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Please tell me I am not the only one who has fears about announcing your pregnancy. It can be awkward, weird, exciting, nerve-wracking, and more!
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1. You’re admitting to having sex.
Yes, you just told your parents that they are going to be grandparents. If you’re married (and even potentially if you’re not), your parents probably had a pretty good idea that you’re no longer a virgin. However, announcing your pregnancy is an obvious tell-tale sign that the gig is up.
It was a little weird telling my parents (particularly my dad) that we were expecting our first child. It was even more weird when my mother-in-law high fived my husband and said, “Good job, son!”
2. It’s uncomfortable seeing people do the mental math.
One of the first questions you’re often asked when you announce that you’re pregnant is, “When are you due?” People truly mean well, but you can instantly see them doing the math.
We flat out told people we conceived our first child on our wedding night, yet I know a few who think we lied about that and I was already expecting when we said our nuptials. Sometimes you just can’t win… (And they obviously don’t know how a Google search works because you can do a calendar check to figure that stuff out. Not pregnant at the wedding!!)
3. Telling infertile couples can be a challenge.
There are unfortunately many couples out there who want to get pregnant and conceive a child, yet they can’t. It can be really hard to let them know you’re expecting – especially if your news is unexpected to them.
We have had several friends and family members that we’ve had to tell about our pregnancies while they were struggling with years of infertility. It’s a hard conversation to have, but I always figure it’s better to get everything out in the air personally than to have them hear the news of your pregnancy from someone else.
4. Stressing about your job is just that – stressful!
Walking in and telling my superintendent I was pregnant when I was a first year principal was intimidating. I didn’t know what he’d say. He hadn’t hired me for the job intending for me to get pregnant and be gone for a few weeks, yet that is exactly what happened. I was worried about what he would think, what my colleagues may say, and whether I’d even be able to balance the roles of mommy/wife/administrator when I was so new to all three of them.
5. What about having a miscarriage?
I was super paranoid with our first pregnancy that we would miscarriage. The miscarriage rate can be as high as 20%, and I have a blood clotting disorder that some doctors have stated more than triples my chance of a miscarriage occurring. EEK! I did not want to announce my pregnancy, have word get around, lose the baby, and then have to face a bunch of “congratulations” and explanations as word went around again about what had happened.
Yet others want the support if they suffer the loss of a baby. They want people to rally around them with love and understanding.
Honestly, I can see both sides, and I truly believe it’s a personal decision that should be determined by the woman and her partner.
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Is it normal to have some fears about announcing your pregnancy? I definitely think so! Yet women has been telling others they are pregnant for centuries, so obviously we can do this as well! Good luck!
Are you looking for a fun way to announce your pregnancy? Check out these ideas:
Announcing Your Pregnancy to Your Coworkers
Fun Ways to Announce “You’re Going to Be a Dad!”
Worried about the delivery? Don’t be! I highly recommend checking out a online prenatal class. Not interested in sitting around with strangers? No worries! You can do an online prenatal class in the privacy of your own home with your partner. I personally went through this course when I was pregnant with my second, and it was a great refresher – even after having gone through one hospital delivery already!
