The greatest gift of all is either on its way or has just arrived. You want to show your appreciation because you know how much effort she went to in order to make it all possible. A thank-you card just won't do it, and chocolates are probably not enough. After all, this little package will change your life forever – and how exactly are you supposed to say "thanks" for something like that?

Sure, you will bring the balloons and bouquets to the hospital room where your wife and brand-new baby are waiting for you to return, and you can put them next to all the other balloons and bouquets that surround them. It's a nice thought, but you know that you need to do more. You need to do something special. Something meaningful. Something that says, "I love you" and "I cherish you." With an emphasis on, "I'm so happy we are parents. I look forward to our new life as a family." So, Dad, think you're up to it?

April Masini is an advice columnist and the author of the e-book Think and Date Like a Man. From her perspective, taking care of a new mom is something that will benefit everyone in the house. Providing a thoughtful gift can raise her spirits and can also be a self-esteem booster for a new dad. "This is a time for the father to cement his place in the family – the excellent man of the house," says Masini. "The biggest men understand the importance of the wife and mother in their and their children's lives." As an added bonus, if there are other children in the house, they can see their father acknowledge and honor their mother.

Even the most well-adjusted new mother is likely to feel overwhelmed and exhausted at times. What are the best "pick-me-ups" for her? If you have the time and money to take a shopping trip, Masini suggests jewelry. "Always good," she says. "Be generous." Or buy beautiful lounge-around clothing. "Don't get her anything that will make her have to lose weight to fit into it," says Masini. You can help her feel important and stay comfortable by getting her something she has wanted for the home, "whether it's new furniture or a great rocker for the bedroom so she can nurse," adds Masini.

Every new dad has the best intentions when shopping for these kinds of gifts, but he needs to be sensitive to the (new family-oriented) big picture, and the adjustments that his partner is making. "A weekend getaway can seem great for Dad, but a new mom will be having bonding feelings with her new child," says Masini. "She may see a weekend in a gorgeous hotel with just her husband as a separation from her new baby, which she might not be ready to have."

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