Announcing pregnancy on social media..

[firstlittlebub]

Would you, or would you not?

I’m in two minds about it (won’t be for another few weeks anyway, if we do tell social media)

On the one hand it would be an easy, nice way of telling everyone but on the other hand there are some relatives that don’t bother with us at all that might come out the woodwork for the wrong reasons - as what happened with my sister.

Did you, or not, and why?

I did with first but not with second.

Doesn't bother me seeing them.

How is it tacky to announce a pregnancy post on social media?😂

I posted both of my pregnancies on social media but everyone that needed to know had already been told in person/over the phone. Plus I have a small IG account and only have 20 followers anyway! If I had acquaintances or distant family/friends on my social media then I probably wouldn’t have

I didn’t. I didn’t even bother ringing/texting people to let them know. People found out as and when I saw them if it was obvious. I didn’t like the attention and would rather chat to people about other stuff than talk about my pregnancy.

When our twins were born last thing on my mind social media. Posted a pic a few days after having them but I'm not really a huge social media person anyhow

Also, fwiw, I really struggled with getting pregnant, took bloody ages, and it’s taking ages second time around too, and I have to say, at my low points, it bothered me more getting direct messages about pregnancies because I had to directly respond, even when I found it hard, whereas seeing pregnancy announcements on social media, it was easy to scroll by, or just tap like and move on it I was struggling at that time. Generally I wasn’t too affected by pregnancy announcements at all, but you always get shitty days! Just a different side to it.

We did- spoke or messaged everyone close and then as I work in a massive workplace and don’t want to have to have to tell 101 people while on shift just put up a generic “we have news baby xxxx arriving spring 2023”

No scan photos or anything as I knew one friend in particular was struggling with their journey and just didn’t feel like posting that incase it upset them!

Didn't announce it but didn't hide it either.

I did and early on at 6/7w (as ivf baby)

I did it as had taken 10 yrs ttc and 5 private ivf to get my one and only ever bfp

This is if the worst had happened and a mc then people would understand why I was so distraught

Luckily all fine and mini blondes is now 7

But still my miracle baby

I shocked but pleased many people and all so so happy for me due to To my infertility

On MN people absolutely hate anyone being happy about anything on FB so you'll get some strong opinions.
In RL I think most people I know who do use FB made an announcement and I'm certainly always happy to read about lovely things happening to friends.
I got pregnant with DD (after secondary infertility) during Covid, I couldn't see anyone at all and had to shield, was the only way I could share with people.

I announced it with my second but quite late. I think I was 7 months pregnant by the time I did it. The fact is, Iive very far from 95% of my friends and it was an easy way to share news.

DS1 I didn’t and got a lot of complaints from old friends who are scattered around the world. So DS2 I did but by reference rather than scan photos etc.

Birth announcement, fine but a pregnancy announcement is really unnecessary and attention seeking in a tacky way as surely you will have told your close friends and family either in person or on WhatsApp/whatever.

No I didn't. I'm not a celebrity. Anyone who id want to know would receive a text/phonecall and conversation.

On the one hand it would be an easy, nice way of telling everyone but on the other hand there are some relatives that don’t bother with us at all that might come out the woodwork for the wrong reasons - as what happened with my sister.

You haven't explained what you mean by this and no-one can possibly guess really?

Why would you have anyone on your SM who you'd want to hide something as simple as a pregnancy from?

Why not? It's just a way of sharing nice news with family & friends 🤷🏻‍♀️

I did with my first but it was covid time and on my instagram. It was our 1st wedding anniversary and we had a pic of both of us where I was clearly very pregnant. No pics of a scan or over the top announcements, just passively.
2nd time, we didn’t. I feel that it doesn’t really happen anymore, most people I know don’t.

I didn't because there was no social media back then (1990s!) But I have posted in the past about my DC achievements - and my own - and when DC graduated from uni, got their first home, when me and DH got a new home, and posted pics of our holidays and daytrips etc yes... Because I don't have family nearby, and some friends live afar too. So it's sharing with family and friends who I don't see weekly. And most people on my social media do the same. That's what it's for.

I don't think it's tacky, but people are entitled to think that if they wish. And on mumsnet, the general consensus is that ANYthing to do with social media is 'tacky' and 'cringe' and 'attention-seeking.' 🙄

Also, whilst it's sad that some women are struggling to conceive, and have had m/c (I have had 2 myself in the past,) I don't think it's fair to say you are being inconsiderate/borderline cruel, to post scan pics/baby pics/pics of the nursery or whatever you want to post, because it may jar them and upset them. I know it's very sad to m/c, or struggle to conceive, but people can't be expected to live their life around other peoples feelings.

I mean what next, don't post pics of your wedding because Lucy's fiancé ditched her at the alter? Don't post pics of your 1st/5th/10th/20th wedding anniversary etc, because Sandra's husband left her and fucked off with his secretary? Don't post pics of your new house because Liz and Dave got theirs re-possessed last Autumn? Don't post pics of your amazing holiday in Crete, because Sharon and Steve's holiday was wrecked because they all had a tummy bug? Don't post pics of you and your mum on mothers day because some people don't have mums anymore?

My mum died some years ago - in the late noughties - and whilst I felt sad for a few years seeing people with their mums on facebook having afternoon tea on mothers day, and spending time with them, I didn't resent them or feel angry with them. It's not fair to expect people to have to think about every single thing they post, in case it offends or upsets someone.

You crack on @firstlittlebub Post what you like. It's a free country. If other people feel aggrieved by what you post, they can click the 'unfollow' button. And congratulations! 👶

It took me years to get pregnant, and every time I saw a pregnancy announcement on Facebook it really hurt. The pain of going through yet another failed ivf cycle and seeing “oops what’s have we done!” post was so upsetting. I always vowed never to post news like that if I was lucky enough. I’m pregnant now after six years and I never posted. Some people will be happy to see that, most won’t give a shit and some will feel like I did.

Whatsapp exists to tell people things like this.

I didn't with my first, but did with my 2nd - we live overseas and have family and friends all over the globe, so was the easiest way to let wider friends know. Announced the births the same way as well.

Whatever people want to do is what they should do. It's not tacky or cringey. I think it's lovely that people want to share their good news far and wide.

I posted an announcement about six weeks before he was born. Before that, I told friends and family when I saw them or chatted to them but not anyone else. I was very cautious though and didn't want to jinx anything (I didn't even buy any baby stuff until about 30 weeks).

I didn’t, although did have bump pictures up late in pregnancy (with no specific “hey look - here’s my bump” posts, just because we’d been to a wedding and friends posted group pics), so got congrats messages through that.
I did a fb announcement about a week after DS was born and out of hospital.
All close friends and family I told myself (pregnancy and birth).

I’m not keen on pregnancy announcement over social media - surely it’s nicer to tell friends in person !

Also, I personally feel a bit uncomfortable about people posting pics of their kids all over insta - each to their own of course, but I think If you aren’t going to post pics of your baby then it’s pointless announcing your news there anyway