When Should You Announce Your Pregnancy?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Parents-Pregnancy-Annoucement-3a5197c951ca4e3e814eb44f0022b5e7.jpg)
It's a completely personal decision with no right answer, but there are some medical factors to consider when deciding the best time to announce your pregnancy publicly.
Parents / Getty Images
Medically reviewed by Nicole Amoyal Pensak, PhDMedically reviewed by Nicole Amoyal Pensak, PhDWhether you found out five minutes ago or five weeks ago about your pregnancy, you may be wondering when is the right time to tell everybody else in your life about this life-changing news. Frankly, there is no right or wrong time, and it really comes down to when you feel most comfortable. That said, you may be concerned about risks associated with first trimester pregnancy or maybe you want to adhere to cultural and social norms around the timing—all of these factors go into when you might make your pregnancy announcement.To help you make a more informed decision, we spoke with a mental health practitioner and a professional midwife about what to consider before announcing your pregnancy and the pros and cons of doing it early versus later on.
Related: 7 Fun Ways to Tell Your Kid You're Pregnant
When to Tell to Friends and Family You Are PregnantThe decision about when to tell people you are pregnant is a personal one. Some people might want to do it right away while others may feel that waiting a bit is best. Sarah Baroud, LICSW, a licensed independent clinical social worker specializing in perinatal mental health, says you'll want to start by gauging the nature of the relationships in your life. "Some expectant parents feel comfortable sharing early on with close family and friends with the knowledge that if they experienced a pregnancy loss, those are also the people they would lean on for support," says Baroud. Additionally, when it comes to telling family and friends, you need to be prepared for questions and unwanted opinions as they arise. "You’re the parent now and everyone else will have their own thoughts and ideas of what you should do, but you get to be the one to choose what is best for you and your family," says Rebekah Mustaleski, certified professional midwife.Aside from figuring out when to tell friends and family you're pregnant, Mustaleski encourages expecting parents to consider how and when you want to tell others. "You can tell people individually—some people do a video chat or bring a present to tell loved ones about their pregnancy or you can do a group announcement that you send to many people at once," she says. "You are the one who decides the right way to do this."
Related: How To Cope When Trying To Get Pregnant Overwhelms You
When to Announce that You Are Pregnant PubliclyIf you're trying to decide when to tell acquaintances, co-workers, or announce on social media that you are pregnant, again,it is your call and no right or wrong way to make the announcement. According to the American Pregnancy Association, many people wait until the statistics of maintaining a healthy pregnancy are in their favor.On the other hand, some expectant parents might be more eager to share the news publicly whether that's on social media or in person. In some cases, you might not have a choice is physical symptoms start to become more visible—for instance if you have intense morning sickness or fatigue, or if you begin to show. "For soon-to-be parents who have had a challenging journey to arrive at this pregnancy (namely miscarriages, infertility, surrogacy, egg or sperm donation, medical issues) they may feel cautious in sharing the news as it is layered with other factors," says Baroud. "On the other hand, they may feel such joy and relief to have reached this stage that they are happy to share immediately—it’s truly an individual decision."
Related: When Do Pregnancy Symptoms Start?
Medical Factors to ConsiderThere are also medical factors to consider when it comes to announcing you are pregnant. Research shows that anywhere from 10 to 25% of pregnancies end in a miscarriage and that 80% of those end in the first trimester. That means that an estimated 1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage during their life."If you’ve ever been through this heart-breaking loss, you know how difficult it is to have well-meaning people coming up and asking you about your pregnancy while you’re still grieving the loss of your baby," says Mustaleski. "Since the risk of miscarriage decreases significantly after 12 weeks of pregnancy, some couples choose to wait until then to share the news."What Is the 12 Week Rule?Speaking of waiting to make the announcement, the concept known as the "12-week" rule is related to the fact that miscarriage risk goes down at 12 weeks. The March of Dimes also states that about 80% of miscarriages occur before the 12 week mark (in the first trimester)."This is a big reason many folks wait until at least 12 weeks to share the news," says Baroud. "Also, the first trimester is often tough on the birthing person physically and emotionally, so being excited and going through the sharing process may be the last thing on their mind."At the end of the day, you are the one that is pregnant and the decision to announce (or not) is completely in your hands. Discuss your options with your partner and come up with a plan that is suitable for both of you. For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings