|
|
Concerns About Sex During Pregnancy
Sex is among the top most enjoyable activities practiced
by couples. Why should this be any different during the
nine months of pregnancy?
Many expecting parents have concerns about having sex
during pregnancy. Anyone considering it will...
How To Teach Your Baby Sign Language
The word is spreading. Sign language is a great way to communicate with pre-verbal babies and toddler. New moms everywhere are grabbing American Sign Language books and absorbing them feverishly. Pregnancy classes are full of moms teaching each...
New baby
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! You're having a new baby! Now, on to the serious stuff. You're going to get yourself prepared for your new baby, mentally, physically and you will need to adjust your house and car for the new baby too!
Mentally...
Raising Healthy Babies Can't Start Too Early
Wanting to raise a healthy baby is a primary desire for parents. An expectant mother will get her check ups, follow the advise of her doctor or mid wife in the myriad of things she can do to contribute to the health of her unborn child.
The usual...
Truth Behind A Pregnant Woman's Food Craving and How to Control It
Cravings are feelings desiring food combinations which women
either do not normally eat or may even stomach under usual
eating conditions. In a survey conducted recently, expectant
mothers usually crave for "something sweet" like an ice...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Facts You Should Know About Baby Shower Etiquette
Whether you’ve hosted baby showers before or not, chances are you’ve got some questions regarding the right baby shower etiquette. You want to create a truly special time for the guest of honor without any unintended faux pas. This guide was specially created to help you get there.
The real basics
Take the wishes of the mom-to-be into account at every stage. That includes the games, food, invitation list and all other aspects of the baby shower.
You can have baby showers either before or after the baby is born. Generally, they’re held 1 or 2 months before due date. But they’re also held after baby arrives because of medical or other reasons.
These days, it is perfectly ok for a close relative or even the couple themselves to host a shower. Those “rules” about only non-relatives hosting a baby shower are quite dated now.
Before deciding on the kind of baby shower you plan to have -- girls-only or coed, theme or no theme and so on -- consult mom-to-be and find out what she prefers.
Who can be invited? Generally, anyone the mom-to-be feels she should call. She’s the best guide here.
Do you always need to send written baby shower invitations? It is usually the better choice. With a written invitation, guests have all details at their fingertips and need not rely on memory. Plus, you can (and usually should) include directions on how to get there.
At the same time, it is fine to just inform people on the phone. Do tell them well in advance, though. So they have enough time to buy gifts, arrange for a baby sitter, etc. And leave your contact numbers with them so they can reach you easily if they need any clarifications.
Can you hold a surprise shower? Sure. It can be a wonderful feeling for the expectant mother. But do consult someone close to her (mother, sister, etc) to know about her likely preferences in all areas.
The devil is in the details
Here’s more in depth information on baby shower etiquette that’ll help you host a truly great party.
Send out shower invitations at least 3 to 4 weeks in advance. Send them even earlier for out-of-town guests. Request an RSVP by a date 2 weeks before the baby shower.
If you’re having a coed shower, you might turn the guys off if you send frilly baby pink invites full of baby talk. Stick to attractive, stylish invitations.
Greet all guests at the door as they walk in, provide them with name tags (if there are many guests) and introduce them to others to get conversations going.
Register for gifts at only one place. Even if there are reasons like another store being closer to some guests. Else mom-to-be may end up with duplicate gifts she may have to return. And guests will be disappointed if they find that someone else has chosen the same gift they have.
While giving gift suggestions, include items at a variety of price points, not just high-ticket items. And do suggest that guests can get together to purchase higher priced items.
If there are older siblings,
make sure they receive a gift each. They may already be feeling somewhat left out with a new baby on the way, so this is a great idea.
Irrespective of whether it’s a coed baby shower or not, buy a gift specially for dad. He should feel that he was remembered too.
Record who gave each gift. Essential information when the time comes to send thank you cards! Sending thank you cards is essential baby shower etiquette.
Hand gifts to mom-to-be for her to open and take it from her once she’s done with it. This will save her the hassle of continually getting up and moving about to pick up gifts.
Sometimes, some guests may need to leave early. They’ll appreciate it if mom-to-be will open presents while everyone is eating.
Food and related arrangements deserve special attention. For one thing, expectant mothers can’t eat everything they normally would. See this page for more guidelines on food at baby showers: http://www.baby-showers-advisor.com/baby-shower-food.html
Start the baby shower on time and keep it fairly short. Don’t get bogged down in any one segment like games. Be sensitive to mom-to-be’s energy level and any signs of fatigue she may show. End the party if she’s beginning to feel run down. Walk guests to the door as they leave and be sure to thank them for coming.
Don’t expect perfection. No party ever is perfect. There’s always the unforeseen -- power goes off just as gifts are being opened, you forgot to dust one corner of the room, the pack of baby shower favors you opened just before the party turns out to be a different color than you ordered and so on. You can’t control it all.
Special situations
You might have a friend or relative who just lost a baby, or is infertile despite all treatments. Should you call her for your baby shower? Attending may be a challenge for her. Being confronted with another’s pregnancy may be difficult for her to bear.
