OK Ladies and Gents

I need some real honest opinions here so do not hold back.

I have toyed with the notion of having some sort of celebration for this baby, not a baby shower per sei (sp?) but a Motherscircle or something to that effect.

But now I am going off the idea.

This will be my last pregnancy (planned anyway who knows if an accident will happen) and I do believe that ALL life should be celebrated or remembered.

WOULD YOU or HAVE YOU

Do something to celebrate each of your babies immpending births? whether that be a celebration FOR the baby or FOR the mother.

Its not to get presents or anything of that nature but more to just celebrate "New Life".

I am just in need of seeing what others would do or have done. Even if its a big fat NO :rofl:

Nae x

i personally dont like the idea of baby showers - im not sure what a motherscircle is though!

but if this is your last pregnancy and you want to do something i say go for it :D

i think it's lovely to have a get together before bub arrives.

it could have something for your DD, yourself, partner, bub or all of you as a growing family.

My stepmum threw me a small baby shower for DD2. Only family and no presents but it was so nice to have people around me who were excited to meet out new baby. We had a small gap between the girls, so it seemed that people weren't that excited second time around, so I really enjoyed the second 'baby shower'. I say go for it! There's nothing wrong with celebrating anything ESPECIALLY new life! Have a great time! x

I had a Blessingway for my pregnancy with DD and I'll probably have one for each of my pregnancies. I'm not into the babyshower idea, I don't like the consumer driven side of it and the expectation on buying a gift the mother may or may not need. By the time you are in your later pregnancy, you generally have all you need for your baby, (although I know some people hold out for their shower). A Blessingway (or motherscircle) is about focusing on the beauty of the pregnancy and the pregnant mother. It works around nurturing the pregnant woman, both physically and spiritually (or emotionally) and preparing them for the task they are about to undertake (labour and birth). It's a special time for the mother, when the last 9 months (and the 18+ years to follow) have all been about baby. I found my blessingway extremely important for preparing myself for birth, letting go of any baggage I was carrying into my labour and I do believe it helped me in achieving the labour and birth I wanted. I was carrying a lot of negativity before my Blessingway, but with some meditation, reflection and nurturing, I was able to have a completely different mindset.

I had a blessing way with both of mine, and for both I was unsure of organizing it, because I felt a bit...I don't know...selfish? ?BUT they are both very, very very special memories for me, and I felt truly amazing afterwards.

One way to help this feeling is to get someone else to organize it for you, so you don't feel you're drawing attention to yourself too much.

My blessingway with dd was a little bit baby shower because my friends couldn't quite get the whole idea, but with ds they had a better idea and we got a henna tattoo artist who decorated my tummy and did a tattoo for all the guests (most got their hand done). I also asked everyone to bring a bead to create a birthing necklace and a scrap of fabric to make flags (a bunting). Even if you don't ask for blessings or anything, I strongly urge you to get beads from your friends to make a necklace...my birthing necklaces are so so special to me and I will give them to my children when they're older. I wore them each during the birth and for a week or so afterwards...they really do help you remember all the people who are thinking of you.

My album also has pictures of the birth alter I created, which has affirmations and a candle. I lit the candle on the day I went into labour and it burned each night in ds first week...

I am very spiritual when it comes to birth. I think ceremonising it really helps me get into the zone.

I want a blessing way for this birth instead of a baby shower. I'm not sure how it works, but I know some of my lovely friends will!

I want this upcoming birth to be celebrated, and I want to feel that the good wishes of those around me will help me guide my new baby into this world.

The idea about the beads is a lovely one, thanks Arcadia. Sorry to hijack, Nae!

I had a baby shower, and hated it! That's probably more down to my family being stupid though :p

I went to PZ's blessingway, though, and OMG it was fantastic! So calming and peaceful :heartbeat:

Blessing ways sound beautiful.

I know on here there have been some negative baby shower experiences, but I had one and it was perfect.

No silly games. A bunch of family and girlfriends getting together for an afternoon chatting, eating, laughing.
And importantly relaxing. My bestie who lives in another state organized the whole thing and I didnt need to do anything.

There were gifts, nothing too extravagant.
It's funny every time I use something we got, I think of that afternoon.

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy it!

I had a blessingway for DD2 and basically the same thing for DD3.

They were awesome. Nothing better than your friends coming together and expressing their faith in your ability to birth your baby, the power behind that is just amazing.

