Jewish moms who are superstitious (or any moms who are)

DH and I are having trouble balancing the idea of getting ready for the baby with the idea of not doing too much before baby is born. we don't like the idea of buying things and leaving them at our parents, but our parents are holding a few things. we just don't know how to handle this in a way that makes us comfortable! i am having a C-section and I don't expect to be able to run out and pick up things when I get home and I don't want the family to go crazy or pick out things that we should select. (i do not think they would follow our registry). any advice?

Message edited 8/8/2007 3:06:44 PM.

Re: Jewish moms who are superstitious (or any moms who are)

I am not Jewish, but after my m/c I was very supersititious about things. My parents have a lot of stuff at their house for us, and have been great about it.

For me - mentally, once I reach 28-30 weeks and I know the baby will be viable if something god forbid happened and she had to come early, I will feel much better. Every OB appointment I walk away feeling better and better and slowly I have bought a few things into the house.

Re: Jewish moms who are superstitious (or any moms who are)

I had my baby on 8/1 via c-section and we are jewish as well. Nothing was permitted in our house until the baby was born except for the car seat which had to be installed per state law.
We ordered everything from BBB and had them deliver it while I was in the hospital after delivery. They messed up (but refunded our shipping and set up fees) and did not set things up until we got home. I was on bed rest from week 34 on. At week 33 my mom, MIL and my grandma and I went layette shopping. All clothing stayed at my parents house until the baby was born.

My experience with the above, Sunday night when we came home my parents brought the baby nurse with them. We had the men here. Nothing was done. My house was a MESS. There were boxes everywhere. People trapsing everywhere. I was in pain. My newborn baby was oblivious to everything. When we got home at 11 am my DH set up the pack and play. Our baby stayed in the PNP and slept. He was amazing. Thank g-d we had that and he was amused by the music. It also had the changing table. I had to have my DH run out and leave me and the baby alone so he could get pampers/wipes/a&d. I could not move. I was in agony. I kept holding my baby. Hoping that DH would get back, that the baby would wait to go to the bathroom until he would return and that I did not have to move.

After 5 hours of having the workmen set up the crib, changing table, glider and ottoman they left. When my parents arrived I had my DH and mom go to BRU to get all the stuff we needed that was not purchased. The store closed at 7 so they were really rushed. Did not get everything we needed. DH ended up having to take another 1/2 day off of work on monday to get stuff. He has to go to BRU today to get more stuff (bathtub, comb, washing baby stuff, more diapers, etc.)

Once my mom and DH got home we had dinner. It was 8:30 pm. Everyone was starving. My mom then went upstairs at 9:30 to iron the dustruffle and make the bed.

She wanted drawer liners nad we did not get them nor did she get them. She yelled at me. I cried. I yelled at her. It was stressful. I was in agony after walking up stairs. It took 20 minutes to walk up stairs.

So this was my experience. You may have a different experience than I did. But it was definately not something that I would wish on someone else.

Message edited 8/8/2007 5:40:52 PM.

Re: Jewish moms who are superstitious (or any moms who are)

I am jewish and I brought everything into the house before DD was born. I actually had DD furniture delivered 4 days before she was born and the twins room was set up 3 days before I went in to the hospital for my BP. It is your own personal decision. I did it, my sister did it..so no one looked down on it. I just had people send gifts after the baby was born .It made my coming home fromthe hospital so much easier.. I had all clothes washed and put away and was able to put DD in the crib if I wanted to...

You have to make the decsion yourself.. there is not "jewish rule" that says that you can not do anything before the baby is born .

I looked at it this way.. when you have a second child are you going to take everything out of the house?

Hope it helps.. good luck.. Just take it slow and do what you feel in your heart and mind is right.

Re: Jewish moms who are superstitious (or any moms who are)

Re: Jewish moms who are superstitious (or any moms who are)

Kerie I am not PG yet but DH and I are rather superstitious about this topic. We've talked about it and decided that the only things that we will do to prepare for a child before it comes home is clean out its room, paint it and hang the mezzuzah. The red ribbon for the crib will be waiting when it arrives and is assembled. Until then, a bassinet will suffice. We both have personal and family histories that leave us with too much uncertainty and flat out fear to plan too much. Our families will not make showers.

Everything else will be ordered and held either at the store or my mother's home. A baby does not need a completely decorated room the day it comes home. Its nice, but not necessary. When my nephew was born, someone went to Denny's picked up the layette and washed it all before my sister came home with him. Since you are having a boy, I am sure most of your close friends and family will be anticipating a bris. If you are not making phone calls for guests, you could always ask your mother or siblings to spread by word of mouth that you are in fact registered and prefer gifts from your registry - either that or cross your fingers that people are smart enough to include gift receipts.

Im thinking that someday my newborn will be spending most of its time sleeping and it wont know that the Giants insignia is not on its wall from day one or that he does not have a baby jersey hanging in a closet. Yeah I know, I told DH we can have a football theme if we have a son. Bunnies if its a girl.

Message edited 8/8/2007 10:55:23 PM.

Re: Jewish moms who are superstitious (or any moms who are)

I lost a set of twins a year before my daughter was born. I had absolutely NOTHING when I gave birth...believe it or not you actually NEED a whole lot less than you think...grandma simply went out and bought the goods needed to bring her home!!!!

Re: Jewish moms who are superstitious (or any moms who are)