Baby Shower Etiquette?

Question

I am supposed to be throwing a shower for one of my best friends. I spoke to her a couple of days ago and she tells me that the baby has dropped and she is already dialated 2-3 centimeters. Now, I've never had a baby (currently 6 weeks prego) but I personally don't think she'll be able to make it to her shower which is 1-27. If she doesn't what should I do? Do I cancel the shower all together. Do I still hold the shower, accept the presents on her behalf and deliver them later? Or do I just wait until after the baby is born and throw it then? I know she's looking forward to this shower, but I think Mother Nature is going to preempt it. I really need some help.

I would have thrown the shower earlier, but another friend of hers was supposed to throw it and backed out at the last minute. She didn't tell me about it until she visited for Thanksgiving (we are 2 hours apart). So we picked a date far enough away from the holidays that everyone wouldn't feel financially strained.

Answer 1

i think you should warn all the guests that the shower may be postponed as the mommie to be may deliver early. That way if she doesn't have the baby, you can call all the guests and say that it is a go, but if she has it, you can call all the guests and tell them the new date and the good thing is, all the guests can meet the baby at once and the mommie to be will not have all hte visitors at her house in the first weeks that she is home

Answer 2

Why don't you ask the Mother-to-be? If she doesn't know, ask another mom who is close to her. They will have a good idea of the feelings she'll be feeling, and they'll know how she is likely to handle the stress of birth. Maybe she'll be dreamily content, or maybe she'll just be worn out!

She may want to have the party to take her mind off the waiting if she's still pregnant, or she may want to have some interaction with other adults if the baby's been born. Then again, perhaps she would rather not see folks until after she feels a bit more presentable. If you wait until after baby's born, everyone will get to see/hold the little tyke, and that will entertain them more than any games!

If you're the hostess, you probably have access to addresses/phone numbers of the guests, right? Put them on alert NOW, and set up a calling chain to get word out if she is in labor or recovery at the scheduled time of the shower.

I would suggest you ask guests to think twice about attending if they are ill. Wouldn't want to get Mom or newborn baby sick at their own party!

Good Luck, and congratulations on your little one!

Answer 3

Unfortunately, it's very difficult to predict when a baby will arrive, even after dialation has begun. Some women may dilate slightly and remain in that state for a week or more. (I sure didn't with my two though! Lol.) My advice is to postpone the shower for another month. That way mom will have 3 weeks or so to recuperate after the shower and, if she wishes, she could bring the new bundle of joy along for everybody to oooh and aaah over at the shower. :-)

Answer 4

She may not have the baby for another two weeks or so. My cousin dropped 4 weeks before she delivered and was 3 cm dilated for 10 days.

You might want to just call everyone invited and give them the head's up that mom may be delivering before the shower and if she does, you'll call them as soon as you know. Then, if the baby wants to be at her party =) - then you move the shower a couple of weeks until mom's feeling up to it.

Answer 5

Keep things as planned for now. If the baby comes on that day, or before, call everyone that was invited and tell them the good news and that the shower is postponed until further notice. Then pick a day that is good with the new mom and baby, let everyone know, and have fun!

Answer 6

I waited until after my kiddo was born to have a shower based on the fact that I would know what I needed from experience rather than speculation. If she's dropping and dialated that much, I'd reschedule til after the baby's born. But I definitely wouldn't have it without her present.

Answer 7

although it's too late, you may want to keep in mind for future showers to throw them when the mom to be is in her 7th month. if invitations have been sent out already then i would hold that day--if she has the baby before then it will be fine to still do it on the planned day--but to be honest she could go a couple weeks at 2-3 cm or it could be any moment--there is no way to predict!

Answer 8

If she doesnt make it, have the shower after the baby is born, but wait a few weeks so she can get settled with the baby, but make sure to let everyone know now.

Answer 9

merely ask a verify to throw one for you or merely muse sometime how advantageous it may be to have a shower for this infant on account that there are maximum of issues you nonetheless want. if your mom and dad are something like mine, they're probably death to assist out in any way obtainable and could be of their glory in case you asked them to assist manage a shower. i think of human beings could desire to recover from the thought inquiring for or having a 2d infant bathe is grasping or undesirable etiquette. that's unlike having a 2d (or third...and so on) infant is any much less particular than having your first. some actually everyone continues to be very old shaped.

Answer 10

This happened to my cousin when she developed toxemia and went into labor two months early.

Her mom accepted the gifts of those who wouldn't be able to make it at the rescheduled date. She sent out invites announcing the birth with the birth details and the rescheduled dates.

Only problem was she didn't send them out to all of us. So, my mom got one for our family instead of my sister and I getting them my mom had to tell us and RSVP for us all. It was annoying. So, please resend to everyone - we didn't go because we thought it was weird to not tell us personally about the redate...but to give a gift...