How to Announce Your Pregnancy

Steps

1. Decide when you're going to share your news.
   Some women wait until they are a little further along, in case of an early miscarriage. If this is a concern for you, consider waiting until after the first three months, when the rate of miscarriages drops immensely. On the other hand, some women call everyone they know the minute they find out they're pregnant. Their reasoning? Well, pure excitement, of course, but also because they feel that in an event of a pregnancy loss, they'll cope better with informed friends and family to support them.
2. Decide who to tell. Your partner, parents, and siblings are an obvious choice, but who else? Do you want your coworkers to know about your pregnancy? How about your friends from high school? Grandma and Grandpa? It is your choice who you tell; however, Becky from the office may decide to blab to your parents if she sees them. Be careful about who you tell, and in what order.
   • Tell your partner.
     This is their child, too. With rising home pregancy test usage, your partner may have been there with you, holding your hand and waiting for the results. If your husband, boyfriend, or partner doesn't know yet, consider more than just "Hey, I'm pregnant." This is an exciting and special moment, one the both of you will remember forever. If this is an unexpected--and possibly undesired--pregnancy, be as calm as possible and allow the other person time to digest the news. The first reaction is not always how they truly feel.
   • Tell your parents.
     Remember, you were their "good news" once, too, so your parents know exactly how you're feeling. They can rejoice with you, help with planning, and offer advice like no one else. They'll be thrilled with the news!
3. Choose a way to share your news. Sure, you can just come right out and tell people, but isn't it more fun to share your gem in a creative, memorable way?
   • Telling your partner:
     • Make a romantic dinner
       for the two of you. While your partner is expecting a four-course meal, you'll serve baby-esque food: baby-backed ribs, baby carrots, and baby's apple juice served in little sippy cups. For dessert, serve baby teething cookies.
     • Have a movie night and
       rent baby-related movies: Nine Months, Junior, Baby's Day Out, etc. Write your good news on a piece of paper and place it inside a DVD or VHS case. Choose the first movie--not the one with the note. When the movie ends, get up to go the bathroom and tell your partner to put in the movie you selected. Wait for them to read the note and come out of the bathroom, smiling and saying, "It's true!"
     • Wait for a holiday and
       literally "give" your partner the news. Buy a t-shirt with DADDY written on it, a baby-related keychain, a baby book, as well as a few baby items, and put them in a gift bag. Cover with tissue paper and then have them open it. This one is pretty obvious, so all you have to do is wait for the look of delight to spread across your partner's face.
     • Run your partner a bubble bath,
       adding lots of bubbles. Write a sweet letter announcing the news, wrap it in a plastic baggie, and pop it into a baby bottle. Hide the baby bottle under the bath bubbles. When your partner gets into the bath they'll feel something, find the bottle and read the note. Be prepared to be pulled into the bathtub for a huge hug.
     • Play Scrabble. Do your best
       to choose only words that are baby-related, like BIB, BOTTLE, CRYING, COO, TINY, and BIRTH. If your partner still fails to see the obvious, cover their eyes and write out, I AM PREGNANT.
     • Take a shower together.
       Write on your belly in washable marker, "Baby On Board" and allow your partner to get in the shower first. Climb in behind them and let the surprise begin!
     • Order a cake from a bakery.
       Request the words, "Congratulations On Your New Baby" to be written on it. Then ask your partner to pick the cake up for you and bring it home because you're too busy to go yourself. When they bring the cake home and ask who it's for, you can say, "You! Congratulations honey, we're pregnant!"
   • Telling friends and family:
     • Send a card with the good news,
       chosen name, and a copy of the sonogram. This depends how far along you are, of course. Otherwise you could just take a picture of your and your partner and include that, with or without your proud belly showing.
     • Have a backyard BBQ.
       While everyone is eating, stand up and make a toast. Say, "We just want to thank everyone for coming here today. It means a lot for us to have our friends and family here. By the way, we're having a baby. So, who wants dessert?" Everyone will burst out laughing, ask if you're serious, and then celebrate!
     • During a family gathering,
       get everyone together for a group photo. Instead of having everyone say "Cheese," yell out right before the picture is taken, "Everyone say, Lucy's pregnant!" They'll automatically say it, realize what they said, and freak out. You'll probably get a memorable picture, too.
     • Enlist the kids.
       Gather your nieces, nephews, and your parents. Play a game of Telephone and line everyone up with your parents at one end. Sit at the beginning and whisper, "Pregnant baby is Lucy now," or something that won't give it away to the child. Each child will whisper in the next child's ear until your parents get the message. By then it will be twisted and changed. When your parents ask what the message originally was, tell them, "I told him that Lucy is pregnant." The new Grandma and Grandpa will be so surprised!

Tips

• The sooner you share your news, the sooner you can begin planning the baby shower, choosing names, and buying essential baby furniture and clothes. There is a lot to do in the nine months before your child is born.
• Get creative and brainstorm some ideas of your own. Personalize the announcement in any way you choose. This is your child and you can have as much fun as you want!

Warnings

• If you want to wait to share your news: Remember that vomiting, a growing belly, and multiple visits to a doctor may inadvertently spill the beans for you. If the pregnancy becomes too difficult to hide, you may want to announce your pregnancy now, when you can still surprise people. Otherwise you may lose that exciting element.
• Be aware of your timing. Your good news may rub salt in someone else's wound. Did your sister-in-law miscarry last week? Be sensitive to her feelings as well. Imagine how you would feel.
• Never announce your pregnancy while in an argument. This is tacky and ruins what should be a special occasion. Screaming, "Well I'm pregnant, so you'll never be out this late again! Kiss your friends goodbye!" is a horrible memory for the both of you. Having a child is an adult decision, so act like one.
• Again, people's first reactions aren't always their true feelings. Don't be offended if people are surprised. Weren't you?