Help. I’m expecting my first baby in mid-June, but I’m supposed to be a bridesmaid in my brother’s wedding 2 weeks after my due date. For some background, they’re already married… we had a small ceremony last year, but now they’re doing a larger celebration with lots of people.

Is it reasonable to plan on being able to do this? My sister in law is very emotional and I don’t want to stress her out. I just don’t know how to approach.

Due dates are just estimates. No one really knows when spontaneous labor will begin. My first baby was born 10 days after the estimated "due date". You don't know how long you will spend at the hospital or if there are any complications. As a first-time mom, expect first 4 weeks with a baby to be pure sleep deprivation. Baby needs to eat every 2-3 hours first 2 weeks, including nights. In between between feeding, you will need to rock baby to sleep. Long answer to say plan on not attending this event. It's also not recommended to take baby public places first 3 months since they are still developing their immune system.

Sorry this is causing you stress during your pregnancy!!! I am also expecting a baby this summer. I think you should have a frank conversation with her that you are excited to be part of her day, but that your health and the baby’s health have to come first. You might have to cancel last minute because the baby could come late…. Baby could come early, but end up in nicu…. There are so many potential unknowns. Hopefully she is looking forward to being an aunt and will be understanding.

Honestly you simply don’t know. Try your best but if it doesn’t work it doesn’t work. I have had three kids (all csections) and could totally have managed it with my first and third baby but not my second as long as my MIL could have come with me to handle baby when I wasn’t nursing. I took my first baby on a four hour flight when he was 2.5 weeks old with the pediatricians blessing since it was not flu season.

I say this because my husbands sister told us she wasn’t coming to our wedding 4 weeks after her due date and it really hurt my husband’s feelings she just decided that adamantly at three months pregnant. And then baby was 9 days late and she still came anyway less than 3 weeks after delivery!

Baby could come early, or late. It could be easy or hard. I would just be optimistic but ready to not attend if it’s best for you and baby.

In a similar boat and had a frank convo with the bride that we will try our best but I am just not a reliable guest at this point. She totally understood. It suck’s, we’re both disappointed but even with a seamless delivery, your world will totally change and be upside down those first weeks so don’t add extra stress to yourself. If you feel up to it - enjoy the day but don’t beat yourself up if you can’t make it.

Our plan is to have outfits ready and if we can make it we will at least make sure to make the ceremony but it will have to be a game time decision.

Also for context, baby was conceived around the same time this wedding was planned, so she’s known we’re expecting for a while and we’ve known about the wedding for a while. No one is really at fault for the timing.

It’s also not a good idea at all to bring a newborn to any large gathering so that would give me some pause