Painted belly for pregnant ladies

I'd be worried about the effects of the absorption of paint into the skin, especially over a bump.

My DD had her first 'bump' painted by an artist friend. It was amazing and just a bit of fun. Why not...
None of my DDs had a baby shower and I've never been to one. Once the baby is born they get loads of gifts anyway.

It's another unnecessary Americanism.

Sluttygran I do soemthing similar. I'll usually send a gift card for a shop that doesn't just sell baby things just in case.

It does feel like you're tempting fate a little.

Yes smutty gran. My mother always advised me to keep.baby gifts until after the birth. I had a couple of friends who lost babies. I visited one after the birth and she had a room with drawers crammed with clothes, everything a new born needed and more. It seemed to make the death all the more poignant.

I agree newnanny.
I remember when I was 12 years old, my mother was pregnant with my brother, and I was busy making all sorts of gifts for the new little one.
My auntie counselled me to keep all the gifts hidden at her house until baby had safely arrived ‘just in case’ anything bad happened.
It frightened me to death, but I’ve always remembered it, and never give baby presents until after the delivery.
If I’m invited to a shower party, I give a gift for the mother-to-be, and hold the baby’s present in reserve for later.

Aepgirl, hadn’t thought of that. Not a nice picture.

Baby showers are just another way of receiving gifts, IMHO. Thankfully the painting is removable; imagine if it was a tattoo that would grow with the bump, but then deflate to a coloured blob after the birth!

I prefer to give a gift once baby is safely born. I was invited to a baby shower for a pregnant colleague we all took little gifts and played baby games like guess the baby food blindfolded etc and she went 12 days overdue then her baby was stillborn. We had made her collage of photos taken at baby shower when she went on maternity leave then felt so bad for her and wished we had not given it to her. Now I think it best to wait until baby safely born.

Painting your bump sounds a bit strange ( a pumpkin for Hallowe’en?)
There were no baby showers when I had children, which was a good thing, as it didn’t end well.
Something that needs to be thought about before showering women with baby gifts.
Yes, at the end of the day it is asking for gifts, rather than those close to you or a neighbour popping in with a little something when the baby actually arrives.

I don't have a problem with baby showers or even painting the "bump" if that is your thing. However, I am getting fed up of the endless string of "baby reveal" videos posted online. Every time I go online there seem to be more of them. What is wrong with waiting until the baby is born before revealing the sex - isn't that part of the excitement?

I understood, from what she said, that she was going to take a picture of her painted bump to show the child when they were old enough. Wonder what they would make of it!

Good friends organising a small 'get-together' to celebrate the imminent birth is a lovely idea. Having a big 'do' where lots of people are expected to bring gifts is a different matter altogether.
There is a lot more financial pressure on people, these days, than there used to be. Having given a baby shower gift, it is usual to also give another one when the baby has arrived. Not fair to those who are not well-off.
Another thing that annoys me is the 'hen-night' which has evolved, in many cases, into a 'hen-holiday' involving trips abroad, or to expensive spas. It often puts friends into the position of either spending money they can't afford or feeling that they are spoiling the occasion by not joining in.

It said the paint came off with soap and water, so is she not going to shower until the baby is born? Yuk

It's personal choice and viewpoint really.

I'm expecting my second. Never had a baby shower with my first and certainly won't this time. I'm also one of those that thinks posting bump photos and scans on facebook isn't appropriate either.

I just think baby showers are really grabby. Baby stuff isn't cheap and I don't feel like it's fair to pass that onto my friends and family.

mabon I don't necessarily agree that its about "asking for gifts" as the ones DiL has been to have been arranged by friends as a surprise for the pregnant woman. She arranged one herself but the mum gave birth at 32 weeks so it was postponed until later and the baby went too.

The money spent on these " do's " would be better spent on a savings account for the baby-----it would be a start. Quite an amount when you tot it up.

It's about asking for gifts at the end of the day. These pregnant women must have money to spare or are they trying to keep up with the Joneses?

I’ve been to two baby showers. My daughter had one arranged by MIL. She went into premature labour at it, 31 weeks with twins. Not a great experience as she was whisked away, blue lighted to hospital for emergency c section. The second was a friend who was pregnant after IVF. Her mum and MIL made it a lovely afternoon with games and food. It was heartwarming to see the expectant mum so happy when she had never let herself believe she would ever be pregnant.

I didn't have a baby shower (son born in 1976) but I did get lots of gifts on my last day in work from my friends and colleagues. My daughter didn't have a baby shower either for any of her three children but my Gt nieces have both had them for their babies. There was no obligation to bring a present and both Gt nieces invited my daughter's children (and their other friends children) along as well so it was a family thing and we played games that the kiddies could join in with too (change a nappy on a baby doll whilst blindfolded was one!). My eldest nephew is a body painter and he gets quite a few bookings for painting baby bumps!

I was persuaded to throw a surprise baby shower for my DD earlier this year . We had silly party games, lovely food and she got lots of very welcome small gifts to help out . Nothing elaborate, just lovely little gestures . It was a lovely afternoon.

40 years ago one of the pregnant women in the antenatal ward put a huge smile on her belly just for the consultant. He loved it.

I think baby showers are nice if organised by the friends but if organised by the pregnant women it is like asking for presents. DiL has been to a few, organised one in a restaurant where everyone paid for their own food so not a big expensive party.

I heard that the latest thing is a 'gender reveal' party where you invite everyone to a party where you announce the sex of the baby. There was some discussion about who should do the announcing. I thought young people were so hard up these days, can't afford to buy a house etc. so how can they afford all these things?

There have been a number of threads about baby showers. I was in the rather snitty critical camp till I went to my first baby shower. Loved it, a gathering of close female friends, who brought very helpful gifts, had fun catching up with each other whilst enjoying a bite to eat and for some a glass of fizz, for others pots of tea.
In the 70's and 80's we all wore huge tents which were supposed to disguise our pregnant bumps but just made us look enormous. I rather like the current trend for closer fitting pregnancy wear.

A far cry from my smock ! Hahahaha.

What a nice story, LullyDully. Baby showers are a lovely idea. My three daughters have all had them, and no- one bought very expensive gifts, just useful things like muslins and vests- and a bottle of wine!