birthday present for pregnant daughter

I'd give the amount I planned to spend in vouchers for takeout.

I agree with Norah.

An alternative would be a pampering session for a hair/beauty/massage session in the weeks prior to the baby’s arrival.

With a first gc I think going away will perhaps be a bit much. If you don’t mind spoiling the surprise I’d ask what she might like.

Or.. Something she would like but wouldn't spend the money on.
My DD was 30 in March, we got her a Kenwood K Mixer, she has a 16 month old baby, and had been looking at these for ages but couldn't justify the money. Her husband got her a Dyson Hair wrap, her in laws got her a pre-paid package with a professional Photographer.
Lots of good ideas on here from Team GN, sure something will fit. Have fun sorting!

Visgir1 lovely ideas. I might keep some of these to hand for future gifts.

3 months is maybe a bit soon though maybe somewhere with lodges? then no worry if baby is up in the night feeding. A professional shoot sounds great too. DD1 had one and the photos are wonderful. DGS1 was 9 weeks early and when you see the photos they are amazing ( taken when he was 6 weeks old - 3lb14ozs when born).

We went to a hotel break (saved up Del Monte labels) when DD1 was a baby - about 8 months - and had a lovely break. DH had to take her back to our room during dinner and the Maitre De arranged for his meal to be sent to the room.

Do NOT do the trip away thing! This would have put me under SO much unwanted pressure. It wouldn't have felt like a treat at all no matter how kindly given.
It's likely I would have refused to go.
There is no way I would have left my baby with anyone at 3 months.
Please find something that doesn't put her in an awkward situation!

First babies are especially hard work.

I would ask if you could fill her freezer with home-cooked ready meals.
If you can't find time to do the cooking you could buy them in from, say, Cook which makes some of the best ready-meals on the market.
www.cookfood.net/
If you can make them yourself , what better gift of true love and understanding than the gift of your time and energy so she and her own new little family have more time and energy for themselves.

I totally agree with NotSpaghetti :

I'd fill her freezer up with food or buy from Cook or another company .

And another idea -paying for a cleaner for those first few weeks .

Offering to baby sit is wonderful too .

For some women having a first baby is plain sailing ( I don't know many ) and for others it comes as an almighty
shock .

She might have had a caesarian or an episiotomy , have trouble breast /bottle feeding
and the baby might be colicky /restless /not sleeping through the night or between feeds or be skin rashy and you don't know why !
And her hormone levels might be erratic .
Those lovely ideas for gifts could wait ,but help on the domestic front can be really
great appreciated .

Thanks for all the suggestions - having thought more about it I totally agree with Notspaghetti about trip and putting pressure on DD. Love the photograph shoot idea and buying from a cook company.

Why not ask your DD?

You can always plan an on the fly present as soon as baby is born and she has found her new normal

When we had our second baby we lived in mid-west America and it was common there for people to bring gifts of easy dinners to families with new babies.
I have lost touch with many of the families who brought us their home-cooking but still remember them fondly and hold this gift of their time dear. Having a fridge and freezer stocked up with tasty (and nutritious) meals was a joy and a relief in those first few days and weeks. I have subsequently tried to do the same for others with newborns and know it really is a gift of understanding and love and is always appreciated.

Congratulations to your daughter on her new little one. No doubt you will have many opportunities for adventures in due course.

Talk to her about what she would like! The "surprise" element can have a break this year.

I don’t think vouchers or planned break a good idea, too much pressure.I would ask her. Failing that give her a token gift of nice body lotions etc and an iou for the amount you want to give whenever she wants. The first few months with a baby are a little unpredictable, you need to get some sort of routine and feel good about yourself first. Then she will be raring to go, dare say you will be baby sitting.