Shower Thank Yous etiquette question?

From an etiquette point of view, sending a hand written thank you note as soon as possible after receiving the gift is most appropriate. No thank you has to be run-of-the-mill. Even if it is just a store bought thank you card, the most important part of the card is your hand written note. If you aren't due for 4 weeks, it could be as many as 6 weeks before you have the baby than you won't feel much like writing thank you notes in those weeks right after a birth. Even if you managed to get out announcements in a couple weeks, it could feasibly be as many as 8 weeks before people would get thank yous for their shower gifts. I think it is one less thing to worry about after the baby comes when time is at a premium. I suggest you get a hand written thank you note in the mail as soon as possible. Then, when you are up to it, you can send out the personalized baby announcements a few weeks after the baby arrives.

Send the thank yous right away so the person feels you are thanking them and not just announcing your baby's birth and the thank you just got in the way.

Waiting is perfectly acceptable. I had my shower in march and the baby is due June 12 and I am waiting to send out thank you's with the baby's photo/announcement.

I think that would be fine. The worst that could happen is somebody could wonder why you didn't thank them, but that would be remedied as soon as the got the announcement/thank you. It sounds like a very nice touch.

i think that doing both is a good idea but i really dont think people will mind if you did them both at the same time. they will be getting a personal thank you from the baby as well as you :) x

Either way. at least you are sending out a thank you! Some people don't. I think it is ok either way.