I've not done an announcement at work, how would you do it?

[itseasybeingcheesy]

So I'm nearly 14 weeks pregnant and I have told the people within my office recently and they're all lovely and happy for me.

The rest of the colleagues I work with are also great, I work in a lovely environment and it's a place I was a regular part of before I worked there so I've known most people a while but more as acquaintances.

I'm reluctant to do an "announcement" at our staff meetings as I've not worked there for very long and I'm worried some people will be shocked that I'm pregnant or feel I'm messing them around. (They probably won't be able to cover my position on mat leave). Our staff meetings are usually about serious things so I feel a little self indulgent announcing personal news.

My pregnancy wasn't necessarily planned because of the timing but we are excited. The longer I leave it the weirder it will seem that I haven't said anything.

Please offer advice?

[Purplepricklesalloverhisback]

I didn’t “announce” my pregnancy. I told those in my department and everyone else figured it out by 25 weeks when I started showing.

[toomuchfaster]

An announcement is completely unnecessary and OTT. You have told your close colleagues, it will just filter out to everyone else.

[cheminotte]

I didn’t announce either, just told my own direct colleagues and said they were fine to let others know. Word got out soon enough and from 20 weeks or so it was quite obvious.

[tinydancer88]

Congratulations for your happy news.

If there isn't a very good reason that all staff need to know, I wouldn't bother. It doesn't sound like it's the 'done thing' either. The news will filter round naturally as time goes by.

[Fiddie]

Don't announce it

[mustdrinkwaternotwine]

I didn't announce either of my pregnancies. I'd worked at one place for 7yrs before being pregnant and another for 1.5yrs. I told my boss after the 12w scan, told a couple of colleagues I was friendly with and then other colleagues as necessary. Others just gradually realised. When I was about 22w with my first
pregnancy, my boss did comment in a team meeting on the fact we'd have to have a contingency plan for some project if I had the baby early and a couple of particularly unobservant people did do a double take but everyone else had already clocked the massive bump by that stage.

[ChimpyChops]

Told a few people and word seeped through the team. I only told people early because of the type of work I do. No need to 'announce' it as such imo.

[Needcoffeecoffeecoffee]

Never announced it although I had a very excited manager who was happy to spread the word
Everyone else found out when the advert for my maternity cover came out!!
They'll notice in one way or another soon enough!!