Hi Ladies,
I had a late loss with my first pregnancy and I don't think I can emotionally handle a baby shower for this LO due in May. I really feel uncomfortable being around baby stuff becasue it reminds me of my loss. Also, having baby stuff in the house before I have a living baby in the house is pretty much out of the question. It was miserable coming home from the hospital with no baby to a house full of baby stuff....
I still want my family and friends to celebrate my LO so I am thinking of registering in a few weeks and throwing a "meet the baby" party after LO arrives if I am lucky enough to bring a living baby home from the hospital this time.
Is it rude to throw your own "meet the baby" party? I wouldn't make any mention of a registry in the invite but I would have my mom tell anyone that asks.
What should I do about timing? I'm thinking having it 4 weeks from my EDD. My family will help prepare and what not so I'm not worried about being busy. Is this a decent time?
Also, I want to send out birth announcements, and would send them to the majority of the people I would invite to the "Meet the Baby" party. Could I do 'double duty' and include the invite to the meet the baby party with the birth announcment?
Thanks!
Re: Meet the Baby Party Questions...
I'm very sorry for your loss.
I think its completely reasonable and appropriate to host a sip and see after your baby is born, DH and I are hosting one ourselves.
I think 4 weeks is a little too soon, my doctor doesn't recommend having the baby out around a lot of people until 5-6 weeks. Ask your doctor what he/she recommends. I'm due on 3/22 and I think we're holding off on our sip and see until June, when the weather will hopefully be nice and warm and our families and friends can enjoy our deck and our yard.
You have to do what you feel is right. If a shower before your baby is born makes you uneasy, there's no reason to do it.
I, too, think it's okay to host your own. I called it an Open House. I've tentatively scheduled mine for 3 weeks after my EDD, but reserving the right to change the date once I actually deliver. I'm inviting people mostly by facebook, email, word of mouth. I do actually have printed invites for some people. But that helps keep it casual so people can feel like they can come and go and that it's not a formal shower thing.
I'm doing birth announcements too, but that's too a wider audience, so I decided to do 2 seperate things. One for the party to people that are local. One for the birth announcement once I have a picture printed and that will go to out of town people too.
No it is NOT wrong to host a meet the baby party. In fact, many cultures do this instead of showers.
As far as timing that is up to you and how you feel. I would tentatively set it up for four weeks after but be prepared to move it to six weeks after.
You'll get a ton of baby gifts after sending out your birth announcements. I would not include registry info with any kind of party invite or birth annoucement. Do clue in a few close family members or friends though; people will ask where you're registered and you'll want to have a few well-networked people in the know!
I think a "Meet the Baby" party is a great idea. I would suggest making it an informal drop-by event (such as "we'll be here all morning, come by for coffee and snacks") versus having a more formal event where you (or your family) has to worry about a large group of people all showing up at once.