expecting: celebrating

BABY SHOWER

If someone has asked, allow her or a small group to plan a baby shower.  People love to celebrate babies, you eventually need stuff, and people will buy things for you anyway—this way you can celebrate together and choose things you like.

When should the shower be?

• 6-8 weeks before if you are pregnant with one child.
• 10-12 weeks before if you are pregnant with twins or more.

It’s nice to have the shower with enough time before your due date.  If the family wants to know the gender it will be known, and there is enough time to exchange gifts, unpack, and set up.  The mother will still be a bit more comfortable than she might be at the very end.  My first shower was very close to the day I went into labor (which was only 5 days before my very accurate due date).  I had to cancel a friend’s shower because she was pregnant with twins and was put  on bed-rest in the hospital, after a great first two trimesters of pregnancy.  So you never know!

Baby Shower for a Second (or more!) Baby
Every baby deserves some kind of celebration, as does the mother.  Even though she’s done it before, and the family has stuff, marking the occasion is special.  It might be a dinner, or a smaller party than the first one.  If you are pregnant with your second child now and don’t really see the need, know that I wasn’t sure either, but just having a time to be with some close friends and talk about my second baby was lovely.