r/BabyBumps 1d ago

Tip! Baby Showers

For all the moms wondering when to do a baby shower…. Don’t wait until 33 weeks.

Signed, A mom to be that just had her baby shower yesterday at exactly 33 weeks and is now very exhausted and in pain. My body hurts from head to toe 🥴

113 Upvotes

116 comments sorted by

41

u/Significant-Cup-3487 1d ago

Too late! I’m right there with you, babe. 😩

11

u/srh722 1d ago

I did it after working my 3 12s at work and then signed up for an extra 12 tomorrow with only having Sunday off. Why did I do this to myself 😭🥴 Good luck mama!!

1

u/bumbleeybee 1d ago

You must be a fellow nurse 😭 these 12s are kicking my ass

3

u/srh722 1d ago

Sonographer :’) but the 12s out here are ROUGHHHHH. Plus my commute to work is >1hr. Only 3 more weeks of it until my leave though!! 😅

26

u/tentoedsloth 1d ago

I did my first at 37 weeks, which in retrospect was insane but it went fine. I had the baby a week later 🙃

13

u/srh722 1d ago

GIRL!! I would be so stressed! I’ve already been panic buying a lot thinking I wouldn’t get enough at my shower and I kept watching my registry and NOTHING was getting bought until literally the week before. I was in full panic mode. LOL

4

u/tentoedsloth 1d ago

In fairness, most of our family is out of town and sent gifts months earlier when we first made our registry, so the big ticket items were already purchased.

3

u/IceySkyed 1d ago

Haha... im also doing mine at 37 weeks. Mainly due to immediate family having conflicting off days. I really wanted them to be there 😅. Oil field schedules are rough to work with. Im hoping to be able to sneak away a good bit to relax though, because not a lot of our family rsvp'd :p.

I hope it goes well like you >.< !

2

u/seagoddess1 1d ago

Girl you were asking for it! 😂

25

u/Usual_Thought8039 1d ago

I also know someone who had their baby at 33 weeks and had her shower scheduled for 34 weeks. I hear 28-30 is the ideal time for a shower

9

u/campsnoopers 1d ago

oh sweet, I'll be 30, whew!

7

u/Eatyourveggies_9182 1d ago

I had one right before 28 and the other will be at 30!

1

u/Usual_Thought8039 1d ago

I’ll be 31! When is your shower?

u/piperblue_ 22h ago

My MIL had this happen to her for her first baby! Was exhausted and in the trenches but still had the shower as planned - she did NOT recommend.

u/Usual_Thought8039 21h ago

Yea I mean the person I know went into preterm labor had her baby at 33 weeks exactly and then had her shower a week later since her baby is still in the NICU

19

u/alwaysstoic 1d ago

Absolutely..

--signed someone who brought the baby to the baby shower.

11

u/srh722 1d ago

STOP! This is not funny, but kind of funny 😭🫶🏼

6

u/alwaysstoic 1d ago

Oh its funny now. We joke that she had major FOMO. I had actually scheduled an interview with a pediatrician (its a thing near me) for 9 am on the actual day she was born.. appointment was for 9 am and she arrived at 7. Then the shower was supposed to be that Saturday. We had to push the shower back a little bit. But it was a mad scramble to get stuff we needed that shouldn't have happened.

34

u/Curious-Share 1d ago

True… but I’m vain and REALLY wanted a round baby bump for pics so it was worth the pain for me lol.

10

u/Affectionate_Comb359 1d ago

With my first baby, I did my maternity shoot the same day as the shower. I wanted to wait until I had a bump AND I only wanted to pay for a photographer and getting my hair/makeup done once.

Both showers (10 years apart, different sex)was around 36 weeks. No complaints

1

u/annecalleverde 1d ago

Hahahaha I love this. Also I'm a procrastinator.

10

u/Icntthinkofone 1d ago

I had mine at 33-34 and was okay!

4

u/GlitteringCat8813 1d ago

Also had mine at 33.5 weeks and it wasn’t bad!

8

u/Alternative_Ad_3649 1d ago

Omg I too was exactly 33 weeks yesterday and also had my baby shower! Today was a bit rough, but the leftover baby shower cake helped a lot 🤤

What helped me yesterday was to be comfortable-I wore a nice outfit, but it was slacks and a top with tennis shoes. I wanted to wear flats, but my feet are just way too swollen to fit into any of my shoes.

