When you find out you are pregnant, it can be a very exciting thing. This is especially true if this is your first pregnancy or if you have been trying to get pregnant for some time. You’re likely considering already how you are going to break the news to everybody. How do you tell people you are pregnant? When should you tell everyone? Keep reading to find answers to your most pressing questions about pregnancy.
How do I Announce my Pregnancy?
How and when you announce your pregnancy is a very personal decision. Who you announce it to is also a very personal decision. Experts recommend you don’t announce your pregnancy too early up in the pregnancy.
Is it Bad to Announce Pregnancy Early?
It is advised that pregnant wait until their 12-week mark has passed before they announce their pregnancy to the world. This because the risk of miscarriage is higher during those first 12 weeks. Statistics show that between 10 to 25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Of those that miscarry, 80% will lose the baby in the first trimester.
Most miscarriages are a result of chromosomal abnormalities that prevent the baby from developing properly. Other top causes of miscarriage during the first trimester include;
- A problem with the mother’s monthly cycle
- Imbalances in the mother’s hormones
- Illness of the mother
- Scar tissue in the uterus
- Mother’s age:
- Women aged under 35 – 15%
- Women aged 35 to 45 years old – 20% to 35%
- Women aged 45 years and older – 50%
If your baby lives to 7 weeks with a normal heartbeat, the miscarriage risk drops down to 10%. At week 12 the risk of miscarriage further drops to around 5% for the remainder of the pregnancy.
It is easy to understand why parents are cautioned to wait until after passing the 12-week mark to make the big announcement.
When Should you Announce your Pregnancy on Social Media?
After you’ve told your significant other, your family and closest friends the next thing you want to do is to announce to your bigger circle. An announcement on social media is a great way to cover all the people in your life. It is by far the easiest way to get the news out to friends and distant family quickly. After announcing to your inner circle, you can announce on social media with an image of an ultrasound.
How can I Surprise my Coworkers about Pregnancy?
Start off With Your Boss
You should first tell your boss privately before you tell the entire office. You should know the best way to deliver the message based on your company’s office etiquette and the existing relationship with your boss. Maybe invite them out to lunch or some other type of convenient meal and share the news then. Once your boss has been informed you can now go ahead with plans for telling the rest of your coworkers. You may need to check with your boss if any of your ideas are too creative. Again, you want to allow the office culture to guide you. Here are some ideas of how you can announce to your coworkers.
Candy Jar on Your Desk
Get a jar and place pink and blue jellybeans inside. Tape a note to the side saying “From me and my little jelly bean”. Send an email to the team, letting them know that you are sharing candy from your desk.
Staff Meeting Announcement
This allows you to make the announcement once for everybody in your department or company.
Mix Your Announcement and Gender Reveal
If your office will allow, you can make a big deal out of this all. Do your pregnancy announcement along with a Gender Reveal. Bring some treats and a table centerpiece to indicate the gender like that shown in the photo here.
Let Your Clothes Make the Announcement
If your profession allows, you can find clothing items that make the announcement for you. This may be easier to do on your company’s dress down day
Ask for Babymoon Ideas
Next time your coworkers are having their little chatfest, ask for babymoon ideas and watch their faces light up!
Tips to Keep Your Pregnancy Under Wraps until you are Ready
While you are waiting to announce your pregnancy you want to ensure you don’t leak it. More than likely you will have to attend functions that had been planned in advance whether at the office or personal events. You may have to get a story as to why you are avoiding alcohol and certain foods. Make sure you stick to that story with everybody. This means working on that poker face. As much as possible, just try to keep things simple.
If anybody catches on, don’t get stressed out. Remember this is a personal thing so if they are a bit suspicious you are not obligated to come out and say it to anybody until you are ready. So until your ready, keep reading to find an idea that will be right for announcing your pregnancy to the world.
Top 15 Ways to Announce a Pregnancy
- Share a Sonogram
2. Use a Funny Prop
3. A Flat Lay
4. Beach Themed
5. I’ll Pass on the Wine
6. Holding Baby Shoes
7. Take it to the Streets
8. Big Brother Promotion
9. Decorate a Cake
10. Announcing at Christmas
11. Dad Fainted!
12. Send out Card
13. Pregnancy Announcement and Gender Reveal
14. Share the Due Date
15. If the Due Date is in the Fall
Conclusion
Finding out that you are pregnant can be an extremely exciting time. You will want to tell everybody, but you don’t want to just send them a text message – that would be boring. Once you are out of the “risk of miscarriage” neck of the woods there are literally hundreds of ways you can announce your pregnancy. We have included a couple above including ideas on how to announce at the workplace. We’ve included ideas whether you are having your first baby or your 6th, you’re sure to find a fun way to announce your pregnancy. Tell us… which one did you choose?
Cris
