When Is it “Safe” to Announce My Pregnancy?

Choosing the Right Time to Share the News 

For those who have anxiously waited to conceive and build a family, especially if they have endured recurrent pregnancy loss, the question often looms large: When is the best time to announce the expected arrival of their new baby? While most couples opt to wait until the end of the first trimester to make their news public, there is no tried-and-true formula for when you should tell your friends, family, coworkers, and others about your pregnancy. In fact, there are pros and cons to waiting, although there are many good reasons to wait until the odds of carrying your baby to term are more strongly in your favor.

You may want to share the news about your baby-to-be when:

• You’ve seen ultrasounds showing a healthy developing baby
• You’ve discovered the baby’s sex
• After the critical first trimester prenatal checkups
• After you’ve started to show
• Another personal milestone

Why Do Most Wait People Until 12+ Weeks of Gestation to Announce Their Pregnancy?

The sad truth is as many as 1 in 4 known pregnancies end in miscarriage, and of those losses, about 80% occur during the first 12 weeks of gestation (the first trimester). Most miscarriages cannot be prevented, and many are caused by fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Maternal age is another factor, though, as the miscarriage risk increases with age. For example, while women aged 35 and younger have a 15% risk of miscarriage in the first trimester, women between 35 and 45 have a 20-35% chance of miscarriage, and the risk only goes up even more sharply with even further advanced maternal age. Given the statistics, it makes sense why most expectant parents wait until their risk of miscarriage drops, as it would be too emotional to bear announcing a miscarriage shortly after making their pregnancy news public.

Why Some Couples Wait Longer to Announce Their Pregnancy

If you’ve had difficulty with getting pregnant or had a stillbirth, it’s understandable you would be nervous to tell others you’re expecting, even after the typical announcement period of 12 weeks of gestation. There is no “right” way to approach it. What you do is entirely up to you. It might make you more comfortable, too, knowing that you can announce your pregnancy to different people at different times. For instance, you may feel more comfortable telling your mother or best friend about your pregnancy rather than revealing it immediately to your employer. If you tell your close loved ones in confidence, it won’t be as emotionally taxing to explain if something goes wrong, but you’ll still have plenty of people to support you and celebrate your news.

Eventually, your employer will need to be told of your pregnancy, especially for the purpose of taking parental leave or time off from work once the baby is born. It’s also a good idea to tell your employer early on in the pregnancy if your job is physically laborious or you could be exposed to workplace hazards. You may also want to tell your employer if you’re missing time off work from early pregnancy symptoms, such as morning sickness or prenatal visits, so you maintain your professionalism.

One important note is you should also tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, as prenatal appointments are very important to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Contact Palm Beach Fertility Center

At Palm Beach Fertility Center, we know every couple approaches the sensitive topic of announcing their pregnancy in their own way. We can help you learn more about your unique pregnancy and be by your side through the exhilarating but also anxiety-inducing time when others are still unaware of your developing baby. Our fertility specialist, Dr. Mark Denker, and his compassionate staff will be there for you throughout the pregnancy to help you emotionally, physically, and mentally.

To book an appointment with Palm Beach Fertility Center, please call (888) 819-5177 or reach out online today.