Birth traditions in the USA .....

[joette]

I am looking for some assistance from you Americans out there.My Nephew's wife from Spokane Washington is about to give birth(in Scotland) to their first child.
What are the Amercican traditions associated with birth?Her Mum is coming for the birth & for a month afterwards & then she goes home to repeat it all again with her son& daughter-in-law.
Her Father is from a German/English heritage & her Mother mainly British but is a fifth/sixth generation american..They are a lovely family who have did everything in their power to foster good relations between the kin & have wholeheartedly accepted "OUR James" into their clan.
The elder women in the family(hard to say it but myself & my sisters!) have taken over my Mum's role on the knitting front-her arthritis is too advanced & I am knitting the shawl for him(it's a blue one as we know he is a boy)to be brought home in-everybody pray he is not premature as I have a long way to go.I want to make Amy feel at home at this time so what is a traditional thing to happen?.She has been given a Baby Shower by friends at Church.What other things are traditional?Especially for a firstchild/grandchild for both sides.
If anybody could come up with any ideas,suggestions I would be so grateful.She is such a lovely girl & she is so young & this is her first experience of being outside of USA-married in Scotland & now going to give birth there.

[delmarco]

Joette:
How bout a family tree poster for the nursery.....just a thought, my family gave my first born son, a christening bonnet fashioned from a lace hankerchief that could be passed on when the child was old enough to marry, it could be undone to use as a hankie for his bride to be on her wedding day or left as a bonnet for the next generation, it came with a darling poem, if you are interested I will pm you with it, I understand they are aavailble for purchase on the net. Along these lines too would be a family bible or the like.
Just a thought, bless the new baby and his family!!
Karen

[Lahb]

There aren't really US specific traditions per say - at least none that I can think of. Baby showers either before or after (or both in some cases) and are done by family or friends or both. Gifts for the baby at the time of birth such as clothing or items they may need for the baby at home. Bringing over food so they don't have to worry about feeding themselves when busy with the baby is always welcome.

North America has so many cultures within you generally find a mix of generic baby showers (and some more themed based like diaper showers or frozen food showers) with culturally specific events depending on religion/ethnic origin. Sounds to me as if you are all doing just great I wasn't in another country but still quite a distance in another province when I had my two and I know how it feels to have your family so far at such a special time. But it sounds to me that you are doing the typical things she would have done if still in the US at this time. Best to your family at this special time Lisa

[joette]

Thanks to you both for your kind remarks & suggestions.
The meals will around at his Mum's (two minutes away!)& I am sure that friends & Church members will show up with the food too(we do this when anybody is ill,bereaved or had a baby).
The idea of the bonnet for him to be blessed in sounds lovely-please PM with details Karen if you please.
Family Bible is another & the family tree now I have too many choices!!!!
Will let you know when he arrives.We are all on pins.Particularly my nieces& nephew as they are all eagerly awaiting becoming Aunts & Uncle.
Takes me back to when they were born & as they were born by elective Caeseran I remember the looks of astonishment on the faces of my colleagues as I said"must phone the hospital as my sister is having her baby after 11:30 today"This was before the days when babies could be born to order just about! I was at one of their births & it was the most brilliant moments of my life.

[Kathleen Page]

More important than anything else is the fact that you are all working so hard to make her feel at home. As one of the earlier posters said, there are no distinct US customs, other than the shower. I would say that this little baby is very blessed to be born into such a loving family. Tell her that I say "hi" from Bellingham Washington.

[Looking for Yuill's]

I just had my first child in October. A wonderful life changing event. Everyone has said what I would have except for these things. I have a journal where I write a line or two each day of my Nicholas's newest achievement. SOmetimes just how much he ate but now it is how he laughs or plays. This was a gift from a friend. ALso my aunt gave me a keepsake box for his locks of hair, booties from the hopsital and other thinsg of special importance. My grandparents gave us a silver rattle with his name and my father gave him a silver piggy bank with some silver dollars inside. I was given the same thing when I was born and still have them.

I am not sure if they are US traditions or just my family (I am a blend of English, Scottish, German and Ukrainian).
Best WIshes- Kristin