baby shower or blessingway?

Lauren Derret - 29 Mar 16

It seems everywhere I turn there is either talk of baby showers or blessingways. I’ve never had either. Four kids in and not one damn party to show for it!!

I love the idea of both these things, obvs they are pretty different styles of event and they both stand for something different but I like that there’s something for all mummas. One stands for celebrating the new arrival and one celebrating the new mother. Both are pretty spesh, it just depends of your own personal preference. Either way, you are making a whole human being, and that my friend needs celebrating!!

So, to make it a bit easier for you to decide which party suits you best, I thought I’d break it down for you……

Baby Shower

“The baby shower is a gathering of close family and friends to celebrate mummy before baby, nappies and sleep deprivation arrive. It’s about getting a support network together that new mummy can turn to when baby has arrived. Plenty of advice and giggles amongst tea and cake create the perfect baby shower.”

Baby showers tend to be a glamorous get together, often the mumma to be will be draped in a sash. The room will be decked out like a Clinton Cards in either blue of pink (or another colour if mum doesn’t know the sex yet). There are party games such as ‘pin the nappy on the baby’,‘guess the celebrity parent of the baby with this name’, ‘smell and guess what the condiment is that has been smeared into a baby nappy masquerading as baby poo’ and ‘match the baby picture to the guest’. It’s all good fun, there is usually a big fancy cake, presents, afternoon tea and fizz.

It’s all very baby orientated, mum seems to come a bit second place, it can feel a bit commercial and the massive journey that this mumma’s about to take, aka the birth may be briefly discussed but is pretty much forgotten about in all the excitement of this idy biddy baby. There may be a faux cake made out of nappies, a life times supply of muslin squares and parenting advice offered without request.

It’s a fun thing to do (although, don’t get the life size baby cake, the fun will stop once you start cutting into that 😦 ) it’s an opportunity for friends to come together, to coo and to play games.

Blessingway

“A Mother Blessing helps the woman to prepare herself for the birth, emotionally, spiritually and mentally, for the all important role of a new mother. She feels ‘held’ and supported by those she loves and respects — a great way to help her release any blockages she may be feeling and to allow her to embrace what’s to come.”

A blessingway is more mother focused. It’s a celebration of that women embarking on her journey to motherhood. It’s just women celebrating what we are here to do. Celebrating the amazingness of our kick ass bodies that actually make humans.

There may be a shared lunch whereby each guest brings a dish, any gifts will usually be for the mum to be. Each guest may bring a bead for a necklace or bracelet that will be a symbol of their united support for when the mumma goes into labour. There may be candles given out for each guest to light when the mumma goes into labour, showing that they are still with her on her journey. Positive birth stories and stories of strength will be flowing and a safe protective space for the mumma to unburden herself of any residing fears she may have about birth or parenting, it’s a much more spiritual celebration.

My dear, however you choose to celebrate this amazing part of your life, celebrate it, it’s worthy of celebration, you are worthy of celebration.

Click here for some cool original mumma to be gifts. You could treat yourself to something nice as a thank you to your body for working so hard or you could discreetly send the link to your family and friends, it’s that or the nappy cake!!

Lauren Derret

I’m Lauren, mum of 4 humans, each with their very own birth story. Red wine drinker, keen blogger, trash tv watcher and pretty hard core potty mouth! But, with a good heart and a passion for setting lovely women like you onto a path towards a positive birthing experience, and we’ll have fun doing it; always a bonus! I teach The Wise Hippo Birthing Programme and am a Doula Uk recognised Doula

View profile for posts, events and more info