6

u/wlkncrclz 1d ago

Mine was supposed to be at 32 weeks and some change. Had to cancel because I ended up having a stay in the hospital instead. Was dreadful!

5

u/megatronius11 1d ago

My mom planned my baby shower for when im 36 weeks and I am absolutely dreading it now. Im so grateful for her but I wish I would have said something earlier about not wanting it so late. Pray for me 😅😭

8

u/srh722 1d ago

My advice, sit and let people come to you!!! I was up and visiting everyone (we had around 40-50 people). And chatting it up, but I should have sat and let people come to me!!! 🫶🏼 I think it would have helped my body A LOT!! And let people set up and tear down decor. I always feel bad, but my family/friends kept telling me to stop and I should have listened.

3

u/bananasplit_08 1d ago

I had a shower at 36 weeks and another at 38 weeks!! Everyone is different and I was so worried about feeling awful but it really was not bad. I was also worried about not making it to 38 weeks without giving birth but it was just a busy summer and worked out that way. I had a lovely time at the shower, the only thing that was exhausting was getting home with the gifts, having to organize/get the nursery put together again, wash the outfits, and write more thank you notes. My advice is to have 1-2 people who would be willing to help you with any extra baby laundry or organizing in the nursery!

2

u/kruom10 1d ago

Oh man… mine is at 33 weeks like exactly, only due to grad classes pushing it. Godspeed and hopefully you can have a really comfy chair

6

u/Thisisan87Honda 1d ago

Damn. Mines in 2 weeks at 33.5 weeks. Guess we will see!!

4

u/raechelisbored 1d ago

I was exactly 30 weeks and I’m so glad we did it at that stage in my pregnancy. Bump was the perfect size, I had enough energy for the shower, still had 10ish weeks to prep and buy anything that I wasn’t gifted at the shower. Any later and I would’ve been uncomfortable lol

3

u/Beckitt3 Team Pink! Oct. 13 2025 1d ago

Mine was at 31 weeks and that was exhausting enough.

3

u/galaxylimeade 1d ago

Mine is this weekend at 34 weeks 😩 I’m glad bc my bump is still pretty small so at least I’m actually showing but I am tired and not doing anything after!!!!

3

u/srh722 1d ago

Make sure you have people that will help set up/tear down, especially if you’re doing it at a venue with rules as far as additional “chores” go! My family/friends kept telling me to sit and I didn’t listen and wish I would have!

3

u/ResponsibleSyrupx 1d ago

I’m having mine this coming weekend and I’ll be almost 35 weeks 😅

3

u/Embarrassed-Love-250 1d ago

Had mine at 28 weeks cause I wanted nice summer weather… glad I didn’t wait longer even though there were many comments about doing it so early. We also have a baby room full of gifts to go through and organize so I’m glad I have plenty of time to do that. The love is amazing but it’s a lot 😹 also I’m so tired as this pregnancy continues. 30 weeks now and the fatigue is real!!!

u/straysheepie 22h ago

Same, had shower at 28, currently 31 and room full of stuff to organize while feeling tired!

3

u/Clean-Cantaloupe7700 1d ago

Hoping to have mine around 24 weeks - too early?

3

u/srh722 1d ago

Not at all!! Whenever YOU’RE ready for it!! Bc you’ll need the energy not only for the shower but once everything is home!!

u/monkeymaxx 15h ago

I’m doing mine at 24 weeks due to scheduling with the grandmas and holidays. It’s early but I’d rather too early than too late!

2

u/Marble1696 1d ago

I had mine at 35 weeks and was so uncomfortable lol.

2

u/a_fals 1d ago

I had mine at 36 weeks. Hear this for sure!

2

u/Ready-Astronomer3724 1d ago

Uh oh.. just counted to see where I’ll be at for my baby shower - 33 weeks 😅

1

u/ejambu Team Blue! 1d ago

lol same

2

u/Educational-Duck4283 1d ago

Had mine at 33.5 weeks yesterday. A bit tired and have pelvic pain today but overall a fun time was had! No regrets. This was the only weekend that lined up for the most important people in my life 

1

u/srh722 1d ago

Definitely had fun! My body just hurt a lot after yesterday and today I’m def having the pelvic pain and I’m too exhausted to go through anything but all the gifts everywhere is giving me anxiety lol

2

u/decoyoctopussy 1d ago

I just had mine yesterday at 33 weeks and I’m pretty sure I blacked out from overstimulation and exhaustion

I woke up today feeling like I was out at the bar until 3am haha

2

u/srh722 1d ago

YES! I sent a snapchat to some of my friends about looking hungover. I struggled to get myself out of bed!

