Baby Shower at 36 weeks?

AriaAmante143 · December 2013

My sister wants to throw my baby shower, which I'm so happy about (I threw her baby shower two years ago and we had a blast). She's an LPN working towards her RN and unfortunately her main shifts now are Saturday and Sunday. We were talking about dates over Thanksgiving and I guess her schedule is already made through January (I'm unclear if she can't take off a Sunday, of just doesn't want to), so her first free weekend would be the first week in February. I'm due March 4, so I'd be almost 36 weeks. As a FTM I have no idea how I'll feel then, and most showers I've been to were held a few months before the mom was due. Is that too late for a shower? Did anyone here have their shower that late? Or am I just being a typical FTM?

lalaith50 · December 2013

Mine is going to be at 35 w 2 d. It's certainly not ideal, and I'm sure I won't feel the best, but the date was chosen due to circumstances outside of my control, so I guess it is what it is. In my case, (sounds like similar to yours) I decided that while I could make a stink about wanting it earlier, it wouldn't be worth it, and would come across ungrateful. While we hear about people going into early labor online all the time, in reality it s quite rare.

huskymomma94 · December 2013

My baby shower was at 35 weeks. Honestly, it was fine, I felt great and everyone loved my giant bump

I wouldn't want it much later than that though. You are probably pushing it at close to 36 weeks but I think you would still be okay.

ceh789 · December 2013

Are you high risk for early delivery for any reason (i.e. twins, pre-e?) If everything is going normal, I think 36 weeks is pretty average for a shower. Most of the showers I've been to are around then and it seems to work out well; you really don't have to *do* that much at your shower - you'll mostly sit and mingle. The latest shower I've attended was 38 weeks which seemed cutting it a bit close to me but the MTB seemed cool with it.

pattipants · December 2013

The main reason I wouldn't want it that late is because I'd want to wait to buy things until after my shower (to see whether others purchase them first). For example, I'd want to wait to see how many (and what sizes) of clothes I get at my shower, and then buy the rest I need afterward. 36+ weeks is not ideal, but you will probably be fine. You might just need to rush to get all the last-minute things before you give birth. I gave birth at 38.5 weeks with my first pregnancy.

amdecker1016 · December 2013

Due 3/6 and my shower is not until 2/15. I Will be 37 weeks. I totally get being nervous about going into labor. But that shower will be mainly family and close friends so i'm sure that they would understand and probably love if the baby was there for the shower!

ellajune2012 · December 2013

I'm also due 3/6 and my shower is going to be either last week in Jan or first week in Feb.

Is your sister a football fan? Cause the playoff season is in January. I'm pretty sure that factored into my sister's scheduling.

katykatykaty · December 2013

Mine was at 36 weeks, and I had plenty of time to do shopping afterwards since I didn't go into labor until I was 39 weeks. Everyone's different, though, but odds are you'd be fine.

smchik · December 2013

We had my sisters scheduled for 35 weeks. She went into labor the night before and had the baby about 6 hours before the start of the shower. We still went forward because we really could not noticy everyone in time. But we basically just ate, everyone opened their own present and then talked. She was so upset (we ended up throwing a smaller one for her second baby that was at like 28 weeks )

If there is no other option it is fine. But I would probably try to reschedule.

amandapthompson · December 2013

My shower was at 36 weeks. I think it's pretty normal for a non high risk pregnancy.

bellc1980 · December 2013

That should be fine. Yeah, you'll be big but so what! If you're having a normal low risk pregnancy you should be fine for a couple of hours at a party. If you are uncomfortable, suggest it be at your house so you have all your comforts there.

Npironi · December 2013

Im also due march 4th and my shower was going to be on february 8th which would make me almost 37 weeks. And i begged my mom to move it back becus i was so nervous that inwouldnt make it or there wouldnt b enough time to get everything organized and ready. So its now on the 25th of january and i feel better about it. I just have a feeling im going to be having this baby sooner than my due date if i didnt have that feeling i wouldnt be so worried lol

AriaAmante143 · December 2013

As far as I know, I'm not high risk. I have my glucose test today, and lots of questions, so I'll find out more. My biggest worry is that I will be rushing at the end to get everything ready for baby with the shower being so late.

bellc1980 · December 2013

That's the only disadvantage. You will have get the necessities after your shower. But it was my experience that people didn't buy the really big necessities like a car seat or crib for a shower gift so you should probably have that anyway. If you have a registry, you could take a peak at what has been purchased. Just a thought!

