You're pregnant! When do you tell?

For my first child, I called my mom right after taking a positive pregnancy test, and I told my boss (who was leaving the next week for her own maternity leave) the next day. I told my siblings and inlaws after I had the blood test to confirm. I told my coworkers after we heard the heartbeat for the first time at my 12 week appointment.

For this second pregnancy, I called my mom right after taking the test. I had a test at my doctor's office the next day and confirmed that I was only three weeks pregnant (it's possible to know that early). I told my two closest friends at work and my siblings and inlaws at that point. More people "guessed" at work over the next few weeks because I was so sick, but I did a formal announcement after I had an ultrasound at 10 weeks.

I wasn't afraid to spill the news early. I was very excited and thinking positively. If I had to go through a miscarriage, I didn't want to do it alone. I'd rather my closest friends and families were already aware of the pregnancy if something were to happen. It felt like I wasn't really "sure" I was going to have the baby if I didn't tell... like I'd be jinxing the pregnancy if I kept it to myself and pretended nothing was going on.

I know that's kind of an odd way to look at it, but it's how I felt.

Cheryl at http://redpens-diapers.blogspot.com

Reply

I didn't tell many people, at all, with my first pregnancy. However, for my other two, I showed almost immediately (before twelve weeks each time), thus removing my ability to hide it until after the tumultuous first trimester. We told very early with Nicholas and at eight weeks (which was Easter Sunday) with this pregnancy, wanting to wait until everyone was together for a nice surprise.

Reply

I usually wait until my first doctor apt...you know the one that confirms it and tells you how far along you are :)

Reply

I don't tell anyone other than my husband until after the first trimester.

Reply

With my first two pregnancies, I let the cat out of the bag to everyone right away. With my third pregnancy, it was such a shock, I didn't want to tell anyone. We were not planning on having any more kids and we were excited but SHOCKED! After a few days our parents, children, and dh's boss knew. Then I miscarried right away. So if I ever get pregnant again I will most certainly wait until after the first trimester to tell everyone.

Reply

We didn't tell anyone until 12 weeks with my first pregnancy. The second time we felt a little less worried and told family at 6 weeks and friends at 8 weeks. After I lost the baby at 12 weeks we decided to only tell immediate family before the end of the first trimester with subsequent pregnancies. It was so very hard having to tell all those people that the baby died.

Reply

With my first pregnancy I told everyone right away, I was four weeks.

With my second pregnancy a BIG MOUTH told everyone and I miscarried at 8 weeks but I was still telling people two months later, and that made it even MORE painful!

So with this one I decided to wait, I told a select few I worked with when I was 9 weeks. But another co worker who was already telling everyone from day one couldn't understand that I wanted it a secret for now and spread it. I am now 13 weeks and doing great.

Reply

With my first I didn't know until I was five months (really), so I told immediately. With my second we told pretty early on.
My mother refers to the early sharing as 'she just got out of bed' and tells me that you shouldn't share until 12 weeks.
I think with any subsequent pregnancies I would wait, just so that I could enjoy keeping it private.

Reply

With my first we found I was pregnant Christmas morning, and since we werent married, yet, we decided to wait until after the holiday...Only because we didnt know how our families would react. (They were overjoyed, btw) My friends, however, I called right away to tell them the good news.
My second pregnancy we told everyone right away. A few weeks later I had a miscarriage and it was a terrible experience. For weeks after people who heard through the grapevine that I was pregnant, would inquire about my pregnancy and I had to tell them the sad news.
My THIRD pregnancy, I told my closest friends. But we waited until I had some blood work done to make sure my hormone was increases steadily, and after my first ultrasound was done. I was about 10 weeks along when we told everyone else.

Reply