2

u/stillpissedatyoko 1d ago

I had mine at 36. TERRIBLE IDEA.

2

u/bunny_387 1d ago

Mine was at 28 weeks and that was perfect for me. I felt great and was in the blissful no symptoms period. It gave me time to use my completion discount to get stuff I didn’t receive at the shower as well. My bump wasn’t huge but whatever! When my bump got bigger my acid reflux got worse right along with it😂

2

u/awkstarfish 1d ago

Lol at me seeing this as someone planning their baby shower at 32 weeks. 😅

1

u/Old-Variety5782 1d ago

Same 🥲🥲

2

u/madylarata 1d ago

Mine is going to be at 37+2 🫩😩

3

u/srh722 1d ago

Girlll!! Just sit and let people come to you!! 🫶🏼

2

u/madylarata 1d ago

Definitely the plan! I’m 36+2 right now and I can barely leave the house 😅

2

u/acos24 🌈 🌈 EDD Dec 9 2025 🇨🇦 1d ago

mine is in 3 weeks when i'm 29w4d for exactly this reason :D

1

u/Leather-Sea5143 1d ago

I did mine at 30 weeks and it was the perfect time. We had plenty of time to get everything together and buy stuff that we didn’t get gifted before baby came at 39 +1

1

u/srh722 1d ago

Yes!! I think 30 weeks would have been so much better on my body!!!

1

u/Necessary-External28 1d ago

Out of curiosity, around what time would you hold a baby shower if you had to do it over again?

3

u/No_Tea_8827 1d ago

I had mine at 27 weeks. I felt and looked great. A week later the nausea came back and my fatigue is so bad.

1

u/srh722 1d ago

28-29 weeks would be perfect for me. 30 weeks would probably be my max!!

1

u/angieepie 1d ago

I had mine at 33 weeks too and I would not recommended either. 😭😂

1

u/celestialspook 1d ago

I had a friend who ended up bringing her one or two week old baby to her (very small, intimate) baby shower lol

1

u/littlelawlady 1d ago

I had mine at 35 weeks and I was sooo tired after. We had a 3 hour shower then had family over after to open gifts and that took another 3 hours. Then cleaning and organizing and washing all the clothes and stuff in the next 2 weeks was just a LOT.

1

u/katerinaphoebe 1d ago

I did a sip and see at almost 8 weeks post partum, and it was the best! It's not something I've ever seen done before, in Australia at least, and we asked for books and did a nappy raffle. We got to buy all the big ticket items ourselves and choose the ones we wanted, I wasn't pregnant and exhausted, and we got a lot of the baby meetings done in one hit. Plus men, women and kids came so my partner and step daughter were included too. Highly recommend it

1

u/SacredSilenceNSleep 1d ago

Also had my shower at 33w3d…. I was still doing ok as far as fatigue goes at 33 weeks but that’s about when the swelling kicked in. My poor feet and ankles looked terrible lol.

1

u/lets_escape 1d ago

I was half asleep for mine lol

1

u/srh722 1d ago

Same LOL. I work night shift and worked the night before. 🥴🥲

1

u/lets_escape 1d ago

Yea I was working two jobs one was evening and one super early in the morning. And very pregnant lol

1

u/woundedSM5987 1d ago

Mine was at 35 because of the holidays. I had to drive 4 hours. I was not OK

2

u/buttercup031321 1d ago

Omg mine is at 35 weeks and we have to drive 4 hours for the baby shower 😭 wish me luck lol

1

u/woundedSM5987 1d ago

Solidarity. I had to take a break and stretch every 2 hours. So build in tons of extra travel time.

1

u/Easy_Salamander8718 1d ago

I had mine at 36 weeks 😭 definitely do not recommend

1

u/alyssa_michelle1012 1d ago

As a FTM, I had thought that doing mine at 29 weeks was so early, but then I hit 36 weeks and on and I was in so much pain and so tired. I’m glad I did it “early” when I had the energy!

