This is precisely my thought. A gift is always nice after you’ve been laid up. What I find gross is the expectation of a huge, extravagant gift. Women who are pushing and chanting, “Diiiiiiiiiiiiiamond braaaaaaaaacelet. Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiamond braaaaaaaaaaacelet.” as their mantra skeeve me out.
Yes, an emerald necklace. But he was a complete @$$ throughout the pregnancy, and never helped with the baby at all. So I would have preferred a little help, and the necklace wasn’t even close to making up for his behavior.
He’s now with a woman who prefers earrings to an honest apology, and she’s welcome to him.
Sounds like all parties are happier with the arrangement!
Just for the record, I also find the term ‘push present’ rather…graphic. It’s just the only thing I’ve ever heard it called so I cited that for clarity.
Perhaps it’s generational. Kids are now rewarded and applauded for every stupid mundane thing they do during their lives, from graduation from kindergarten to being last in the potato sack race. They’ve come to expect reward for every endeavor, however minor, succeed or fail. So perhaps they now regard giving birth as an accomplishment to be given a prize for. Just a thought.
I gave birth pain medication-free to 4 children. I neither wanted nor received any present from my husband. The best thing he could have done was to be really helpful around the house, cooking, cleaning, and taking a turn feeding the baby at night.
Decidedly! 
I also dislike the term “push present.” It really sounds like a trade-off. It takes the whole thing into an almost fee-for-service realm. I think it’s wonderful if a man wants to show his gratitude to his baby’s Mother in the form of some beautiful object she can cherish all her life. But if the sentiment is “I’d better get something good or she’ll kill me” that’s just sick.
Like most things, it’s really all in the heart. . .
I didn’t get a push present - but I was given a really lovely bee (our nickname for the baby) on a chain for my first mother’s day. FWIW she was the product of IVF and a drug free labour so I did go through lots to get her here that he didn’t - but I also get to be home with her now, which is something he’s missing out on, so I didn’t expect anything as a push present.
I don’t expect anything from him for any other mother’s day, but this was a really nice sentimental thing for me, as I’m going to be returning to work soon and I wanted to always have my bee with me to remind me of her, especially during the stress of work - that she’s the only thing that matters. I don’t see anything wrong with a small token or sentimental gift or keepsake - something I might be able to pass onto her one day.
I guess I’d not appreciate a bag myself, since I don’t think it would be something I’d hold onto forever, which I think that sort of gift should be. No judgement on the bag itself - just not for me.