Pregnancy Announcement

Zobo203 · 2021-03-14T23:04:24+00:00

Me and my partner announced our pregnancy on Facebook a few days ago. After a really difficult journey to get here, we feel so blessed to be having a baby and were so excited to share the news with everyone. I'm at that age where everyone seems to be having a baby and I regularly see announcements reach 300+ likes, but ours didn't even reach triple figures and I'm really disappointed about it. Is it really silly of me to feel this way? I know as soon as they're here everyone will loose interest fast but with this being my first viable pregnancy (following an early miscarriage) and not being able to share it properly with loved ones because of social distancing I was just really hoping to feel special for just a little while and like everyone is really happy for us. But now I'm just feeling like our baby doesn't matter very much at all [sad]

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Mrgrinch · 14/03/2021 23:10

I honestly think at this stage you'd be better coming off social media.

You should be excited about your pregnancy and you're letting the number of Facebook likes you have received ruin that?

MeadowHay · 14/03/2021 23:13

This is part of the reason I dislike Facebook announcements of any bit life thing. Nobody feels good at the end of them. And what's the point in 300+ people liking a post, the number of people who actually bother to support you and keep in contact with the baby once they're born will likely be a tenth of that figure (if that, often!).

pumpkinpie01 · 14/03/2021 23:14

Congratulations! Honestly don't bother worrying about Facebook, people may have been extra busy today and not been on much . Don't stress yourself about that you've got a little baby growing inside you who needs a chilled mummy

SmidgenofaPigeon · 14/03/2021 23:16

I’m pregnant following a miscarriage too but I announced ‘off the boards’ to the people I knew would be bothered. When I was struggling after the loss last time I found random unexpected pregnancy announcements really hard and swore I wouldn’t do it incase I made someone else feel like that. Plus once I’ve told the people I care about, am I bothered about a bunch of my old school and uni mates and done people I worked an office job with knowing I’m having a baby? No. And they won’t be bothered either.

SleepingStandingUp · 14/03/2021 23:17

Yeah, just pretend it's al hormones and let it go. Your friends won't have 300 people offering to babysit or agreeing to coffee in soft play or texting even to enquire how they all are. They've just got more click happy friends paying attention to FB.

Original poster

Zobo203 · 14/03/2021 23:20

It's not that it's ruined it for me in the slightest, I just think that I had an expectation of how people would react and because a lot of people I thought would have cared have overlooked it and not even wished us congratulations, I just feel a bit let down by it all. I'm at 21 weeks now and lockdown has put such a dampener on how I expected my first pregnancy to be. I won't be having a gender reveal or a baby shower because of it so I guess the "big announcement" was my only real chance to feel like I was able to have that attention and feeling of being special that everyone expects when they're expecting.

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SmidgenofaPigeon · 14/03/2021 23:23

Not everyone feels like that. I’m overjoyed to be pregnant but baby shower or gender reveal, no, just no. Not my style at all. It’s a lovely thing that I’m having a baby, but beyond my husband and close friends or family I don’t expect anyone to be that bothered, quite frankly, beyond a ‘ah that’s nice for them’ sentiment!

I think you need to realise that it’s an amazing thing for you, and your partner and family etc, find a way to enjoy it and be secure in that without fishing for likes or validation.

Original poster

Zobo203 · 14/03/2021 23:28

Yeah I get what you mean and I think hormones are very much playing a part in how I'm feeling. I lost both of my parents at a really early age (my dad at 19 and mum at 22) so I suppose I'm maybe searching for that validation to make up for the loss of the two people that would have been the most overjoyed (as well as me, the dad and his parents anyway)

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Analysethat · 14/03/2021 23:30

OP - see when you say “expectation of how people would react” who exactly do you mean? Strangers? Be happy you are now pregnant and celebrate with your partner and family - sorry to burst your bubble but outside of your circle, no one really cares.

Congrats though

Aria2015 · 14/03/2021 23:31

Over 300 likes? I don't even have 300 friends on FB! With 300+ likes, how many can be actual friends? I would try and forget the likes and just focus on yourself and those closest to you (who I am sure are absolutely delighted for you). It's such lovely news and I'm sure everyone who counts, is there for you and excited. That's the most important thing.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 14/03/2021 23:31

Congrats though OP! You don’t need FB likes to tell you how amazing it is to be having a baby x

Belle1983 · 14/03/2021 23:31

I only have around 400 people on FB, and many are randoms morecthan genuine friends.
I was truly amazed when my post got about 50 likes. Perhaps my bar is low 🤣

I can't imagine what it must be like to have struggled to get your precious baby, but really try not to let this spoil things.
The people who matter will be there when the baby arrives, likes on social media don't mean much really.

