Finding out you're pregnant is one of the most exciting times in your life. Sharing the news with your family, friends, and colleagues will also be very special. Your loved ones will be so happy for you, and it will be such a memorable moment. Though you have a lot to plan and organize before your little one arrives, one of the most enjoyable tasks on your to-do list is to announce your pregnancy when the time's right.
Read on to find out when and how to announce your pregnancy, and to discover some creative, cute, and funny ways to deliver your news.
When to Announce Your Pregnancy
Announcing that you're pregnant is probably the next most exciting thing after finding out you're pregnant. Deciding on when to announce your pregnancy is a very personal choice.
It partly depends on who you're telling. For example, you might tell your parents and best friends sooner but wait much longer to tell your colleagues and wider circle of friends and acquaintances.
You may want to announce your pregnancy as soon as you find out, or you may prefer to wait until you're through the first trimester, a time when many women feel it is safer to share their news, as the risk of miscarriage is lower.
You might decide to wait to tell some people until after the first ultrasound, or until you know your baby's gender, so that you can reveal your pregnancy and your baby's gender at the same time. (By the way, you can take this fun quiz to guess your baby's gender.)
The choice about who to tell and when is entirely yours. Asking your healthcare provider for advice might help you decide.
How to Announce Your Pregnancy
Before you go shouting your big news from the rooftops, think about who you want to tell, and in what order, and how you actually want to make the announcement.
For example, you could spill the beans in person, over the phone, or by mailing a pregnancy announcement card. And let's not forget easy digital ways such as by text, email, or on social media.
The following list can give you ideas of who to notify and some common ways to do it:
- Partner. Your partner will likely be one of the first people you tell, if you didn't find out together. Here are some really great ideas for telling your partner.
- Parents and immediate family. Every situation is unique, but you might like to share your news with your parents and your partner's parents — the soon-to-be grandparents — in person. The same might go for other family members you're close to. Of course, if relatives happen to live far away, a phone call or video chat will also be much appreciated.
- Extended family. Consider delivering your pregnancy announcement to extended family members (such as aunts, uncles, and cousins) either in person, by phone call or video chat, or with a pregnancy announcement card.
- Closest friends. You might like to tell your best friends individually (in person or on the phone) or organize a group lunch where you surprise your friends all at once.
- Boss and colleagues. When you're ready to announce your pregnancy at work, your boss should be the first to find out. When you decide to tell might depend on numerous factors such as what type of work you do, how family-friendly your workplace is, whether you're showing yet, and whether your workplace has any policies about pregnancy, and maternity and paternity leave. You should also familiarize yourself with the rights you have when it comes to family leave under federal and state laws. Be prepared to have a discussion at the same time about how long you can continue with your current workload, and who you might be able to share some of your work with as your due date nears. In your own time, let your closest coworkers know in person. Eventually word of mouth will take care of the rest.
- Acquaintances and everyone else. These are hi-and-bye neighbors, people you only see occasionally, or those friends whose posts you like on Facebook but otherwise don't have a relationship with. One of the best ways to announce your pregnancy for this group of people will be on social media. Of course, you can also choose to tell them in person the next time you bump into one of them at the local coffee shop!
Pregnancy Announcement Ideas to Surprise Your Partner or Husband
If you and your partner didn't find out about your pregnancy together, there are a number of ways you could plan a surprise announcement. Here's some inspiration:
- Say it with coffee. Serve your partner a cup of joe in a new mug with a personalized message, such as “You're going to be a parent.” It will surely brighten your partner's morning routine.
Funny Pregnancy Announcement Ideas
You can be as creative and goofy as you want when announcing your pregnancy. If you love having a laugh, these ideas might fit the bill:
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Have your son or daughter deliver the news. Have your older child wear a T-shirt or hold a sign that has “only child” crossed out and replaced with “big brother” or “big sister.”
Cute Ways to Announce Your Pregnancy
If you're looking for creative and cute ways to announce your pregnancy, these ideas definitely have the “Aww” factor:
- Box of treats with a message. For sharing your news with coworkers, you could bring in a box of doughnut holes, doughnuts, cupcakes, or muffins with the news written on a tag or spelled out in frosting.
Twin Pregnancy Announcement Ideas
Pregnant with twins? Make your pregnancy announcement double the fun with one of these ideas:
- Eating for three. Take a picture of yourself holding a bowl that has the words “eating for three” written on the side. This is a great picture for social sharing, too.
Pregnancy Announcement Ideas for Your Parents and Family
Announcing the news of your pregnancy to your family and the soon-to-be grandparents is a special moment you'll all remember for years to come. Here are some ideas for how to make the big reveal:
- Grandparents choosing their names. Let your dad (or mom) choose what he'd like his grandchild to call him with a box full of “my name is” decals with different options written on them like papa, grandpa, pop pop, etc. This is an especially great idea if you'd like to reveal your news on Father's Day (or Mother's Day).
Ways to Announce Your Pregnancy on Social Media
Many of the above pregnancy announcement ideas can easily be shared over social media, especially the ones where you can take a photo of the reveal, but the following ideas are tailor-made for social sharing:
- How big is my baby? A popular way to announce your pregnancy on social media could be to share a photo taken of you while you hold a fruit in front of your belly, representing the size of your baby. For ideas on which fruit or vegetable to use, check out our pregnancy calendar and find your pregnancy week. For example, at 17 weeks you'll need to pose with a pear.
We hope these pregnancy announcement ideas have sparked your creativity, and you've found the perfect way to surprise your family and friends. Sharing this news is just one of many fun milestones along your pregnancy journey. Next you can start thinking about your gender reveal party and soon enough you'll be enjoying a baby shower that's thrown in your honor.
If you're already getting your little one's nursery organized, download the Pampers Rewards app to get rewards for the diapers and wipes you're filling it with
