More spiritual shower

soon2bjmn

Has anyone been to or thrown one of these? Instead of being a gifty, cutesy thing it's more about celebrating the mom and showing support for her upcoming labor. What were your experiences with this type of shower?

Klikina

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking. I've never been to any shower (wedding or baby) where the guests didn't bring gifts. The point of a shower, typically, is to gift someone. I've never gotten the impression that getting a gift for the mom-to-be meant that a person didn't support her (wouldn't it generally be the opposite?)

I had two showers. One was a little more traditional, with the baby games, before I opened presents. The other was a bit larger with no games- we just ate and visited, the guests drank mimosas, and then I opened presents. I actually did have one guest not bring a gift, but I never felt that any of my friends didn't support me or weren't celebrating my new baby- they were there for both of us.

Are you talking about more of a meet-the-baby party after the baby is born? FWIW, I always bring a present for the baby, whether it's the couple's first or 5th baby, whether it's at a shower, the hospital, or the home.

Again, I'm not sure I understand the question.

soon2bjmn

No. Gifts are often given, but the focus is on the mother and all of the women in her life supporting each other. They often share birth stories and blessings. Here is a little more info https://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com/blessingway.html  

I would just like to know if anyone has given or had a "shower" like this and what their experience was

5de5

I have heard of this, but don't know anyone who has actually had one for various reasons.   Most people will hear "Shower" and think, gifts and games.  Not everyone can share birth stories. Not everyone is into the "spiritual" support you seem to want.   It will limit your guest list. If you're going to have it in addition to a more "traditional" shower maybe you won't have these issues.  And I would think you would get the same support by just having some good friends over shortly before you're due

soon2bjmn

Im already limiting my guest list to the 4 girls who were in my wedding and 2 close family friends. Does it really matter what everyone else is "into" anyway? I'm not into smelling melted candy in a diaper but that doesnt stop people from having this game played at their showers. I"m not talking about sitting around a drum circle and chanting, I'm talking about a much more intimate experience because this will be with the women who are my support system. I have 2 very artsy friends who would get the biggest kick out of a belly cast, and my MIL and mom would have a ball belly dancing... I would just like to know what others who have had these showers have done and what advice they have.

Klikina

I looked at the link you posted, and it seems like a cool idea, but I wouldn't call it a shower. Even the webpage makes a distinction between the two. If you were going to do it, I would definitely call it a blessingway and limit it to only your super-closest female friends and family. I think anyone who got invited to a "shower" only to find that it was really a "blessingway" would be confused. I think they are two different things, and if you call it a shower, then people will think it's a shower.

I also think you could have an actual shower that incorporated things like this, maybe like an intimate party at a friends house. There really isn't anything on the list of suggestions that couldn't be done at a regular shower too. As far as the spiritual aspect, that would depend on you and your guests and how spiritual everyone is. For example, if everyone is Christian, you could have everyone go around in a circle and pray, and read some scriptures about parent/motherhood. HTH!

 

rhubarb123

I have heard of blessingways but have never had one or attended one.  I had 3 showers and two of them were pretty small.  We were able to chat a lot and the birth stories were told and helpful advice given.  I think if you want something like this you might not want to call it a shower...maybe just a blessing for the new mother-to-be.

BallSox

soon2bjmn:

Im already limiting my guest list to the 4 girls who were in my wedding and 2 close family friends. Does it really matter what everyone else is "into" anyway? I'm not into smelling melted candy in a diaper but that doesnt stop people from having this game played at their showers. I"m not talking about sitting around a drum circle and chanting, I'm talking about a much more intimate experience because this will be with the women who are my support system. I have 2 very artsy friends who would get the biggest kick out of a belly cast, and my MIL and mom would have a ball belly dancing... I would just like to know what others who have had these showers have done and what advice they have.

No offense, but you're sounding really defensive and snappy when they've (the other posters) have actually been pretty honest and supportive.  I think what you're doing sounds cool if you're into it and the guests are into it.  I wouldn't call it a shower, because for 99% of the female population the word shower = smelling chocolate bars and opening gifts.  

If you invited 10 women to a "shower" and then expected them to decoupage some plaster mold of your engorged breasts and talk about their experiences with their bloody show and going through the ring of fire, you'd probably make 9 of them very uncomfortable.   However, if you invited 10 women to a blessingway (is that what it was called? I forget, honestly) they'd probably look it up on the internet, or ask questions and while you might only get 5 of them attending, they'd come into it knowing what to expect.  

Obviously, I know you said you only invited 6 people, but I was just using general numbers.  Call it what it is and if you're not wanting a shower, don't call it a shower.  I think what you want is cool if you're into it, but it's not a traditional shower.