Congratulations and I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well.

PurpleFlower1983 · 14/03/2021 23:36

@Zobo203

It's not that it's ruined it for me in the slightest, I just think that I had an expectation of how people would react and because a lot of people I thought would have cared have overlooked it and not even wished us congratulations, I just feel a bit let down by it all. I'm at 21 weeks now and lockdown has put such a dampener on how I expected my first pregnancy to be. I won't be having a gender reveal or a baby shower because of it so I guess the "big announcement" was my only real chance to feel like I was able to have that attention and feeling of being special that everyone expects when they're expecting.

Why can’t you have a gender reveal or a baby shower? You’re only 21 weeks. Many restrictions will hopefully be lifted by July.

Chelyanne · 14/03/2021 23:40

Yes, it's silly to be disappointed by lack of likes on FB.

Original poster

Zobo203 · 14/03/2021 23:44

I just don't want to be taking any risks with our health, even if things have lifted by then I would much rather be safe than sorry until more people have been vaccinated

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Original poster

Zobo203 · 14/03/2021 23:50

I know it must seem pretty to be concentrating on "likes" but I think it's more of a "this is the only way I can share it with people at the moment" thing and just as it would bother me if I were to tell people I knew in person and they didn't really seem to care. People's lack of congratulations (some being really close friends that have since been active online) has just really bothered me. But I'm fully aware people will drop off the map as soon as they're here, I just didn't expect it to happen before hand I guess.

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Lorw · 14/03/2021 23:50

Come off social media. Likes don’t matter. You will 100% work out who really cares when you do and that’s what really matters.

Congratulations OP!

Original poster

Zobo203 · 14/03/2021 23:56

I've lost both of my parents before 23 years of age I had a very hard awakening then about who truly cares about me and I know that my little family is all that truly matters, but sometimes you just want to feel special and as this is the best thing that has ever happened to me and the light at the end of a very dark tunnel, I just hoped that more people would want to share in that happiness especially after everything I have been through that's all

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Brunt0n · 15/03/2021 00:00

Surely you must see how immature caring about the number of Facebook likes is?

Hyppogriff · 15/03/2021 00:14

Congratulations on your pregnancy.
Perhaps social media isn’t for you - it isn’t real life and you won’t get the validation you are seeking. Speak to those you actually care about and get it there. It’s a little bonkers looking for likes re your baby news sorry. Also not really sure how the loss of your parents is particularly relevant other than trying to seek sympathy (coming from someone who has also lost both parents and also had a lockdown baby so I do understand on both counts, though personally did not find it necessary to announce pregnancy at all on fb).

Original poster

Zobo203 · 15/03/2021 00:25

I'd say the relevance is really that a lot of how I'm feeling is probably routed in missing them and not feeling that support and the same excitement from others that I would have done if they were here. Not everyone has the same feelings when it comes to grief and wanting to share a happy moment and have people be happy for me after a lot of pain isn't unreasonable or attention seeking and to claim so is just insensitive on your part

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Original poster

Zobo203 · 15/03/2021 00:36

Absolutely I see how immature caring about Facebook likes is but as that is my only form of social contact at the moment given the pandemic I don't think its unreasonable to have more of an emotional investment in how many people acknowledge my news in the only way they can right now.

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Skymum82 · 15/03/2021 06:22

I really wouldn't worry. I have about 300 never ever have they all likes a post. Actually sometimes makes me feel even more isolated. About 20-30 people will like a really nice post always the same people too. Some people are just there to be nosey. As long as close family and friends have congratulated you that's all that matters

Mummyof2Terrors · 15/03/2021 07:04

@Zobo203

It's not that it's ruined it for me in the slightest, I just think that I had an expectation of how people would react and because a lot of people I thought would have cared have overlooked it and not even wished us congratulations, I just feel a bit let down by it all. I'm at 21 weeks now and lockdown has put such a dampener on how I expected my first pregnancy to be. I won't be having a gender reveal or a baby shower because of it so I guess the "big announcement" was my only real chance to feel like I was able to have that attention and feeling of being special that everyone expects when they're expecting.

Sex reveal parties and baby showers are awful, so you're missing out on nothing.

Keep away from social media because you're likely of falling into the trap of comparing your baby with others when it arrives.

Remember this: comparison is the thief of joy.

ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown · 15/03/2021 07:08

Congratulations Op it's lovely to have good news at a time like this.
I don't always see everything my friends on Facebook post, I seek to get sort of edited highlights.