How late is too late for a baby shower?

Naz91804

For some reason my MIL has decided to plan a long trip during the time I would have my baby shower.  She's going to be out of the country mid Dec to mid Feb.  They want to do the shower after she comes back but that'll only be about 4 weeks before my due date.  Is that too late?  Other than being big and uncomfortable I'm worried about going into labor early.  I'm a little peeved that I went out of my way and threw a big shower for her daughter and also son's wife and she is just planning her trip as she pleases and expects me to work around it.  I know if I say anything she'll just say that's ok, plan it without me, but the guilt is going to drive me mad, arrgggg.  Any thoughts?

titantsmama

I think you should be fine- 36 weeks is still a bit early to go early...for a first baby : )

SweetieP

Is she hosting it?  If not, I'd hold it 6-8 weeks from your due date.  You shouldn't have to put your life on hold because of her vacation. (Unless of course she's hosting).   And if she is hosting....and you do go into labor....she'll have to reschedule it as a sip-n-see.

 

 

Cachis

I want to say, I had one at 34 and 35 weeks.  I was easily tired and the whole exchange thing was overwhelming.  With that being said, you should be able to handle it.  Just make sure that you arrive as a guest would, do not try to help out or lend a hand.  This is your day and enjoy it.  If you wear high heels, make sure to bring some flats to change into.  Enjoy your shower.

Naz91804

Cachis:

I want to say, I had one at 34 and 35 weeks.  I was easily tired and the whole exchange thing was overwhelming.  With that being said, you should be able to handle it.  Just make sure that you arrive as a guest would, do not try to help out or lend a hand.  This is your day and enjoy it.  If you wear high heels, make sure to bring some flats to change into.  Enjoy your shower.

 Thanks for the advice :-).

Meg_Meg

My family shower is at 35 weeks...so I think you'll be fine at 36.

Naz91804

SweetieP:

Is she hosting it?  If not, I'd hold it 6-8 weeks from your due date.  You shouldn't have to put your life on hold because of her vacation. (Unless of course she's hosting).   And if she is hosting....and you do go into labor....she'll have to reschedule it as a sip-n-see. :

She's not hosting but her daughters and other DIL are. 

My sis and cousin are throwing me a shower in January for my side of the family and this shower will be for DH's side.  We have big families so having one shower would have made the guest list way too big so we decided to split it.  

ljlkm

As a practical matter, I think it's a little late.  You're going to need to have everything ready (I would think; more experienced moms may have a better handle on this!) within a couple of weeks of your due date--that means the nursury ready, all the clothes bought & washed, and everything generally set up.  But you won't know what else you'll need until after the shower, which doesn't leave you much time to fill in the gaps and get things set up before baby. 

hersheykiss

I had mine at 24 weeks which is a bit early, but at 30-34 weeks it would be Christmas so I did not want the holidays to interfere. I did not want one in January either because she is due 4 weeks later. I personally think 36 weeks is late too me, but as long as you think you are up to the stress, people and entertaining there is no reason not to have one. It could be a small one, just close family and friends and have a bigger one earlier than that.

Mrs_Shmoopie

I had my last shower at less than 4 weeks before my due date and it was fine (didn't hurt that J was 10 days late).  Of course, I'm a procrastinator by nature so we were still getting stuff ready up until about a day before my EDD.  If you're a major planner then having that little time beforehand may make you a little crazy.  I also was very lucky b/c I was never very, very uncomfortable during most of my pg so I was fine w/walking around and mingling, etc.   I hope you can work it out w/your MIL and have a wonderful shower!

 

Naz91804

Thanks ladies, I didn't even think about the prep time I would need to get the nursery, clothes etc set.  That would be kind of stressful but hopefully since I'm having my bigger shower one month earlier I'll have most everything set up and this won't be too bad (I hope). 

NorCalSuperwife

I think it could work if you're okay with it.

A suggestion for getting ready (if you're nervous about it being close to your EDD): Have all the necessities before the last shower. And then just register for things that are not needed right away (high chair, bumbo, things of that sort.)
 

2bearichards

I had a shower just before 36 weeks and everything was fine.  I still had plenty of time to prepare stuff for his arrival and was able to return things I didn't need.

m&m&a7217

My shower was thrown for me 3 weeks before my due date. It was fine. I was big and uncomfortable, but it was nice to be doing something other than being uncomfortable at home.

MarksGrrl

I'm the minority, but I had my big shower at 36 weeks, was put on bedrest immediately after, and was induced a week later.  My sisters, mom, and grandma had to come take care of everything while I barked orders from the couch.  It was not fun.  If I had it all to do over again I would have had my shower by 34 weeks; still not too uncomfortable to enjoy yourself and put everything away/organize.

ladipale

B/C of scheduling conflicts, my sister's shower was SUPPOSED to be 4 weeks before her due date... but she went into labor the day before the shower and we had to reschedule.

joboogie_rn

I don't think a month before is too late. My sis planned mine for 2 weeks before my son was born because people were guaranteeing me I wouldn't go into labor early since he was my first. But I had contractions for 3 days before my shower but I couldn't have him before the party - my sister would be so SAD! So needless to say Jonah was born the day after. One month is fine.