When you're considering what to pack in your hospital bag before giving birth, you may think about bringing pjs, phone chargers or even a fan.
But one thing you shouldn't worry about is prepping a gift basket for the labor and delivery nurses.
"I feel like the expectation when you come into the hospital is that you need to have a gift for us — and that is not the case," says Jen Hamilton, registered nurse mom of two and author of the upcoming "Birth Vibes." She tells TODAY.com, "I don't want people to have to add stress to themselves by thinking that they need to have some cute gift basket."
To emphasize that point, she created an Instagram carousel that racked up 70,000 likes in the last two days.
Hamilton makes it very clear that she and her fellow nurses are endlessly grateful for the gifts they have received from patients (like energy drinks, mints, donuts and hair ties). But at the same time, they don't expect them. And most importantly, the service they provide to their patients remains the same regardless of whether or not you give them a gift.
In fact, what Hamilton appreciates more than a physical gift is something that doesn't cost a thing: it's a photo with you or your baby.
"It means that you like us enough to remember us," she explains. "And that means so much, because if there's one thing that we really thrive on, it's that connection that we have."
Taking a photo with your nurse — and sharing it with them — is a way of showing them how much you value their role in your life.
She adds, "There are patients that we don't forget, and we wish that we had a picture of them with us so that we could remember them even better."
Photos can also give nurses the patient point-of-view about the work they do.
Hamilton recalls a patient who had been in the hospital for days waiting for an induction. Though it was not a job requirement, Hamilton went the extra mile and washed her hair. "Her mom just started snapping photos, just saying that how sweet that was. And then she sent them to me and I thought that was so special," she says.
In the end, Hamilton wants people to know that they can "show up to the hospital ... not a stitch of clothes on them, with nothing, and we will still take excellent care of them."
