Alternatives to a baby shower?

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My best friend is currently 5 months pregnant and (although it's early) we've been talking about me throwing her a baby shower (couldn't do it as a surprise, she has friends all over the place and I'd need her help) but she's not sure she'll want everyone 'gawping' when she's huge and isn't sure if she'd rather do something involving just the two of us.

Because my dc is quite a bit older, before her pregnancy we mainly did very active things or shopping, or dinner/lots of wine, going out etc - none of which will be suitable (except maybe dinner minus the booze). Looking for something a bit special we could do to celebrate her pregnancy (especially as she's currently feeling massive and boring already and spending most of her time at work or home).

I hate the idea of babyshowers. I've been to one and it wasn't so much a celebration of pregnancy as 'let's see what people will buy me'
I think if you really want to organise something, make it a pampering session for the two of you for when she's on maternity leave and no doubt feeling fed up.

I've been reading about Blessingway Celebrations. This is an alternative Babyshower where you get together with all the important woman in your life to celebrate your pregnancy and the coming arrival of your baby. It is not at all about the buying of presents. It is about celebrating the miracle of pregnancy and birth and doing whatever is meaningful and fun to you. You can all have a lovely meal together, do arty/crafty things like make gifts for the baby or mother-to-be e.g. a baby mobile, a collage of photos, play games or decorate the bump. Whatever you enjoy really. It could be just chatting, having a home pamper session, watching films . . . Each guest can be asked to bring something significant to them to contribute towards a group gift, like a song to make a compilation labour CD, a poem or drawing or a special bead to make up a necklace for the mother-to-be.

I really like the ideas behind it because it moves away from the whole commercialism of Babyshowers and brings the focus onto having a really memorable and personal celebration. Which to my mind is how is should be. I know it sounds all rather hippy-ish and could be if that suits you but I think you could make it whatever you want it to be. Something really individual to your friend and who she is.

I'm planning on doing something along these lines nearer to when I am due in october and am having lots of fun thinking about how I want to do it

some friends of ours are having a "meet the baby" party in lieu of a babyshower, which you could take charge in organizing since they'll be in the "brand new parents" zone.

but if you want to do it before the baby is born, a pampering session would be ideal - some places specialise in pre-natal massage which is really lovely.

Spa day!!!! I did this with some friends I used to live with at uni when I was about 15 weeks - we were supposed to have a boozy weekend in Brighton or somewhere but my pregnancy through our plans off course and we just chilled out with a spa day instead and it was brilliant

I would be a bit superstitious about a baby shower, though. A close friend of mine had a still birth about 6 weeks ago and about 2 weeks before that four of us had a kind of impromptu baby shower for her where we brought some wee presents for the baby and went out for lunch etc. It was a lovely day but when I think of how things turned out I wish we'd maybe thought to wait and have a 'meet the baby' party instead?

It might be a nice idea to organise a spa weekend to spoil your pregnant friend and keep it as more of an excuse for a very chilled out girly catch up and not put too much focus on the baby until it actually arrives safely? Just my experience though...

I had a tea party with my close female friends to celebrate impending birth. I said no gifts - most peeps brought a wee gift but nothing massive, and we had tea and cupcakes in lovely dresses - twas great!

Thanks for the suggestions - like the sound of the blessingway celebration and sounds sensible to make the fuss after the birth really - I didn't do much before mine were born and had a long time in hospital afterwards so the whole 'fuss' thing is still a bit new to me . Might try and plan a blessingway/meet the baby for after her ds is born, she's already worried about losing touch with people afterwards so that'd be good.

Pampering/spa day sounds perfect though, especially as we've never done that sort of thing together before, so I hadn't even considered it. Thanks a lot!

Haggisfish I love the sound of your girly tea party

I also think the idea of having someone else organise some sort of celebration after the baby arrives sounds really sensible.

Maybe I'll do both