Would you announce your pregnancy after your 12 week scan or wait for screening results?

[Velvete]

I have been a bit of a paranoid wreck during this first trimester and always thought that if I made it to 12 weeks I would relax and enjoy the pregnancy but instead I've started to worry and fret about other things potentially going wrong! I'm going to try and nip it in the bud and be positive.

I have my 12 week scan on Thursday where I will actually be 11+6 (and I have a long cycle so think I may be put back a couple of days). I have been counting down the days and hoping all is well so I can tell family and friends, and now I'm wondering if we should wait until the results of the screening tests come back.

I'm not sure what the "done thing" is.

I’ve been wondering this... I think I will do the 12 week thing, I think it’ll be visually obvious by then to be fair, it has in previous pregnancies.

I am nervous about the screening tests, and I know what decision we would make if our baby had any life limiting deformities. I can only keep my fingers crossed for good results.

I told family about 8 weeks pregnant because i was fairly sick. Should anything of happened though i would of regretted it. I've had 2 previous miscarriages and only my family know about them not OHs. I think 12 weeks after first scan is the done thing xx

Which screening tests are you going for if it’s the over 35 years testing that you pay for it’s done close enough to 12 week scan to wait.
If the other later tests and you feel you might be showing anyway tell. It’s all about personal preference.

It's the standard NHS combined screening, I'm 32. I've had two previous miscarriages so always thought of making it to 12 weeks as being the milestone but maybe I'm now just so used to worrying I can't stop!

So do you think most people announce after the scan and if they do receive not so good news at screening deal with it as and when? I suppose we can't second guess everything.

Yeah, I’d say you’d be low risk in the screening tests.

Ive had three MMCs, I’m 37 and currently 6 weeks pregnant, so I get the worry.. I’m not sure it ever stops!

My children are 12 and 10 and still give me things to worry about 😬

I’ve been thinking the same thing, I have my scan 12 week scan this Friday. If all looks good on the nuchal measurements we will tell people this weekend. If it’s questionable I guess we wait for the blood test results. It’s been hard to hide anyway, I’m bloody massive!

Like you I had two miscarriages. I told one very good friend at 12 weeks and swore her to secrecy as I like you I was worried. I personally couldn’t have coped with anyone else knowing as we got an awful screening result which was dreadful on the plus 35 test. So I waited.
But I think I was in the minority doing this I think most people tell after 12 week scan and some even tell before they have had this. Take care and try to enjoy your pregnancy OP.

We announced after scan and most people I know did too.

If you’re worried though I would wait for the tests to come back. They don’t usually take that long and you’ll only be a bit over 12 weeks by then anyway.

Congrats & hope all goes well.

I am 18 weeks tomorrow and thought I would announce it after the 12 week scan however, I don't want to have to explain myself to everyone if (god forbid) anything is wrong at the 20 week scan... I have told my parents and siblings- incase anything went wrong, I would want their support after going through a MMC in Jan and nobody knowing. A few very very close friends - as they would have guessed anyway with my keep turning down their holidays and nights out! and a few work colleagues due to the simple fact that I can not lift heavy deliveries and if I need time off for appointments.

I thought I would then wait until after the 16week check with the midwife to tell everyone but again, I've put it off.

My partner has just started his 32 week training with the Royal Marines and won't be home for another 4/5 weeks so he is going to miss the 20 week scan. We have decided to wait to do a gender reveal together. Once we know the sex of our baby and that everything is fine, we will then announce it publicly.

It's each to their own though and if you feel that you want to announce at 12 weeks or 20 weeks, then that is fine! It's what ever you feel comfortable with x

I waited till the end of the first trimester. My scan was at 13+6 and after two missed miscarriages last year (discovered at the first scans), I was astounded to see a healthy baby. I let it sink in for a week before I told everyone. The screening results hadn’t come back yet but I had heard this was good news as generally they are in contact within a few days if something is amiss.

Oh I had never considered this. Always thought just announce to those I want to know when I see them.

Given me more to think about now. Had planned to tell select few straight after scan if everything is ok.

I told people at different times. The people I told later were due to things like their age or not wanting to over shadow their own important events.

