Announcing to Family

jjelinek

I am only 5 weeks pregnant and have my 1st OBGYN appt when I am 8 weeks. Did anyone announce to their immediate family before 8 weeks? It's killing me not to share the great news, despite what will happen at my 8week appt!

TeacherMama7

I announced to my parents, twin sister, in laws, and a few close friends. No matter the result of your first appt, you will need their support either way! I'm planning on telling my brothers at Thanksgiving and then the rest of my family at Christmas.

ElleJDubs

I told my parents yesterday at 8 weeks that's when I told them last time!

wynnemac

I told my sister at 5 weeks. She lives close by and has been a big help with my son when my fatigue has been bad. I'll tell my mom next week after my soni on Thursday. I'm letting my husband figure out his parents.

amsuther005

The first person I told was my boyfriend (father of the baby). After waking him up at 2 am to give him the news, I wanted to call my mom immediately. Instead I waited until 8:30 the next day when I had a confirmation appt set (which was a formality-- I took four tests total, two different brands and three different kinds) and had to figure out how to tell my dad and sister. My mom took my to breakfast and then we got some inexpensive baby supplies and made gift bags for my dad and sister. I was only about 5 weeks at the time, but I needed my family. I suppose the point is that tell who you need to tell when you need to tell them. I needed my family's support early.

shahoi

We told both of our families and our very closest friends right away. We were too excited to keep the news from them, and we know they will all be there for us no matter what happens.

carolyngrace

We told both immediate families within a week of finding out! I told close friends around week 6. Everyone else will wait until 1st tri is over. 

Apollo11235

We wanted close friends and our parents to know, for various reasons but for friends and my parents it was because we were excited and knew we would want to talk to them if something happened. So we told two close friends the same day we found out at 3w3d, my parents at 3w4d, and then his parents around 4w.

MrsRabb

I am almost 6 weeks, and told our immediate family last night. that would be my mil, fil, sil&her fiance, bil & his wife. I still need to tell my mom though

mishmardhiono

I had to tell my parents the day we found out as my mums best friend happened to be in the chemist and over heard the pharmacist disgusting folic acid options.. We then gave the in laws the same respect an let them know the next day..

Trampslikeus

I told my parents and husbands parents at 5 weeks.  If something were to go wrong, I'd tell them and need their support, so there was no reason not to tell them.

We have family dinner tonight, and I'm going to tell my aunts, uncles, and grandfather.  Its still early (7 weeks), but again, they'd be the people I'd lean on if there was bad news.

Mama-Bear

We told our parents the day we found out, I wasn't even 4 weeks.

angielayne926

We are waiting to tell them at DS's bday party in a few weeks. Hopefully we'll have an u/s picture and we got L a big bro shirt and I'm going to get some brother books. When he opens that present, we're going to turn the shirt around for them to read it.

GASuzuki

I am crazy! We told our parents and our closest friends. I've also told my office staff and a few friends in organizations who will need to know what's up with me if I'm really not feeling well. Hoping it's going to work out so I don't regret it. Last time around I was outed at 5 or 6 weeks and it was OK.

scorpio2124

We told both of our families as soon as we found out.

sewro

I told my mom and closest girlfriends. This is our tenth pregnancy (we have one child), so we want to wait until after our U/S to tell anyone else.

Plus he just found out his sister is due the same week with her first. He doesn't want to take attention away from her.

sugarkissed

Last pregnancy we told our immediate family right away.  

My inlaws are on vacation until the end of November so out of respect for them, we won't tell anyone until they are back and we can announce to them in person. 

Kelsyann2009

We told our immediate family after our blood test confirmation. We couldn't keep it a secret despite what maybe happen at our first appointment in a few weeks.

kayladawn91

We've known for about a week and a half and haven't told a soul. Our first US isn't until about 8 weeks, so we're just going to wait until Thanksgiving when I'll be about 10 weeks to tell anyone. I'm thinking that we'll just tell our parents and siblings and then and wait until Christmas to announce to everyone else. I'm only worried about my MIL keeping it to herself for those 4 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas..

spidermonkeymomma

For our first pregnancy, we waited until we had a confirmation ultrasound with heartbeat around 8 weeks. We unfortunately learned that we couldn't tell certain family members until we felt more confident that it was (hopefully) going to be a successful pregnancy. 

We are waiting until after the ultrasound again this time-- my husband wants to wait until Thanksgiving. I'm not so positive I can wait that long though! 

paintdadanta

Last pregnancy we told my parents close to 7wks and our first appointment was set at 8wks. DH's parents were suppose to be told at a big family event the day after the appointment but the u/s showed a loss instead. This time we haven't told a single person even though we've already had a good dating u/s this time at 6wks. Based on our past experience, we are waiting until closer to the end of first trimester but due to timing will probably cave on Thanksgiving which is about 11wks for us. 

Sharing is a personal decision that has no right or wrong answer. As PPs stated it's good for people to know regardless of the outcome but only you can decide if that is best for you.

starlightgator

Since we did IVF twice, and most of our family members contributed to the cost...we made a lot of phone calls with only the first positive HCG test.

ahershe

We told our parents today! I am between 5 and 6w and my first appointment isn't until Nov. 14 but we wanted our family's support no matter what the outcome is. It is good to surround yourself with community! Here's how we did it:

Teighlor77

We shared with our closest friends last week but are waiting until after the first trimester to share with everyone else.

sunshine.pmh@gmail.com

With our first, we told everyone right away. We figured why wait? And then we had a missed miscarriage around 11 weeks; the embryo stopped developing around 7 weeks. We're pregnant again and we've told our closest a friends but no family. We have an early (6 wk) sonogram set for Tuesday but we still want to wait until Thanksgiving and announce via Skype (we live far away from both our families so it's easier to hide).

