In this episode of The Lab, Daddy Clay and Daddy Brad explore the subject of push presents. Also referred to as a baby bobble, these gifts are given by a dad to a mom in the delivery room after the birth of a baby. Our backwoods guru Bill Smooshfoot gives us the historical perspective of the push present as only he can. We also talk with jewelry designer Sonya Ooten who explains why rings, bracelets and other special pieces of jewelry can make for great gifts for new mothers. The dads also offer a few other ideas including commemorative and personalized gifts or even a push picnic. If you've got some ideas about great push presents, share them with us at DadLabs.com. DadLabs Ep. 617 is brought to you by BabyBjorn.

Daddy Brad: Can a pair of earrings really compensate for squeezing another human being from your loins?
Daddy Clay: Today on The Lab, it's push presents.
Daddy Brad: Today's episode of The Lab is brought to you by BabyBjorn. Ecotech certified, safe for your baby, BabyBjorn.
Daddy Clay: So what exactly is a push present or a baby bobble as it's popularly known? Well it's a gift given from dad to mom either shortly before or immediately after the baby is born usually in the delivery room to let mom know that she rocked the delivery.
Daddy Brad: To get the historical perspective on this practice, we go to backwoods philosopher Bill Smooshfoot.
Bill Smooshfoot: Well of course, the practice dates back to certain rajpur princes, maharajahs, gurus, and wandering pashas there in northern India. The prince would place or caused to have placed more likely by a slave of some sort, maybe a small boy, on to the abdomen of his wife immediately in the post partum period. Of course, to place the coin on the laboring mother's belly would be an exercise in futility. The gold was believed to have certain medicinal properties such as helping to expel the after matter and foul humors although I've never found the substance to have that effect on any of my ex-wives.
Daddy Brad: Thanks Bill. I guess. But for some really useful information, we're going to talk to Sonya Frisina Ooten of sonyaooten's gem bar in Los Angeles, California and she's gonna give us the real deal about push presents. Sonya, how are you?
Sonya Ooten: Great. Thanks.
Daddy Brad: Okay. Here's the thing. What makes a really good push present?
Sonya: In my opinion, what makes a great push present is a special piece of jewelry with a great story behind it. Like an engagement ring, you're contributing to your wife's new jewelry collection. It should have a great story that she can tell for the rest of her life.
Daddy Brad: How about birthstones? Should you incorporate birthstones into this?
Sonya: Not necessarily. You can get quite literal with a push present like necklaces with the children's initials or birth dates or rings with the birthstones but you can go off the board with a watch or anything that's special.
Daddy Brad: Now are gifts that, if you have more children to add onto, is that a good thing to do?
Sonya: That's a good one. That's why rings are good. You can stack rings. There are necklaces with different - you can put their initials, you can put their birthstones on. Some women don't like to get necklaces because the baby can pull at them. But a bracelet where you could add different charms or different birthstones are good and of course, the stackable rings I think are a good choice.
Daddy Brad: Sonya, if the new dads want to get their push present from you, where would they go?
Sonya: You can contact us through our website at sonyaooten.com. We're in Los Angeles and we can help you design any kind of special push present.
Daddy Clay: Those are some great pointers but jewelry's not for everybody, my wife included. You may want a gift that's more to commemorate the occasion like this really cool baccarat baby block. It's got letters on the side and you can engrave it with the child's initials on the top or this really cool commemorative plate from Noble Clay in Maine. Nobleclay.com is their website. Very cool.
Daddy Brad: I was about to dump that bad boy in my drink. Some couples don't think it needs anything. They don't want to commercialize that event. The baby is enough.
Daddy Clay: Sure and if you look at the statistics, only about 38% of couples will have a push present at the birth of a child. You might want to consider, as an alternative, a push picnic. Bring a little wine, maybe a bottle of champagne, a small snack, and if you have a quiet moment, the two of you can have a little celebration together.
Daddy Brad: If you have any thoughts about a push present, what makes a good one, go to DadLabs.com and leave us a comment on the video or comment on this video.
Daddy Clay: We also want to thank our sponsors, BabyBjorn. Ecotech certified, safe for your baby, BabyBjorn baby carriers. That's it for us this week here in The Lab.
Bill Smooshfoot: What's the natural precedent for a push present? Can you imagine the noble bear bringing back to his sow a small field mouse? Push present really in my opinion - it's f*&#ing stupid.