Others complained about being inundated with offers to buy gifts for the happy family. The real test, though, is the press conference itself. Even with the glitches, there's nothing quite like showing off your new baby to people who might otherwise have to wait for photos in the mail. Unfortunately, new babies are unpredictable. The vast majority are likely to snooze through the press conference, which is better than the dreaded half-hour crying fit.
Participants type in questions while the parents talk and ham it up on screen.
For us, the hard part was figuring out who was who as strange acronyms flashed onscreen. We never knew that my in-laws were logged in, for example, because their user I.D. was obscure and their typed input couldn't get through for some unknown reason. Still, he kept things flowing and encouraged more chat than we might otherwise have had. A bigger challenge may be drawing a great performance from shell-shocked new parents. Even with the aid of makeup and doughnut cushions, most new moms are unlikely to relish a broadcast mere hours after giving birth.