Really, it's up to you. Some couples choose not to tell anyone until after the second trimester while others tell everyone.

emmywhite18

Told my parents first, then they told everyone else in the family

jlarcilla

I told my mom the second the test said yes, then told hubby we waited till 8 wks to tell the rest of our parents and siblings. I got custom onsies and made custom frames for them to open at hubby's birthday dinner. They had no idea!

bnbainesWed137495

We told our families this weekend at 8 weeks but won't tell others for a few more weeks. I've already had 2 ultrasounds and have my third tomorrow at 8 weeks 3 days. I'm high risk due to preterm labor at 32 weeks with my daughter but hoping to get released tomorrow We sent our families this picture...

willowprincess

We told our family and close friends right away. If we experienced another loss I would want them to know. It was terrible not having anyone know when we had our CP in August. We are waiting until after our u/s this friday before sharing with anyone else, but I'm glad to have the support system of those I'm close to already in the know.

jokemp3286

We told our parents,siblings and close friends. We are telling everyone else couple days before thanksgiving. We are sending out thanksgiving cards!!

avazirian

We told our close family (moms dads brother sisters) and our closest friends! It's so hard not to tell anyone. Except my husband is so excited and keeps telling people! I keep telling him we have to wait! Lol. Oh and my boss and a couple co-workers because I have been so bitchy I felt like I should explain my self. Also because they have had a baby and I needed advice. and have had days where I had to leave.

Lynn&Andrew+1

I told my mom and sister as soon as I found out at 4.5 weeks. This is my first pregnancy so I wasn't really sure what to do next after finding out. I also really needed the support. my husband was home on leave in September when we conceived, but he's currently living in north Carolina at a marine corp base and I live alone in Florida. I have two cats and my mom has been cleaning my cat litter for me since I found out and either my mom or sister have gone to all of my doctor's appointments so far. I can't imagine keeping the news to myself. if circumstances were different then I probably would have waited to tell everyone. I haven't put it on social media yet. but my family and my husband's family all know and even some of my coworkers.

JenJenJack

We told close our 2 closest friends because we were all tracking ovulation together and trying. We told our parents at 4 weeks after we could confirm bloods. We have slowly told work and more friends as they have picked up on signs...we have found it difficult to hide and lie about something so special. Every life is worth celebrating through our eyes! Now 7 weeks 2 days. And my BFF is pregnant too LMP was the same day as me! Very exciting to share this with her.
It's so lovely hearing everyone's stories and how they have shared there special news!

neongreen

We decided to wait until the dating/viability ultrasound (scheduled for November 6) to tell our families and friends. Firstly, I get my worrywart tendencies from my mother, so I figured I'd spare her the sleepless nights until we get the confirmation that everything's going well. Second, telling them with the "but don't tell anyone!" caveat didn't seem fair. And telling my father and my MIL anything (particularly the former) is the equivalent of posting it on a billboard for the world to see. This will be the first grandchild on both sides, so I know they'll want to share the news as soon as they find out!

I did cave and tell two friends when I found out. Also, my boss guessed early on (she asked me to be the primary on a project that's going to consist of monthly meetings for the next year and a half, and when I said no, she figured out why), but she's been sworn to secrecy. In a way, that wasn't the worst thing in the world, as now I don't have to come up with alternate reasons for all my doctors appointments!

ombradellarosa

I've mostly been telling people on a need-to-know basis, but I did have some plans in place. For me, it was important to tell my parents, then his parents, then my brother, then his siblings, then whoever else, and I picked out a few special friends to tell before the grand announcement. That went mostly to plan, except DH was much more excited to tell his best friend and still hasn't told his siblings. On second thought that spares me a bit of advice for awhile! And his brother's wife just miscarried as well so that's going to be a bit difficult to share the news with them. One of my best friends wanted to be there when I took the test so she actually knew before I did, but she kept a wonderfully straight face so as not to give it away! I got the fantastic opportunity to let my mum know via birthday gift and she reacted perfectly. Dad still doesn't think it's real. My MIL actually guessed before we could tell them because DH was making a huge production of making sure they were both there even after my FIL had confirmed it a few times. My other best friend is due next month so our babies will be really close! And my other best friend I haven't told yet. It was hard not to on the phone but she has a bad reputation for keeping secrets so I want to wait until the last minute to tell her. Probably after my 10 week appt.

The other people who know are my boss (had to explain was I was missing and sick), my teachers (ditto), and my mum's boss because they're very close and mum begged me to be able to tell her. Fortunately everyone has been very supportive and it is wonderful.

I am waiting to tell extended family until second tri, around Thanksgiving. Mum told me both that I should let the future first-time-great-grandmother know first and once I do it might as well be broadcast to the world. So I'll probably give her a call Thanksgiving morning and tell as many as possible at dinner.

delujm0

...I have two cats and my mom has been cleaning my cat litter for me since I found out and either my mom or sister have gone to all of my doctor's appointments so far. I can't imagine keeping the news to myself...

Fyi - if you have cats that are only indoors and that you've had for a while, there is no risk to you if you clean the box yourself. First, cats only get that bacteria from eating raw meat, so indoor cats are very unlikely to have it. Second, if they do have it, you likely already have been exposed to it previously unless the cats are new to you. It is only harmful to the baby if you catch the bacterial infection for the first time while you are pregnant.

I'd like to get out of litter box duty too, but this threat is way overblown.