IMO regarding buying things in advance – I don’t like the idea, but I think one should order furniture and pay for it or put money down, and then have delivery arranged for when the baby is born. Lo aleinu for anything, but sometimes a birth does not end in a happy result, chas v’sholom. We don’t do baby showers, either.
There is not a whole lot that babies need at brith besides diapers and wipes, stretchies, undershirts,burp cloths and something to sleep in. All these things can be obtained easily after the baby is born. Only a car seat is absolutely mandatory immediately, versus other types of baby things.