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Telling your pregnant


When To Tell People You Are Pregnant

Learning you’re pregnant is an exciting moment in your pregnancy journey. After savoring the news yourself, you might wonder when to tell people you are pregnant and how to share this moment with your community, including your partner, parents, family, friends, and coworkers. Though when to announce your pregnancy is ultimately a personal choice, some factors might influence the timing, and we’ve gathered all the helpful details.

When “Should” You Tell People You Are Pregnant?

This is a very common question with a not-so-clear-cut answer. There really is no “best” time to announce your pregnancy or a rule for when you should tell people you’re pregnant. When you share the news is totally up to you!

But in addition to the question “When should I announce my pregnancy?” you might be wondering how long to wait to share the news. It might help to consider the following when deciding when to announce your pregnancy:

  • First trimester. When is it safe to announce a pregnancy? This is a concern for many parents, as early pregnancy loss (a miscarriage earlier than 13 weeks) occurs in about 10 percent of known pregnancies. But the risk of miscarriage is much lower after the first trimester, which is why many feel it’s safer to wait until the following trimester to share the news.

  • First prenatal appointment. If you think you might be pregnant and take an at-home pregnancy test, you might want to confirm the pregnancy with your healthcare provider before sharing the news. At this appointment, which often takes place at around 8 to 10 weeks, your provider might do a health screening and determine any risk factors. You may feel better knowing these details before sharing your announcement.

  • Sonogram. If you wait until after an ultrasound exam to share your big news, you'll likely have a sonogram (an ultrasound image) that you could include in your pregnancy announcement, which could be a fun idea! You’ll likely have at least one ultrasound during your pregnancy, typically a standard ultrasound at around 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy. However, your healthcare provider may recommend more.

Pros and Cons of Waiting to Announce Your Pregnancy

If you’re on the fence about when to tell people you are pregnant, it might help to consider the pros and cons of waiting a little longer to reveal the news:

  • Pros. When you share the news, you have people there to support you. Those early signs of pregnancy aren’t always the most fun (morning sickness and fatigue, for example), and you may want someone in the know to help you along the way. Plus, it’s fun to have your partner, friend, or family member there to discuss exciting things, like choosing a unique baby name or decorating the nursery.

  • Cons. Once you share the news, get ready for all the questions! Everyone will want to know how you’re feeling and might even want to touch your belly. And one con to really think about is what happens if you do have a miscarriage after announcing your pregnancy. It’s a personal choice, so ask yourself if it’s better for just one or two people in your inner support circle to know or if you’re OK with others knowing.

So, when do people announce their pregnancy?

Everyone is different, of course, with various factors at play that could influence when to tell people you are pregnant. You can share the news right away or wait until that baby bump of yours is starting to show. It’s really up to you! But keep reading for a little more advice on when to tell people you are pregnant, starting with your partner and even your acquaintances.

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When to Tell Your Partner You're Pregnant

When it comes to a pregnancy announcement to your husband or partner, there are two popular times to reveal the news:

  • As soon as possible. Some like to share the news with their partner right away! It’s exciting for both of you, and it might be helpful to have your partner’s support from the get-go.

  • After the first prenatal visit. If you’d like to get your pregnancy confirmed by your healthcare provider, you could wait until after that initial prenatal appointment.

For cute pregnancy announcement ideas, check out the video below:

When to Tell Your Parents You're Pregnant

When to tell your parents you’re pregnant depends on personal circumstances, but some popular times include:

  • As soon as possible. Some people like to tell their entire inner support circle right away, and that might include your parents.

  • After telling your partner. If you want your partner to be the first to know, your parents are usually the next in line, and it might be fun to surprise them together!

  • After the standard ultrasound. Using the sonogram photo is a great way to announce your pregnancy to your parents, so you might want to wait until after your ultrasound.

When to Tell Immediate Family About Your Pregnancy

As for your siblings, aunts, uncles, and other members of your immediate family, there are quite a few popular times:

  • After telling your partner and parents. Once your partner and parents know the news, siblings and immediate family are typically the next to find out.

  • After the standard ultrasound. Again, if you’d like to use your sonogram photo to reveal the news, you can wait until after your ultrasound.

  • As you start to show. Your baby bump could be a clue to others, so sharing the news when you start showing might be the best time.

When to Announce Your Pregnancy to Friends, Coworkers, and Acquaintances

When do people announce their pregnancy to other friends, bosses, coworkers, and casual acquaintances? These groups are typically the last to know, and you can share your news with them whenever you want! A baby announcement at work might look different than a casual social media post. Still, here are a few popular timings:

  • After the standard ultrasound. A cute little photo or social media post of your sonogram is a great way to announce your pregnancy. Plus, you might feel it’s safe to share your news with your wider circle by that time.

  • As you start to show. Once you start showing, it’ll be tricky to hide the news from friends, coworkers, and acquaintances. When your belly bump arrives might be the time to announce your pregnancy.

  • With a birth announcement. For casual friends or acquaintances that you see only once in a while or interact with on social media, you might want to wait until your baby is born and send or post a birth announcement.

How to Tell People You’re Pregnant

Once you decide when to tell people you are pregnant, you can start thinking about how to share your news. You can really get creative with this, whether you’re telling your partner you’re pregnant or surprising your parents, but a few typical ways to reveal your pregnancy include:

  • In person. Revealing the news face-to-face can make the moment even more special. Share your announcement over dinner or with a fun night in!

  • At a party. When you want to tell a group of people the news, you might want to consider a party for your friends, family, and/or coworkers. This way, everyone can celebrate together!

  • On a virtual call. If family or friends live far away—or you want to embrace the digital age—there’s always a virtual call. You can stand up to reveal your baby bump as a surprise!

  • On social media. Announcing your pregnancy on social media has become the go-to method after letting your close family and friends know. It’s a great way to share the news with a wide audience all at once.

  • With a card. A classic card via snail mail or e-mail is always an option. You can design a pregnancy announcement card to send in the mail or opt for an e-card.

  • Via phone. Sometimes, all you need is a phone call or even a text! You can send something first like “I have news…” to set up your announcement.

How you tell people you’re pregnant may depend on who they are and your unique situation. It’s common to share the news in person with your partner and parents, and some enjoy telling their immediate family in person, too, or with a party.

If your family lives far away, virtual calls, classic phone calls, or pregnancy announcement cards are all great options. Deciding on how to tell friends you are pregnant may depend on how close you are and could include an in-person visit, party, or card. A cute social media post might be all you need for other acquaintances.

The Bottom Line

Deciding when to announce your pregnancy comes down to personal choice and may be dependent on a few factors. Some like to tell their inner support circle (partner, best friend, or parents) early to have some help from the start. But others like to wait until after the first trimester when the risk of miscarriage is low. Everyone’s situation is different, so consider the information above to make the right decision for you and your family.

As you start to prepare for your little one’s arrival, don’t forget to download the Pampers Club app so you’re rewarded for all those diapers and wipes purchases. If this is your first child, you might be surprised with how many diapers a baby will need!


When to tell people you are pregnant

When to tell people you are pregnant | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content

5-minute read

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For many women, choosing the right time to tell family and friends that they are pregnant is hard. There is no right answer. But there are several things you may wish to think about when making this decision.

Ask yourself the questions below to help work out what’s right for you.

Who should I tell first?

If you have a partner, the decision about who to tell, as well as when and how, is best made with them.

In many ways, it may be harder to tell close family and friends that you are pregnant than people you do not know as well. So, it may be worth planning who you will tell first about your pregnancy and how you will do it.

You may decide you want to tell your family and close friends first. Then they will be available to provide support as early as possible.

How do I tell them?

Close friends and family may prefer to be told personally.

It’s worth remembering that if you announce your pregnancy on social media, you may have little control over who views your announcement and when. These public announcements may draw significant attention, personal stories, and advice, which may or may not be invited and/or wanted.

How do I tell someone who’s infertile or lost a baby?

When you tell people you are pregnant, your friends and family will almost certainly be very happy for you. But some people may not be able to show their happiness for you as enthusiastically as others. Those who have lost a baby, or are having trouble getting pregnant may find the news difficult.

It may help to tell these friends in private and before you tell others, letting them know you realise your news may not be easy for them.

What if I tell people I’m pregnant and then have a miscarriage?

Many women choose to delay announcing a pregnancy at least until the end of the first trimester (12 weeks into their pregnancy). This is usually because of concerns about the risk of miscarriage (pregnancy loss) during this time.

When deciding the right time to tell people you are pregnant, you might want to think about how you would handle a miscarriage were it to happen. Many people would consider a miscarriage so devastating that they would be too distressed to discuss it with others.

On the other hand, by telling people you are pregnant, support may be available in the event of a miscarriage.

When should I tell my employer that I’m pregnant?

Unless your doctor has told you it is unsafe, it is possible to work while you are pregnant.

There is no law saying you need to tell your employer at any specific time that you are pregnant. But both Australian law and your employment contract, agreement or award (if you have one) will include certain rights and responsibilities.

You need to give your employer at least 10 weeks notice if you are planning to take parental leave. You must give them written notice of your leave and return dates. These dates should be confirmed at least 4 weeks before your leave starts.

It’s a good idea to tell your employer you are pregnant before they hear it from somebody else. That’s because there may have to be some changes made to your working arrangements. For example, you may have to avoid certain tasks that are a health and safety risk, depending on what your work involves.

In Australia, you are protected by law against discrimination during pregnancy. That means you cannot be treated unfairly because you are pregnant. This means you can’t be sacked, given fewer hours, or overlooked for a promotion because you are pregnant.

When should I tell my colleagues?

Early in your pregnancy you may experience symptoms such as tiredness or morning sickness. You may also need to take time off for appointments.

This could affect both your personal and working relationships with your co-workers if they don’t know why it’s happening. It’s often a good idea to tell your co-workers you are pregnant once you have told your boss.

A workplace can offer significant personal support during pregnancy. It may be especially valuable should you experience pregnancy complications.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Sources:
Raising Children (Pregnancy and work: women's rights and entitlements), Fair Work Ombudsman (Maternity and parental leave), The Royal Women's Hospital (Miscarriage)

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: May 2022


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