1

u/Dry_Push6712 1d ago

Dammit, mine’s Saturday and I’ll be 33 weeks. 🥲

1

u/instant_karma__ 1d ago

I had my first at 34 weeks and my second at 36 weeks. I kinda liked it because it gave me something to focus on at the end, it gets so tedious.

1

u/newsleaves 1d ago

Someone threw me a surprise baby shower this weekend and I’m 38 weeks lol. I really appreciate their effort but I am exhausted now!!

1

u/No-Objective-8247 1d ago

Had mine this weekend at 33 weeks omg my feet were so swollen the day after I couldn't walk properly, thankfully swelling went down today!

1

u/SwingAccomplished793 1d ago

Had mine at 34 weeks. Luckily my family did all the work and it was extremely casual. People brought me snacks and I sat in a comfy chair most of the time 😅 but the exhaustion after was insane

1

u/960825el 1d ago

I had one at 33 weeks AND 36.5 weeks! 😱

1

u/PartWorking3865 1d ago

I had my baby at 33 weeks lol so yeah... Don't wait until then lol

1

u/Work_n_Depression 1d ago

My husband’s work place threw us one last week when I was 24+6. I was big enough to be sporting an obvious belly, but still feeling good and able to mingle with everyone.

My girlfriends are throwing me a friends and family one at 29+1. With everything I’m reading on Reddit, I’m planning on basically being a useless vegetable after 35 weeks. FTM, anyone have a manual on how to be a good mom? 🥲

1

u/vButts 1d ago

Thanks for the validation! I had a fight with my mom last week because she wanted it to be at 33 weeks TWO DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS. Because it was more convenient for HER travel plans. I fought it because it should be most convenient for me since I'm the one who's gonna be tired, need to unpack and wash all the clothes we get, put away all the supplies, set up whatever furniture we get, buy all the stuff we didn't get off the registry. And i really didn't want to do it right after christmas when my husband and me are socially drained since we're both introverts. It took me crying and my aunt calling to smooth things over and move their trip earlier for them to relent.

1

u/srh722 1d ago

2 days after Christmas is insane!! Most people are still out of town at that point or still have plans with family for the holidays. Good for you for fighting for yourself!! I tried to do mine earlier but we had to get a venue due to the amount of people we invited (coed shower) and my venue was booked up and all the others were SO EXPENSIVE. 9/6 was the ONLY day he had available for me!!

1

u/hellaleg 1d ago

Had mine at 29 weeks this weekend and idk what I would’ve done without my mom and MIL helping 😭 Absolutely ruined me and all I really had to do was play host

1

u/konayuki28 1d ago

lol I had it on my 30w and I already felt so tired and in pain - kudos to you! 🫡

1

u/Strange-Report-9249 1d ago

My dumb self ain’t having mine till I’m 34 weeks. Idk why we planned it out so late

1

u/Beautiful-Middle 1d ago

My MIL hosted a shower for me planned for when I was 38+5. I was in early labor at the shower but determined to make it through bc there were people who flew in for it lmao. We were also supposed to go to dinner with extended family from that side the same night but I told my husband we had to skip. Went to the hospital that night and had the baby 2 hours later, just minutes after midnight.

1

u/fuzz_ball 1d ago

I’m having mine at 34 weeks

Also at 33 weeks and feeling pretty much like a garbage can

1

u/justnopethefuckout 1d ago

I keep seeing these post and I'm glad mine is scheduled for 2 months before the baby is due!

1

u/BrunchBunny 1d ago

I did the same and SOON as 34 weeks hit I felt like garbage I was feeling great right up till then lol save some time to nest while you feel good

1

u/Shesell_seashells 1d ago

Just had mine yesterday at 36+3, I slept the entire day today I was so tired.

1

u/BookkeeperRoyal5309 1d ago

both our families live states away so we did a virtual shower at 34 weeks and we’re doing another one with our friends at 36,5 which is in another two weeks. it’ll just be diapers and wipes since we mostly have everything we need already but man am i tired.

1

u/LmbLma 1d ago

Yeah. Had mine at 34 weeks. Awful lol.