I told family earlier but waited to tell work after the 12 week scan (though I was big enough that they all knew anyway. Didn't worry about the bloods as the odds are generally good, I was 32 when I had my first, will be 34 with second was low risk with both.

I told my close family pretty much as soon as I found out but I know if I'd have had a miscarriage I'd have needed their support so didn't feel the need to keep it from them. I had the Nucal screening done but I wasn't too worried and unless it was something severely wrong it wouldn't have changed our plans so told everyone straight after my scan. Good luck

I told most after getting the screening results back but that is mainly because I’m a worry wort!

I’ve never really ‘announced’, just told close friends and family when it felt appropriate.
I told my mum and dad at 7 weeks as I had HG and needed some help with existing DC. Also told my best friend pre 12 weeks.
Had my 12 week scan today (at 13+5) and have told the IL’s plus some other friends and family. It’s my third and I am showing fairly obviously anyway so will tell other people as and when I see them.

I am currently 18 weeks. We didn't really announce anything.

We told my parents and sister at 6 weeks as we were going on holiday with them.

We told DHs parents after the scan. (Literally right after) I was 13 weeks.

We told work and close friends around a week later.

We then told wider circle of friends at 15+4 on our wedding anniversary but we are still telling people as we see them.

Our NT results came back very low risk. I am 34 and we had infertility issues and a mmc at 10 weeks in Feb 17. It's been a long journey to get to this point. My advice would be enjoy each day as it comes, try not to worry too much and just go with the flow.

CONGRATULATIONS!! X

@notasgreenascabbage Wow if only the NHS knew people like you could predict if someone will be low or high risk on the trisomy screening tests based on their age with no knowledge of the nuchal measurement, they could save a small fortune!

In my experience most people wait until around 12 weeks or so before announcing. Congratulations!

I tried to reach 12 weeks but I was so violently sick with ds that I told my boss at 6 weeks (because I wanted to tell him not be discovered) and then the office gossip walked into the loo at 8 weeks. Everyone knew by the next day.

This time around I got asked by 2 different friends on the same day at 4 weeks. I'm now 19 weeks and have looked visibly pregnant from 8-9 weeks and now I'm huge. Even my midwife ran into me in the street asked if I was sure it wasn't twins NO IT ISN'T

I'd tell anyone you want to that you'd be happy to have the support from if something did happen. I've had 2 miscarriages and neither did I want/need to keep to myself, I wanted the support. Then again I'm not one for big announcements either.

@CatchingBabies... Wow. Have I advised the OP not to have the tests because I don’t think she’ll be high risk? No, I haven’t.

In my opinion, she doesn’t have any typical high risk attributes, so if I were her I’d feel at ease announcing after the 12 week scan. Not once did I say she’d be fine... of course I can’t predict. I was under the impression this thread was for opinions?

Maybe wind your neck in and sit back down.

And to the OP, I’m sorry if my posts have come across like I am telling you how it definitely actually is, I’m no medical professional... I was just giving my view. Apologies if it hasn’t been received that way.

@Notasgreenascabbage

You clearly do not understand nuchal screening if you believe the OP does not have any high risk features based on what she has posted here.

You told the OP she will be safe to announce as she will be low risk, if she’s not low risk that could then have massive impacts.

The OP hasn’t said anything that would make me think she is high risk... so, in my opinion (which she was asking for) I’d feel comfortable announcing after a positive 12 week scan.

I still can’t see why you’ve got your knickers in a twist over that.

You seem to be under the impression I’ve portrayed myself as a medical professional and am dishing out diagnostic advice?

We told a few close friends and my parents very early on from 8-11 weeks.

I was completely paranoid about miscarriage and the baby having downs/other potential issues so I waited until 20 weeks and that final scan before I felt comfortable letting our wider network of friends and family know. (DHs parents are worriers so we told them at 20 weeks too!)

Mind you I had no hint of a bump until 20+ weeks so could get away with it.

I didn’t have a bump until 24 weeks with my first so it was easy to keep quiet, with this (my third) I’ve been in maternity clothes since 10 weeks so had no chance!