for birth and to help you recover afterwards. It is packaged in a neat box and makes a perfect baby shower gift with the expectant mum at the centre of attention. The sizes of the bottles is just right and two soft organic flannels make a sweet addition to this box of goodies.
How did this product make your life easier?
I was all into natural birth with my first baby, however I did not know about this product and what a shame because it is lovely. Now I am expecting my second child, those essential oils were a god-send. So far, I have only needed to use the Down Below Perineal Massage Oil and Cool It Mama Body and Facial Spritz and they were both wonderful. It was difficult to find a suitable oil for a perineal massage and this one is perfect. And the Spritz is a must have for the hot summer days, especially if you have to commute to work on public transport! It smells really nice and is very soothing.
Would you choose this product to win?
I haven't seen a similar product on the market - it is very unique as it is not just essential oil blends - it has been especially designed for expectant mums therefore you can be sure it is safe to use for pregnant women, which is something that is very important to me. It is also a great gift idea - and very thoughtful too, as it makes the expectant mother feel special and pampered.
What changes would you make to this product?
The only thing that I don't like as much about the product is its price, at £49.99 it is a little on the expensive side and a lot of mums might decide not to spend that much on themselves with all the baby stuff that has to be bought and is expensive too! That's why it is more of a great gift idea than an item that the expectant mother should buy herself.
Tested by mum Emily Lynam for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I love the design of the product- the box, the handy sized bottles and the clear labelling of the different products, but I would have liked further guidance as to when and why to use each product.
How did this product make your life easier?
Well it is a great gift to buy any new mum as a baby shower present, so it will make my life easier next time I am invited to one! The bottles are handy sizes and I really liked the way they were packaged in the lovely box. It felt like I was opening a nice pamper set and I also like the designs of the labels on the bottles. It made my life easier knowing that I felt prepared having all the products I require in one box.
Would you choose this product to win?
I am unaware of any other gift sets available similar to this so it definitely fits a gap in the market and I'm sure it will be very popular. It is a great, compact and an innovative idea. I like its name and branding as it appears caring - 'Midwife in a Box' is a great concept and name for this product.
What changes would you make to this product?
I do think I would have liked more instructions with the bottles to support and explain when and why I should be using them. I also felt that two of the bottles seemed unnecessary duplicates that pretty much served the same purpose, these were the 'Aah For Breastfeeding Support' and 'Ooh for Fuller Breasts'. I used both and could not tell the difference between them which confused me. This product is an expensive purchase but a nice luxurious gift for any new mum.
Tested by mum Nicola Lahiffe the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would be happy to receive this as a gift. It feels quite expensive and is something a bit unusual. I found the pure bliss solution was really soothing after my birth on my stitches and I can imagine it would have helped with both my other births (including the c-section). I wish I had found it years ago. I also liked the 'Ooh for Fuller Breasts' solution for those early days when your boobs are like rocks.
How did this product make your life easier?
It would be a lovely gift to receive as a new mum or even for a second or third time mum. The packaging is lovely, the design of the box is effective and the bottles are attractive. The wash cloths are of a really nice quality and it's quite a nice self-care gift to receive. I particularly liked the Pure Bliss Post-Natal Compress solution.
Would you choose this product to win?
If I could pick and mix the box, it would be amazing. The cooling spray smelled lovely and definitely cooled me down, but there were things in the box that I didn't or couldn't use. like the perineal oil which was no use to me, neither were the ‘Aah Breastfeeding Support’ (I wasn't sure what it was for) or the ‘Ouch for Sore Nipples’ (thankfully). But you never know what your experience is going to be, so having those items there is useful if you find yourself at 1am with your nipples in agony.
What changes would you make to this product?
I personally would have preferred either a calming pillow spray (for those early days of anxious breastfeeding), or something that I could have used in preparation for the birth. For example, something that I could use as part of my hypnobirthing, like a calming bath oil.