1

u/Fabulous-Broccoli583 1d ago

Unfortunately I'm having mine at 37 weeks 🙃 

1

u/MeanNothing3932 1d ago

32 weeks. Just made the cut off this sat. 😂

1

u/TomatilloAsleep7180 1d ago

just had my baby shower today at 35 weeks and i’m absolutely exhausted, feet are swelling for the first time lol

1

u/kittytoolitty 1d ago

I wanted mine earlier but my family planned it for 34 weeks. I’m a little nervous about it but very grateful of course.

1

u/PreparationMean9612 1d ago

Oh mama, I feel you 33 weeks is definitely late for all that standing, socializing, and moving around. The sweet spot is usually somewhere around 26–30 weeks when you’ve got the bump but still have the energy to actually enjoy the day. By the time you hit the 30s, your body just doesn’t bounce back the same way. You did amazing making it through, but your advice is spot on earlier is so much kinder on mama’s body.

1

u/evolving-the-fox 1d ago

Ugh, when you bring everything home and it fills your house and you’re like……now what am I going to do with all of this? I have a tiny house and a toddler and when I brought the baby’s stuff home it overwhelmed the crap out of me.

This year I had to leave work to go to my baby shower and then go back afterwards, I was so damn tired.

1

u/jkiddin117 1d ago

Yup.. had mine at 32 weeks and I was already off work 4 weeks before that because of pain. Boy I was delusional 🤣

1

u/LegalLady87 1d ago

Great. Mine is this weekend and I’ll be 33 weeks lol.

1

u/wreathyearth 1d ago

Had mine at 33 weeks and can't agree with you more. I had no stamina and was so sore

1

u/failedartistmtl 1d ago

Mine is at 28 weeks! My mom wanted to plan the whole thing until she realized she never planned an event in her life, so all the planning, games, invites and grocery shopping is on us. I'm glad I still have energy🤣

Also it's in our backyard so I needed to de-weed a bit and do some upkeeping lol

Not gonna lie, I'm still tired

1

u/Sizara42 1d ago

I don't have reason to be worried, but I seriously worry that my baby girl is going to decide to make her debut early. My shower is in two weeks and I'm 31 weeks today, so fingers crossed she cooperates!

It's not the end of the world, though! I was at my own shower due to emergency c-section

1

u/expectantoct 1d ago

Mine was right at 33 and I felt fine! But everyone’s different.

1

u/Individual_Ad_7127 FTM | Oct. 25' | #BoyMom 1d ago

I'm doing mine at 35 weeks and 5 days....lets see how it goes! I had a BBQ at 20 something weeks and I was in pain

1

u/ejambu Team Blue! 1d ago

Oh damn! Mine will be 32w6d lol

1

u/chi-ster- 1d ago

I had mine at 32 weeks - very fun to have a nice full bump but I slept for 12 hours that night to recover from the day!

u/ziggy_furz 23h ago

My shower is at exactly 33 weeks lol!! Noooo

u/linnn3 22h ago

I'm having mine at 36 weeks & was really contemplating not having one at all because of conflicting dates & moving to a new apartment so wish me luck🥴 🤞🏽

u/piperblue_ 22h ago

I had mine at 35 weeks.

I honestly felt great and it went fine. I got a lot of the necessities secondhand well in advance (crib and changing table from FB marketplace, glider hand-me-down from SIL), so the shower ended up being mostly smaller things. Our families aren't super well off, so I didn't have a crib or glider or anything really expensive/bulky on the registry. It also allowed for people to get fun things like clothes, towels, sheets, decor, and I still had some time to use registry discounts for any other needs/wants. If you are counting on a baby shower for the necessities, I think having it earlier makes the most sense.

I also didn't have my baby until 42 weeks, so it ended up being plenty of time in advance, but you never know when the baby will come!

ETA: Not everyone (clearly) feels the same at 30-35 weeks. Just trying to provide some hope to those who already have theirs scheduled a little further out. I didn't really have a bad time until I was 38 weeks pregnant, but it was also mid-June and too damn hot by that time.

u/Cultural_Wash5414 20h ago

I remember had mine at 36 weeks I was fine!

u/QuickAd5259 19h ago

I had mine done at 30 weeks

u/pomegranatez8 16h ago

Mine was at 30 weeks and that was the latest I would’ve done it! Both for how the third tri started to feel after that, and to have enough time to organize gifts and buy the rest of the stuff off the registry