Parryt · December 2013

With my first I had a baby shower at 39 weeks. You feel tired but it was fun. I think 36 will be ok

babylimas · December 2013

I had one at that point. The only part that was difficult is my dress was tight.

I still felt great and loved the good food.

VineyardMel · December 2013

Mine was at 35wks and it was great. I had 4 more weeks to get whatever else I needed and to get organized and ready. It was plenty of time and I liked that I wasn't done so far in advance that I was twiddling my thumbs just waiting for her to get here.

clo1982 · December 2013

I think you should be totally fine as long as you aren't at risk for early delivery. I think mine was around 30 weeks and I had dd at exactly 37 but I felt no different at 34, 35 , 36 or 37 weeks so it would have made no difference. At that point you are big and uncomfortable but obviously still able to carry on with life! So enjoy!

MayKay12 · December 2013

pattipants said:
The main reason I wouldn't want it that late is because I'd want to wait to buy things until after my shower (to see whether others purchase them first). For example, I'd want to wait to see how many (and what sizes) of clothes I get at my shower, and then buy the rest I need afterward. 36+ weeks is not ideal, but you will probably be fine. You might just need to rush to get all the last-minute things before you give birth. I gave birth at 38.5 weeks with my first pregnancy.

This. I would especially be worried about big items such as car seats, crib, and any other baby essentials. I got all those things as shower gifts from family members.

ceh789 · December 2013

MayKay12 said:

The main reason I wouldn't want it that late is because I'd want to wait to buy things until after my shower (to see whether others purchase them first). For example, I'd want to wait to see how many (and what sizes) of clothes I get at my shower, and then buy the rest I need afterward. 36+ weeks is not ideal, but you will probably be fine. You might just need to rush to get all the last-minute things before you give birth. I gave birth at 38.5 weeks with my first pregnancy.
This. I would especially be worried about big items such as car seats, crib, and any other baby essentials. I got all those things as shower gifts from family members.

I don't get this at all - 4 weeks is more than enough time to buy everything you need for a baby, even if no one gives you anything at all at your shower. Heck - I could buy everything I need for a baby in the next hour and have it delivered to my home by Friday (thanks, Amazon Prime!)

If you're really horribly worried that you won't have enough time in four weeks to buy what you need for the baby out of the gate - why not buy those things now and keep receipts if you happen to get duplicates?

I'm starting to think that my thinking is broken on this since I seem to be coming at it from a totally different perspective than other people - I'm not counting on my shower to provide me anything at all. If I get stuff that we need then super, great, life is good! But if I get nothing but size NB onesies and hooded towels I'm not going to be at a loss for everything else I need.

YankeePeach08 · December 2013

even if you have LO 2 weeks after your shower you will be able to get everything and finish shopping. I'm assuming you have a registry, right? That would make it pretty easy for you and/or DH to go get what's left, it's not like you'll have to research and pick things out.

Also, you don't need tons of clothes and such for the baby to come home.

Enjoy your shower!

Npironi · December 2013

@ceh789

If i wasnt counting on my shower to provide me anything at all as you are i wouldnt be worried either!
However, my family is buying my bigger items such as travel system, play pen, bottles and such, and all that jazz. It was done for my everyone else in the fam who weve thrown showers for and its being done for me now as well, which is pretty awesome i have an amazing family (both sides!) so having a shower at 37 weeks freaked me out. Also i know in my case that id really stress if things werent done when i want them to be. (I know not reasonable but i cant help how i feel!)

YankeePeach08 · December 2013

Npironi said:

@ceh789 If i wasnt counting on my shower to provide me anything at all as you are i wouldnt be worried either! However, my family is buying my bigger items such as travel system, play pen, bottles and such, and all that jazz. It was done for my everyone else in the fam who weve thrown showers for and its being done for me now as well, which is pretty awesome i have an amazing family (both sides!) so having a shower at 37 weeks freaked me out. Also i know in my case that id really stress if things werent done when i want them to be. (I know not reasonable but i cant help how i feel!)

If they are buying you everything then just sit back and relax.

If you have a shower earlier you are just going to find more things you think you need to do, or even change your mind about things and run around like crazy trying to return/exchange.

Also, cake tastes much better after 36 weeks

mamamia866 · December 2013

I agree with other pp, you'll probably be ok. I would be worried to have one 38 weeks or later.

