Equally, I adored the lux candle and face cream – things that were all for me (I had just spent 12 hours in labour before major surgery, experiencing the worst of both varieties of childbirth. I deserved a candle). Friends say their most appreciated gifts were cashmere socks and cardigans, to channel some hygge while sitting on the sofa, surrounded by laundry, watching Friends reruns and endlessly feeding.

Then there are the baby clothes, toys and lovely things to make the nursery pretty. Most cherished (by me) were the beautiful blankets and the baby sleeping bags – kept as forever reminders of those early, blurry days. A friend, currently still in the baby era, agrees sleeping bags are the best gifts she’s received because they’re amazing all year through. She also swears by comforters. My son was permanently attached to his ‘blanky’ until age three (and we went through about 10 because they would get thrown overboard from the buggy never to be seen again. Really, you can never have too many).

A basket of muffins, posh coffee and takeaway vouchers are all gratefully received at a time when cups of cold, stewed tea and microwave meals are our main sustenance. My neighbour was given a ‘boring but useful’ hamper of things you don’t realise you need until you need them (bath thermometers, baby nail scissors, nipple cream…). Now she does the same for other new mothers. And never underestimate the central role a muslin cloth plays in every mum’s life. No new parent is ever more than an arm's length away from one during the first year – a dubious fashion accessory over one shoulder to prevent vomit stains (so please buy nice ones because they’ll be seeing a lot of them).