I would give it a go! My mum has bough us over a full size, boxed, brand new pram (they checked it in under 'mobility' for her!) a brand new boxed moses basket, and we have brought back two boxed (huge!) stage two car seats one at a time (plus our capsule, which meant technically we were checking two car seats each time. We have never been charged extra for anything. Mum did the whole 'first grandchild, i'm so excited, just off to Dubai to meet her... etc, routine, and we have been lucky and had check in people who let it go. Combination of BA
I guess if you are prepared to pay for an extra bag if you need to, getting it free will just be a nice bonus :-)
Generally, you have to have a child with you to bring a stroller past check-in. Maybe the person at check-in will let it slide. I was told by American Airlines before traveling to the USA that I did not have the right to a stroller past check-in because I did not have an infant ticket although I was traveling with two young children. However, I was able to bring the stroller past check-in here and back so obviously they dd not enforce the rule.
If your mother does have to check it, make sure that she gets it wrapped.
I am planning on ordering a stroller from the US and will have my mother bring it before baby is born. Does anyone know if the stroller will have to be checked in as one of her bags since she won't be traveling with a child? I think she will be flying Qatar airways. Anyway would be nice if they didn't count it as check in but I'm sure they will?