Npironi · December 2013

YankeePeach08 said:

Npironi said:

@ceh789

If i wasnt counting on my shower to provide me anything at all as you are i wouldnt be worried either!
However, my family is buying my bigger items such as travel system, play pen, bottles and such, and all that jazz. It was done for my everyone else in the fam who weve thrown showers for and its being done for me now as well, which is pretty awesome i have an amazing family (both sides!) so having a shower at 37 weeks freaked me out. Also i know in my case that id really stress if things werent done when i want them to be. (I know not reasonable but i cant help how i feel!)

If they are buying you everything then just sit back and relax.

If you have a shower earlier you are just going to find more things you think you need to do, or even change your mind about things and run around like crazy trying to return/exchange.

Also, cake tastes much better after 36 weeks

Thats very true..i would find more things to do and change even if everything was all ready and set, that is my downfall lol

ceh789 · December 2013

Npironi said: However, my family is buying my bigger items such as travel system, play pen, bottles and such, and all that jazz. It was done for my everyone else in the fam who weve thrown showers for and its being done for me now as well, which is pretty awesome i have an amazing family (both sides!) so having a shower at 37 weeks freaked me out.

~~~~ ^^ end quote (its broken again...)
My family is buying us many things - some big and some small. My point is that we're not depending on that - we're prepared for getting everything or nothing at all as gifts.

I guess what I was trying to say is that I don't understand being unprepared to provide the must-haves when we're all this close to having our babies. And if you're prepared to provide what you have to - what difference does it make when your shower is in this day & age when stuff is so fast and easy to buy - you literally wouldn't even have to leave your home to finish off your registry if you have to.

ceh789 · December 2013

YankeePeach08 said:

Also, cake tastes much better after 36 weeks

I'm going to need to test your hypothesis. I think I should start today.

novelblessings · December 2013

I would say you will probably be ok. The timing of my shower does worry me a little because my husband thinks that people will just buy our big ticket items for us. So he refuses to allow us to buy them until after the shower. I'm just going to keep a watch on my registry then. If we really need things last minute, like PPs have said, it's not like it's hard to get those things today.

VanessaBee · December 2013

I'll be just over 36w when I have mine. I didn't really think of anything but dates that worked for everyone! I'm going to be big and pregnant at 36w no matter what I'm doing - might as well have the distraction of a shower!

amandapthompson · December 2013

Npironi said:
@ceh789

If i wasnt counting on my shower to provide me anything at all as you are i wouldnt be worried either!
However, my family is buying my bigger items such as travel system, play pen, bottles and such, and all that jazz. It was done for my everyone else in the fam who weve thrown showers for and its being done for me now as well, which is pretty awesome i have an amazing family (both sides!) so having a shower at 37 weeks freaked me out. Also i know in my case that id really stress if things werent done when i want them to be. (I know not reasonable but i cant help how i feel!)

I guess I'm not understanding this... If you KNOW what you are getting, why does it matter when your shower is?

And it's unbelievably rude to be upset over a stinking date when someone is so graciously hosting an event in your honor... Those big things are NOT required to have a kid. Diapers, wipes, car seat, couple onsies, maybe some cheapo bottles to hold you over...

I just don't understand why everyone is so upset about dates. Be thankful someone is willing to do such a nice thing for ya'll

rae6883 · December 2013

I'll be 32 for one of mine, and 35 for the other….its just the way it worked out.

AriaAmante143 · December 2013

We already have most of the "big" items (furniture, crib, stroller, car seat etc) that we've purchased, so for me it's not about getting stuff. If she came
today she'd have all the neccessities.

My dr said today that I'm not high risk, my BP was a little higher than normal, but after 3 hours at the doctors and a stupid glucose test I think that was probably warranted. I guess one of my other concerns was an early delivery, but so far no sign of that. I guess I'm just nervous I'll be "too pregnant" and uncomfortable to enjoy myself, and also I can't even imagine how dresses and things are going to look on me at 36 weeks. I already feel like a beached whale.

amandoza23 · December 2013

I'm due March 4th as well and my shower is the weekend before that so I'll be almost 35 weeks. I think it's the only weekend that really works for everyone because of the holidays. It might be a little late but it still give you plenty of time to get things ready! (Assuming your LO doesn't come out early).

Christencox · December 2013

My first baby was born 2 days before her baby shower, which was scheduled between 36-37 weeks. Since it was our first, I went ahead and had people over since we had NOTHING so they got to meet her at the shower. But to be on the safe side, I would not recommend having a shower later than 35 weeks in case you deliver early with no warning like I did! BTW, I was not high risk, and had NO warning that I was going in to labor until my water broke!

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