Announcing Your Pregnancy - When and How

The first one to know you are pregnant is, of course, you. And, if your partner is there with you when you do the test, then he knows at the same time. It's an incredible moment, one that is filled with shock and awe, a combination of joy and fear, and a certainty that the entire world must be waiting to hear about it. On the other hand, if you've experienced a pregnancy loss, then you will probably be quite cautious about saying too much too soon. Some people have no problem shouting from the rooftops and others are so shy they can't seem to open their mouths. It's really a personal thing and when to announce and how you do it is your call.

Announcing Right Away!

As with all things in life, there are pluses and minuses to both sides of the story. When you share your exciting news early, if nothing else it's a huge relief that you don't have to keep a secret. Some of us are just really bad at keeping news quiet. It's also kind of hard to hide the initial signs of pregnancy, especially if you're working and you happen to be blessed with morning (or afternoon) sickness. Once people are advised, they take pity on you and you'll be amazing at how much latitude a pregnant woman is given. Depending upon the type of work you do and whether you work with toxic properties, you may have to tell the people you work for and with as soon as you know. If your pregnancy turns out to be high risk, it is important for people to know in order to be prepared for any eventuality. For more about the benefits of telling people early, read our article on announcing pregnancy.

Maybe Safer To Wait Awhile

On the flip-side, telling people later can be advantageous as well. If you're older or have some genetic issues and have undergone genetic screening, you'll probably want to wait until you have the results before you announce your pregnancy. As we know, the first trimester is the most volatile in terms of miscarriage and many couples want to wait until the risk of an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage is ruled out before they announce their good news. Additionally, if you do miscarry (and we hope that doesn't happen), then you avoid having to go around telling people during such a difficult time. Some couples just want to wait and choose the time and place to tell various people. That's their prerogative and it's perfectly find to do so. Besides, if you can hold out for a little while before sharing the news, you can plan some pretty neat ways of letting the cat out of the bag. Even if your partner already knows, you can share the news with family and friends in ways that are individual to them - it makes it very special.

Great Ways to Share the News

For instance, your parents and his might get a card in the mail addressed to Grandma and Grandpa. But, we're getting ahead of ourselves here. Let's back-up and start with telling your partner, who maybe wasn't there when the stick told you the good news.

If you find out you are pregnant right around Mother's Day or Father's Day, and this is the first baby, a great card to your partner and a gift from "Baby" tells them the news head on.

For a more romantic way to communicate the news, try this one: Take your partner out for a special dinner and have the waiter bring the wine list of special wines. Inside, the only selection will be a vintage from the year your baby is due with a description like, "a special and unique blend of the very best of a special couple." (We really like this one).

Create a special photo family photo using a three-paneled frame. Put a picture of yourself on one side, your partner on the other and a picture of the positive test in the middle.

To tell the family - invite them all over for dinner and before you serve, bring out a tray with baby food jars on it. See how long it takes them to figure it out. Or you can tell your family by creating a family tree with pics of Grandma, Grandpa, uncles, aunts, etc. Underneath your placement, put a picture of a stork and a due date. Put it out for everyone to see at the next family gathering.

And, just for fun, why not consider making a YouTube to announce your pregnancy to the world. It's possible to make free pregnancy announcements on YouTube and Vimeo and although some time is involved, it's really fun and effective - and it makes it easy to let everyone know!

Do It Your Way

Announcing your pregnancy is a personal decision. Don't be pressured into anything - do it your way.