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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell my family about pregnancy so close to SIL due date?

30 replies

PregnancyEtiquette · 02/03/2025 16:34

Name changed so not accidentally outed!

I found out a few weeks ago that I’m pregnant with our first child - total surprise, we were planning to start trying in a few months but erm…whoops? 😂

We’ve been given a dating scan date of 18 March - obviously really excited! Planning to tell my side of the family that weekend on the 23rd/24th.

We don’t want to tell them beforehand because there are several factors in the birth that might not make it too straightforward - I’m early 40s, my other half is on medication known to cause neurological defects (which we were transitioning off before starting TTC), family history on both sides of some serious congenital conditions that would have an impact on whether we could take to term etc.

While the scan won’t answer everything, we basically want a little reassurance that things are proceeding mostly ok before we get parents excited etc.

However, my younger brother and his wife are also expecting their first child in the first week of April. This is long-planned and they’re obviously really excited too!

I don’t want to come across like I’m trying to steal their thunder or draw attention onto me at what should be their time. I want all eyes on them as the first grandkid on our side of the family and I desperately don’t want to ruin that for them.

So, what are your thoughts?

YABU - 23/24 is WAY too close to their due date, they could drop early so either tell family now or hold off until their baby is at least a few weeks old.

YANBU - 1-2 weeks earlier is fine and you won’t give off main character energy by sharing your news with family then. Stop overthinking this shizz!

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!

OP posts:
AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 02/03/2025 17:10

I think it’d be far worse if you shared your news AFTER their baby had been born.

GaspingGekko · 02/03/2025 17:08

Personally I would tell them beforehand, but that's because I wouldn't be able to trust myself not to blurt it out when I got to meet their baby. And that would be significantly more inappropriate timing.

Ithinka couple of weeks before is fine. If you didn't do it then how long after the actual birth do you think you would wait? And would you be starting to show by that time?

pikkumyy77 · 02/03/2025 17:00

This is a ridiculous amount of self consciousness over what should be a happy event. If you think you are too early/high risk or are likely to have to terminate because of developmental issues then hold off telling as this will be difficult enough to manage without everyone’s opinions. But otherwise tell your good news as soon as you like. It won’t detract at all from the new baby.

Katemax82 · 02/03/2025 16:54

Tell them when you want, I fell pregnant 3 months after my stepson and his girlfriend announced their first pregnancy, i felt like they would think i was trying to steal their thunder but they didn't

Chuchoter · 02/03/2025 16:38

YANBU - 1-2 weeks earlier is fine and you won’t give off main character energy by sharing your news with family then. Stop overthinking this shizz!

.....

All babies are a blessing so of course you tell them when you want to tell them.

I hope all goes well for you.