"This is definitely a splurge and a luxury, but I would consider foregoing so many other things. This actually makes your life easier, especially in those early days when you’re tired and confused and reaching for takeout, which makes you feel gross. If someone was registering for the first time, I would ask for money toward something like this because it just helps you out in so many ways in those very beginning days. I’ve used both of these services. The Ipsa stuff comes frozen, but it’s so easy to heat up and prepare. I loved their soups. The Culinistas is fancier. They have a special postpartum program: Someone comes to your house and cooks meals, puts them in containers to store in your fridge, then cleans everything up. We did that for two weeks when we had our first child. Everything was delicious and felt really nourishing. And it was helping me out way better than any baby item, you know?"

By Lauren Snyder