When did you announce to the world that you were pregnant?

[BabyBlueBella]

Hi all. New to mn. Been reading through numerous threads for a while but never had a reason to post!

I do have one question however... I'm around 10 weeks pregnant and due my 12 week scan very soon. I know the miscarriage risk drops significantly at 12 weeks, however it still seems very early to be telling the world.

Now I'm not looking to do a huge announcement. No social media posts, no dramatic reveals, I simply want to tell people as and when (work, friends, non immediate family etc).

My question? When did you start telling people who aren't immediate family that you were pregnant? Is 12 weeks really a 'safe' time to do this?

I'm not looking to make a huge secret of it, I just dread telling folks and something then going wrong...

10 weeks

I did mine around 20 weeks. I always feel that 12 weeks is very early and you still have your 20 week scan to get through which again can flag up problems. It always amazes me how early people announce and how most just see the 20 week scan as a 'gender' scan.

Whenever you feel comfortable is the right answer. What I would say is delaying telling people makes it a shorter pregnancy.

That's interesting @QueenOfMyWorld - do you mind me asking why you were so so confident to tell people before your 12 week scan? Great that you were happy to do this. I feel so reluctant!

@strawberrysparkle it does feel really soon to tell people. 20 week scan might be a good idea! I'm quite torn however. It'd be lovely to have the support on the one hand, but on the other, if something goes wrong....

I understand the appeal re making pregnancy appear shorter! The last 10 (well, 8) weeks have been the longest 8 weeks of my life!

I told people after the 12 week scan. I think you might struggle getting to the 20 week scan without it showing tbh. And if anything were to go wrong at the post 12 week stage you might need to tell work, etc anyway as you'd need some time off.

It feels scary telling people though doesn't it? Makes it all seem very real!

4weeks
Because at work we have to move to alternative duties as soon as we know. (and I couldn't fake an injury because I still wanted to use the gym!)
And I couldn't have work colleagues knowing before my family and close friends!
It's been very very odd.

I told work as soon as I had my scan, there will be a long process to recruit my maternity cover for various reasons so wanted to give lots of notice.

Have told pretty much everyone else as and when I've seen them. Was told by midwife that the risk basically doesn't drop any further- as in, the risk of pregnancy loss at 24 wks is the same as at 14 wks. Obviously there are things that can show up on 20 wk scan but a) we've had harmony screening which rules a few of those out and b) I can't imagine being able to hide a loss that late anyway.

But it's up to you. Funnily enough, when I did have a miscarriage at eight weeks, having told nobody except our parents we were expecting, it started a whole process of having to tell people about the miscarriage and I actually resented I hadn't told some of those people beforehand. So this time, a couple of v close friends were told early - but it really is a personal decision.

However, you are substantially more likely to have a successful pregnancy than not - it's something like a 99% certainty past 12 wk scan. So I wouldn't worry too much.

I was just over 14 weeks when I told people

I was reluctant to tell anyone when I had my last one. Dh and I have more than your average number of children and to be honest, over the years we've become very tired of all the "you must be crazy" and "what?! Another one?!" type comments.

So with the last one, we didn't a soul until 18 weeks. Not even family. People were shocked (mostly that I'd managed to hide it for so long!) but also because when they asked why we hadn't said anything and I told the truth, they seemed embarrassed that their 'well meaning rude' comments previously had made me feel that way.

Lots of variations then! My scan isn't until 13 weeks so maybe I should just bite the bullet and tell people. I can't be bothered telling everyone individually. Contemplating telling the office gossip and letting it spread...

If you're feeling anxious it's worth letting yourself have a week or so after the scan just to enjoy the news and feel more confident that all looks well, then start telling people. Office gossips can be very useful if it feels hard work to tell everyone yourself :)

As soon as I knew

I would rather tell people and then get support if anything went wrong, than not tell people and have to keep loss and grief secret.
I was so very sick for the first few months too that it would have been hard to diguise

About 13-14 weeks. I was starting to look a bit chunky around the middle by that point (was previously quite slim) and a couple of women in the office said they had already guessed when I told them. So I couldn't have hidden it even if I had wanted to.

@Candlelights still not sure what I'm going to do...

@crunchtime I think you're so brave to tell people so early! I'm suffering from hyperemesis and am running out of sick pay so am going to be forced to go back soon which I am worrying about. We have shared loos so the likelihood of someone hearing me throwing my guts up is fairly high!

@eurochick I'm hating this 'chunkiness' as you describe it! It's all bloat for me at the moment but I officially feel (and look) like a beached whale!

When it became obvious. Earlier and earlier with each subsequent pregnancy! 😂

I told people at about 8 weeks - because I was very sick and ended up having 5 weeks signed off work. I preferred everyone just to know rather than be speculating/gossiping. And if I’d lost it after that I don’t think I’d have kept that a secret anyway.

I've told my mom who told everyone she knows, seemingly. I haven't told work because a promotion is coming up in the next few weeks/months and I want a good shot at it without any biases creeping in. As soon as I get/don't get it, I'll let them know.

@PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks I have absolutely no idea when I will start showing! I'm bloated at the moment and look a bit bigger than usual (stomach isn't flat anymore!). In regards to bump however, I'm guessing it'll appear anytime between 12 and 20 weeks!

@Origamoo I've been off for 3 weeks. It's starting to settle now as I've been on medication. Nobody apart from my manager knows why I'm off. A few people have text to see how I am (very obviously in the hope that I will tell them what's wrong). I say let the gossips gossip!

@Liz3891 that sounds very sensible. All the best with the promotion!

I told my family as soon as we knew and everyone else knew by 6 or 7 weeks. I'm
not into keeping it a big secret for twelve weeks.

Thanks! I should also have mentioned (since it was the point of the question!!!) that I'm currently 9 weeks.

@sendthecoffee I waited until a few days go to tell my family and I must admit I wish I had told them sooner!

I think that because I have had a miscarriage before and remember how heart wrenching it was to tell people that I was no longer expecting, I am a lot more cautious about who I tell.

I started telling people close to me like family and my best friend early like 13 weeks. I suffered with extremely bad sickness so couldnt keep up "its a stomach bug" now im 26weeks and still havent "offically" told people. I tell people as and when i see them as i dont want it all over facebook.