Do you think a baby celebration party is a good idea?

[FabLaura]

Hubby and I have been trying for a baby for 4 years and this year we were lucky enough to have a successful round of IVF. Our baby is due early November.

We would like to celebrate our forthcoming arrival with friends and family and are thinking of hosting an afternoon event. It will probably be at the local village hall between 2-5pm so folks can bring children.

Do you think this is a nice idea or will people take it as a baby shower in disguise (which is not the aim)

Also if you were invited what would you expect to happen? A cake? Music? Late lunch?

Thanks!
P.s all our friends know about us doing IVF

Definitely a baby shower in disguise, however you present it. Congrats on your pregnancy, relax and make plans for a big party when baby is here. How do you know others are not having difficulties ttc.

Sorry but it sounds like a baby shower to me.

Baby shower in disguise.

I’d wait until the baby is here to celebrate and have a get together in the New Year.

Sounds like a baby shower - why not just have a shower?

That is a baby shower.

And yes I think it is a lovely idea.

Cool thanks for the honesty.

Kernowsailor - I'm not keen on a baby shower as I fear people feel obligated to bring a gift.

Wait until the baby is here

1. You never know what might happen and
2. It looks like you’ve thrown yourself a baby shower and
3. Celebrations after the baby are born are the norm - if you are religious throw a christening. If you aren’t throw a welcome baby party

Also - please remember your friends who are still in the infertile boat even though you aren’t now. You might be rubbing it in their faces a bit.

Get a friend to throw a baby shower and have a christening after

I suffered fertility issues too and did something with close friends when baby had safely arrived...over the years have seen too many things go wrong that I had to wait until all good...do what you feel best but much better when baby is here rather than celebrating bump imho.

Congratulations on your pregnancy ...here's to a happy and healthy 9 months X

I would wait till baby here and do a huge celebration then, congratulations.

Have a pre baby afternoon tea aka baby shower and enjoy cake with your friends - people will want to bring gifts who can resist baby clothes. Once the baby arrives you will be too preoccupied to enjoy a get together for a while. Enjoy whatever you do xxx

Wait till the baby is born.. if you don’t want to look grabby please say no gifts please 😁

You're really excited and that's lovely.

But wait until the baby is here and celebrate then.

It sounds like a baby shower tbh. You could specify no gifts if you think your friends will listen to those instructions. Or wait until baby is here and have a christening/naming ceremony and celebrate the birth of your baby then.

It’s a baby shower.
I’ve never had one and wouldn’t.. I’m far too worried that something will go wrong. I’d much rather celebrate after baby is here

Thank you all

My husband is sat next to me (watching Robo cop ) and I'm reading out the comments. We are going to change our plans and do something once the baby is here in the new year
Cheers again 👍

All the luck in the world. Sniff the baby for me.

congratulations!!!
however definitely wait until baby has arrived, as someone who lost a baby very late in pregnancy I wouldn’t personally celebrate until baby was here.

It's lovely that you're expecting OP and of course you're excited about it all. and congratulations.

However, this does appear to be yet another grabby step in the whole baby process. We already have baby showers, birth gifts, christening / naming gifts, and now you want to add a pregnancy announcement party to the whole shebang.

Is nothing private any more? Your difficulties in conceiving, your joy in becoming pregnant, your anticipation of what's to come... maybe that should just be between you and your DP?

Everybody seems to need and demand public congratulations and adulation for every single thing these days.

It is a baby shower. Gussied up under another name, but still a baby shower.

I think you're right to wait until the baby is born OP. Best of luck with it!

I disagree that it's a baby shower in disguise. I completely understand the desire to celebrate this happy news after all you've been through. Personally I'd feel more comfortable doing something after baby is born. I think you and your guests would enjoy it more. It's also a chance for people who you don't see often to meet the baby.

Some people have said it could be insensitive to others having infertility others. It may be that you have been open about your journey though so people understand just what you've been through to get to that point. I don't think it should stop you celebrating the arrival of your little one. It must feel unreal at the moment. Congratulations and all the best for the rest of your pregnancy.

Wishing you a happy healthy pregnancy. Your friends and family are sharing your joy that youre pregnant already. Enjoy your pregnancy and baby

As a person who never wants to tempt fate id wait until the baby has safely arrived.

However if a was a close member of family/friend I wouldn't necessarily see it as a baby shower of you did it say October if you said no presents (could do a cheesy message of 'weve got everything we've ever wished of but if you'd like to bring a babygrow for 'x' charity we would love to pass it on').

Id wait until the summer and do a fairly large village hall type christening/baby naming party to celebrate.

Congrats OP

It will definitely be seen as a baby shower and you do not host your own shower, it’s grabby. So sorry but I really don’t think it’s a good idea. You might find that your friends throw you a shower anyway and you can always throw a big celebration after the baby is here; a christening party if your religious just a party if you’re not.

Also big congratulations, wishing you happy and healthy pregnancy!

Congratulations. My DS is an IVF baby, he’s almost two now and perfect in every way. I can barely believe that he was created in a petri dish. What you were planning isn’t even a disguised baby shower, it’s just a baby shower ! Having a lovely celebration when the baby arrives is a wonderful idea. In the meantime why not go on a nice pre-baby trip and enjoy the anticipation together? Our pre-baby trip to Venice was a lovely lovely holiday.