Anyone hidden a pregnancy until 20 weeks?

[Bapples]

I know this is a strange question and I’ll probably get lots of mean answers...but has anyone done this?

My first and only child I told everyone at 12 weeks. Went for anatomy scan at 20 weeks where they found the baby had multiple birth defects. Everyone knew I’d had the scan and obviously were asking about it. I felt that I had no time to get my head around it before I was being bombarded with questions I didn’t have the answers to. I’m the type who likes to be left alone to process things and having to face the news plus the questions, opinions and reactions of others isn’t something I’d like to repeat if it happened again. I know women show quicker on second pregnancies but I didn’t start showing properly last time until about 16 weeks. In case anyone is interested, my child in now 2 and doing well after several surgeries but has life long issues they’ll need to manage and future surgeries.

I didn’t tell anyone about my first, aside from my immediate family, until about 2 weeks before she was due. Even then, it was only because I bumped into my aunt in town and I was very obviously pregnant. 2nd was harder because I was pregnant with twins and was already showing by 10 weeks. No reason for keeping it quiet other than my extended family can be a bit much and I just wanted to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet while I could!

I kept my 1st pregnancy secret until 16 weeks and 2nd secret until 20 weeks just because I knew it would make the pregnancy seem even longer if I told everyone as soon as I'd had the 12 week scan! I had an obvious bump by then but they were both spring babies so I was hidden under loads of layers and I was working as a nurse at the time so the unflattering uniform definitely helped there!

Currently 14 weeks with no.3 and I have a little bit of a bump but again, I've usually got a coat on when I'm doing the school run or meeting friends, thanks to a well-timed lockdown! I'm also wfh now so I don't have to worry about keeping it hidden from colleagues. I'm planning on telling people either after the 16 week scan or 20 week, depending on whether anything comes up on those. I've had a few people wonder if I could be pregnant when I haven't been drinking at social events, but only 2 of my close friends have asked outright.

If you can time your pregnancy so the 12-20 week stage is autumn/winter time that will make it easier to hide your bump.

I hid my third from work until almost that point as I needed to pass probation and give myself protection against being sacked (they would absolutely have done it, they were that sort of company). But I was a bit overweight and did a lot of moaning about how giving up smoking was making me put on weight. I had to announce at 18 weeks though, at that point I looked so pregnant there was no way I could pass it off as too many pies.

Yes, I've hidden 2 out of 5 of mine till over 20 weeks no problem. Was easier if in winter as you tend to wear hoodies and big cardigans and coats ect. Absolutely don't feel like you have to announce it till you are ready to.

Currently 20wks with my second and I’ve only told close friends and family, although I could have got away with it with baggy clothes until about a week ago but my bump looks like a bump now for sure.
I expected to be bigger this time with it being my second but my bump this time is more wide so I just looked like I’d gained some lockdown weight 😂

Yes. I’m now 40 weeks but kept it secret until 20 plus weeks. I’d never make a pregnancy announcement as such anyway.
I’m so nervous in pregnancy anyway and had a troublesome first pregnancy with dd, that I just wanted to keep quiet this time.

I didn't tell anyone till I was 32 weeks but I was overweight before pregnancy