How and when to announce

[WerdyBear]

We are finding out the sex of our first baby next week. We haven't told anyone about the scan as both side families are quite controlling and annoying so did not want to deal with it if babies legs are shut. My family have been nagging and nagging for me to throw a gender reveal party, his family hate the idea of one and say the most unkind things re such parties! I don't want a gender reveal but have a very large family - his is very small. I'd prefer to keep it a secret but my partner will 100% slip up / tell his parents. How can we tell the family? When we announced the pregnancy family members where immediately on the phone to others to tell them before we managed to, despite us asking they didn't so do not want a repeat of that. Its so stressful!

Email? It seems very impersonal but at least you then get to tell everyone at the same time.

I'm having my first scan on Monday. There's one friend I haven't told about the pregnancy at all (I really want to do it by sending a scan photo) but then I think I'm going to be very cringy and put it on FB.

Ah we haven't done anything on social media, to be honest we are not big users of it but I love seeing peoples announcements! Best of luck with everything, the first scan is so special 💚 my DH got emotional!

I saw balloons filled with pink or blue confetti in Home Bargains, which you can blow up then pop. Our family don’t live nearby so thought about filming that then sending the video by email/WhatsApp to those who want to know? Then they get a “gender reveal” without you needing to have a party, and you can send to multiple people at the same time?

We never did a reveal as such. Told parents by phone and brothers and sisters by text as well as close friends. Everyone else I just say when asked.

Sent that too early! Was going to suggest compromising and just doing a gender reveal balloon or cake with your immediate family and just phoning his parents maybe before the reveal and let them tell wider family

We just text family to let them know and spoke to friends as and when we saw them. No need to do an announcement as such.

Just send everyone a WhatsApp broadcast message then they all the it at the same time.

I wouldn’t “announce” it. I would just tell anyone when they asked. But don’t make a performance out of it.

Wait till the baby is born then find out.

Are you desperate to find out? You could just not find out and then this whole problem goes away.

Alternatively just don't tell anyone anything about the scan and then if people ask "do you know what you're having yet?" Just go "oh yeah it's a boy/girl" rather than actually making an announcement.

Do nothing, that's what you prefer. If your DH lets it slip then it will spread like wildfire and you won't have to tell anyone. Or get the baby's gender written down, sealed in an envelope, keep sealed then only announce a couple of weeks before due date. It's no one else's business.

My family I just sent a WhatsApp message (we live far away). DH told his family in person but just an "oh, by the way - it's a girl!" No big reveal. Other people we've just told when they've asked if we know what we're having.

I planned all these pregnancy reveals etc but then when it came to it I decided I didn't want to do all that as we'd had some losses and I didn't feel that confident all would be ok - still don't tbh even though I can feel her moving around (I do like seeing other people's though and don't judge people who enjoy doing the big announcement).