Give the new mom something to make her feel special during this important time in her life. Here are a few memorable suggestions:

All new moms could use a time out, filled with rest, relaxation, and pampering. Popular relaxation gifts include scented bath salts, candles and relaxing music. You can combine all three of these gifts to create a spa relaxation basket. Spa baskets can also include other relaxation tools, such as a gel face mask, a body loofah and a bottle of luxurious scented lotion.

Providing the new mom with all she needs to stay calm and collected in the days to come is also a great gift idea. If the new mom is more of a "do it yourself" type when it comes to personal care, you could also give aromatherapy oils. Oils such as lavender and bergamot have relaxing properties.

Another theme at this point in a woman's life is the preserving of memories for years to come. With a new baby, there will be a lot she'll want to record and take note of as her child begins to grow. You can make this easy for her by providing her with a personal journal. You can find pre-made mother's journals that have specific spaces for information about the baby's growth, as well as her reflections on her journey. You can also find a blank book that will do just as well and pair it with a nice pen.

If the mom you are buying for is interested in scrapbooking, you have an instant gift. Give her a selection of scrapbooking supplies, including coordinating stickers, paper and embellishments. This will make it really easy for her to capture early memories with her baby.

Along similar lines, you could also give a new digital camera or camcorder, or go in with several people to purchase one. Having a quality digital camera is very important to new mother and she'll appreciate the thoughtfulness of the gift. If buying a digital camera is out of your reach, consider purchasing a gift card for a photo processing website online, such as Photoworks, the Kodak Gallery, Snapfish, or Shutterfly, so she can share photos with friends and family, order prints from home, and create photo albums and gifts.

Of course, your gift to a new mom should be specific to her and her needs. Try to purchase something that reflects her new role as well as her personality. Not all moms are alike, and some of these ideas may be more appropriate than others. Hopefully this list has given you a jumping off point for your special gift for the new mom in your life.