I had a shower for DD1. Then for DD2 my friends organised a lunch. I felt like everyone was so excited and happy about DD1 coming and I wanted the same for DD2. I didn't want presents though, I just wanted to get together with my friends and share the excitement. They all bought me presents anyway and I felt bad :doh:

We are off on a 'big, fat holiday' today actually and we are lashing out and spending 4 glorious nights at the gorgeous Hayman Island to celebrate this baby and our beautiful family. So I won't be having a gathering like a shower but we are certainly celebrating, just as a family though :D

My girlfriends always have a Welcome Party, after bub is born. We all get together for junk food and mocktails and newborn schnuggles. For the last time, we made the new Mumma a belt that said 'Riley Was Here' :rofl:

I am having a baby shower for this bub (number 4). I have never had a baby shower before, and this is going to be our last baby. It isn't about the presents, but it is about the celebration and the games and the time with friends and family - a way to celebrate the last time I will ever be pregnant.

Keike - My SIL had a Welcome Baby party personally there is not a hope in hell I could manage one of those especially in the first month :rofl: I honestly didn't know how she did it, afterwards she admitted to me that she wished she had have had it before the baby arrived but it got all the "appeasing everyone else" thing over and done with in one hit.

I partially feel guilty if I don't "do something" for this pregnancy, I want to, I would want a Mothers circle (blessingway) as opposed to a baby shower ....... but there is a part of me screaming "WHY?? I CANNOT BE BOTHERED" especially as it would need to be held in a 4 week period when there is SO much other stuff going on and I am not sure my head could cope with something else as well ITMS.

I was also seening what other women did in regards to pregnancies following on from their 1st born, if others did something to mark each pregnancy etc ......

I am just torn and want someone else to make the decision for me :rofl:

Do you have someone who could organise it for you? I was in a very similar headspace to you and could NOT do it myself, so my awesome doula stepped in and did everything.

Perfect solution - someone from here who knows you IRL needs to organise a surprise blessingway for you, so all you do is show up, get pampered, and then leave the dishes to someone else!

I can't decide what I want to do for this pregnancy either Nae.

For DD1 my bestie threw a surprise baby shower - high tea at a hotel in a CBD. This time I don't want to do anything since my mum won't be there. But then my bestie came up with an idea of buying plain baby clothes and everyone decorates something using beads/buttons/ribbons or whatever. I think I really like the idea.

Before reading this thread I had no idea what a Blessingway was - sounds lovely. I particularly Arcadia's idea of the beads for the birthing necklace. I agree with Keike, you need to get someone from BB to organise a surprise blessingway for you.

I really think it's a lovely idea Nae.
I'm interested to read responses too. This is my last baby and one I am ever so grateful for. I have no family here but would love to celebrate it's impending arrival.

Not to hijack, but if you know you have to have a caesar (partial rupture last birth no hope for a VBAC), is a blessingway inappropriate? I mean there will be no labour and birth is different.

I celebrate the upcoming birth of my kids in a very different way - bit nervous to share because it is quite self absorbed.
I organise a cleaner to come and scrub my house from top to bottom, get the carpets steamed cleaned. Then while I have people cleaning my house I go out for a massage, pedicure, wax and a new haircut. Finally I meet up with my gorgeous girlfriends for lunch and gossip for hours. It is day that I can totally relax and have just for me - it's kinda my last day as I prepare to give myself to my new baby which I absolutely love to do. That sound weird?

I'm just not into baby showers or blessingways. I think they are beautiful in their own right but I'm a plain jane I guess.

Good luck deciding what you would like to do to celebrate your last pregnancy/birth.

I doubt it Kim ... my understanding of it is to help prepare the mother for the baby's birth (tummy or vjayjay its still a birth) and to celebrate the journey of motherhood. There are lots of really lovely ideas for Mother Circles you could google it and read more ont he Traditional ways they were done. Its very interesting.

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I celebrate the upcoming birth of my kids in a very different way - bit nervous to share because it is quite self absorbed.
I organise a cleaner to come and scrub my house from top to bottom, get the carpets steamed cleaned. Then while I have people cleaning my house I go out for a massage, pedicure, wax and a new haircut. Finally I meet up with my gorgeous girlfriends for lunch and gossip for hours. It is day that I can totally relax and have just for me - it's kinda my last day as I prepare to give myself to my new baby which I absolutely love to do. That sound weird?

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Actually sounds perfect to me. Not weird at all. Just very practical.