The rule in such situations is -- ask. Check with her and find out if she is up to attending the baby shower. Don’t just send an invitation in the mail. On the other hand, don’t presume that she can’t come and not call her at all. If she’s close to the mom-to-be, she may well want to come. Or at least, she may send her good wishes and a gift.
But if she tells you that she can’t make it, accept the situation with grace. Never hold it against her in any manner. Even if she said she would come and later backed out. Remember, it is probably one of the most difficult times she’s ever had, so be generous and supportive.
Once you’ve understood these simple baby shower etiquette guidelines, you’ll be far more confident about hosting a baby shower. Have fun, and create a special time that will live on in everyone’s memories!
About the Author
Jessika Ryder is a successful writer and party enthusiast providing valuable information on baby showers. Her numerous articles provide party planning tips and other useful insights. See more articles at: http://www.baby-showers-advisor.com
|
|
|
|
|
Pregnancy.org --> Preconception, Pregnancy and Early Childhood ... |
Offering online communities, interactive tools, price robot, articles and a pregnancy calendar. Content spans pre-pregnancy to after birth. |
www.pregnancy.org |
  |
Pregnancy Week by Week Calendar Pregnancy Symptom and Pregnancy ... |
The pregnancy calendar can help you find information on pregnancy and childbirth, including a week by week pregnancy calendar, baby shower games, ... |
pregnancy.about.com |
  |
Healthy Pregnancy |
How soon after a missed period can I take a home pregnancy test and get ... Pregnancy can be a joyous time. But it also can be a time of uncertainty and ... |
www.4woman.gov |
  |
Pregnancy Info: Birth, Baby, and Maternity Advice |
Advice for mothers to be concerning pregnancy, getting pregnant, baby care and maternity. |
www.pregnancy-info.net |
  |
Pregnancy & Parenting: For Today's Mom - iVillage |
From trying to conceive through your child's teen years, iVillage Pregnancy & Parenting offers up-to-date and informative articles, features, expert advice ... |
parenting.ivillage.com |
  |
Pregnancy Calendar: Your All-in-One Guide to Pregnancy and ... |
A multimedia journey through the first nine months of an unborn child's life. A graphics intensive - visual journey through pregnancy. Needs plug-in. |
parenting.ivillage.com |
  |
Pregnancy: Humorous week-by-week calendar and free pregnancy tickers |
Humorous week-by-week pregnancy calendar and pregnancy tickers - 100% free. |
pregnancy.baby-gaga.com |
  |
MedlinePlus: Pregnancy |
Search MEDLINE/PubMed for recent research articles on Pregnancy: ... Select services and providers for Pregnancy in your area. Select Location, AL - Alabama ... |
www.nlm.nih.gov |
  |
Pregnancy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
Human pregnancy is the most studied of all mammalian pregnancies. ... Though pregnancy begins at implantation, it is often convenient to date from the first ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
  |
POP! The First Human Male Pregnancy - Mr. Lee Mingwei |
"Mr. Lee Mingwei will be the first human male to ever birth a baby from his own body." Art project by Virgil Wong, thematizing gender roles, childbearing, ... |
www.malepregnancy.com |
  |
Baby Gaga: Stroller Reviews, Baby Tickers, Pregnancy Calendar |
Baby-Gaga offers top quality guides, reviews, and stores for baby strollers. Free baby birthday ticker and pregnancy calendar also available! |
www.baby-gaga.com |
  |
Pregnancy, Pregnancy Information, Pregnancy Community - Powered by ... |
Monitor your pregnancy with BabyCenter's free weekly e-mail newsletters and online library of pregnancy information created to help you have a healthy ... |
www.pregnancy.com |
  |
Pregnancy Week-by-Week sponsored by StorkNet |
Pregnancy Week-by-Week Guide from StorkNet, your online pregnancy and parenting resource. |
www.pregnancyguideonline.com |
  |
American Pregnancy Association : Promoting Pregnancy and ... |
Articles on pregnancy wellness, complications, loss, labor and birth. |
www.americanpregnancy.org |
  |
Pregnancy Discrimination |
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act is an amendment to Title VII of the Civil ... Discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical ... |
www.eeoc.gov |
  |
Pregnancy Today |
A community for expectant parents, offering many unique features to guide you through pregnancy. |
pregnancytoday.com |
  |
Pregnancy Center - MayoClinic.com |
Pregnancy Center — comprehensive information on pregnancy symptoms, healthy pregnancy, childbirth options, labor and delivery. |
www.mayoclinic.com |
  |
Pregnancy |
Information Resources · More about Pregnancy/Childbirth Complications and Concerns ... Pregnancy Choices. Family Planning and Contraception ... |
www.noah-health.org |
  |
Unplanned Pregnancy and Abortion Information from Option Line |
Provides information on abortion alternatives, free pregnancy tests, adoption, connects you with local centers for free counseling, mapping to local centers ... |
www.pregnancycenters.org |
  |
WebMD Pregnancy Center - Learn the early signs of pregnancy and ... |
Sign up for our Pregnancy & Parenting Newsletter! ... Get daily facts, tips and suggestions customized to your stage of pregnancy. ... |
www.webmd.com |
  |
|