Creative ways to announce your pregnancy « Back to Group Discussions

[snozzberry]

What are your plans for announcing?

Here are some ideas I've come across online, but we haven't decided what we're going to do yet! I do think if we tell in person, we're going to set up a video camera surreptitiously to capture the reaction.

• At a family gathering, get everyone together to take a group photo. Then instead of you (or your partner) saying "Say cheese!", say "We're pregnant!" Then you snap the photo and have a record of everyone's reactions.
• Announce with your Halloween costume, like this t-shirt.
• Get a children's book and write inside: "Will you please read this to me in May? Love, Your Newborn Grandbaby" (or whatever relation). Then wrap it up like a present and have the family member open it next time you see them! (Found this one here.)
• Stick a hamburger bun in your oven, then when family comes over (especially good for grandmas-to-be!), ask them to do you a favor and check on what's in the oven to see if it's ready. See how long it takes for them to catch on! (Found here.)
• I'm normally a BIG wine drinker. So at the next family gathering, we thought of having one wine bottle and one apple juice bottle out, then filling everyone's glasses with wine and mine with apple juice - then just wait for them to notice!
• This would work best if you don't live close to family: Start talking on the phone over the next couple weeks about how you're planning on doing some redecorating around the house - painting, rearranging furniture, etc. Then when family does make it for a visit, tell them you'd like to get their opinions on the new decor. Take them to where the nursery's going to be, and say: "We were thinking of painting the walls blue or pink, but we won't really be able to decide for a couple more months. What do you think?"
• Play Scrabble and try to play a baby-themed word as often as possible during the game til people catch on.

Any other ideas you've heard for breaking the news?

[amyknits1076]

These are such great ideas! Thanks for sharing! I LOVE the book one. And I will have to do the Scrabble one with DH's family at the next gathering. They are a huge Scrabble family so hopefully I could slip something like that in. Oh I can't wait to tell now!!

[porcelina]

I'm not sure what we're going to do! This is baby#3, and I know at least some people will look at us askance. But, maybe all the more reason to do something more creative, like maybe a fun picture on facebook or something (I followed that facebook post that is on the I'm Pregnant board, and there were some cute ones). While I didn't have facebook for DS1, and didn't want to put anything there for DS2 because it seemed too impersonal, I'm thinking maybe this time around that's the way to go. Maybe even for the family! :) Not sure.

For DS1 we sent an announcement with a sweet poem (to immediate family), and for DS2 we just told people, didn't do anything fun. I think I'm going to try harder to be creative this time!
 

[kikaaaso]

What cute ideas!! I am hoping to wait for awhile..but I was thinking about telling most with Christmas cards (if I can keep a secret by then)..and sign the card with "new baby due in May" at the end, or something like that. 

This is of course is with people who I don't see too often. My parents are moving to Tenn. next weekend, and the rest of my family don't live near us..so I very well could get away with this. We probably won't see them until Christmas time..although my parents may visit in October or early Nov. (which may be hard to hide..but I am going to try). :)

[amyknits1076]

I really like the book idea. Grandparents' Day is today, but we won't be seeing any of our parents. There will be visits later this month, though, so I think maybe we'll give them "late" Grandparents' Day presents. I can't decide, that's still even before we have our first sono, so maybe waiting until after that would be better. Oh, I don't know... decisions, decisions...

[CoBabyMaker]

I told DH by writing him a card from the baby telling him that the baby was excited to meet him!

To tell our parents I am making some glass tile pendant necklaces for my mom and MIL.  I will attach a picture of each of our first two children.  For MIL I will print a generic ultrasound picture and use that for baby #3.  For my mom, who is a Scrabble lover, I will attach the letter B Scrabble tile which is worth 3 points indicating Baby #3 .  When the baby is born I can make them pendants with the baby's picture.

I think to tell my friends I will print out some pictures I recently took of my two girls for their birthday to show them.  I will take a picture of the pregnancy test and mix it in with them. 

[snozzberry]

Originally Posted by CoBabyMaker 

To tell our parents I am making some glass tile pendant necklaces for my mom and MIL.  I will attach a picture of each of our first two children.  For MIL I will print a generic ultrasound picture and use that for baby #3.  For my mom, who is a Scrabble lover, I will attach the letter B Scrabble tile which is worth 3 points indicating Baby #3 .  When the baby is born I can make them pendants with the baby's picture.

Love!!! I am a Scrabble fan too, so this sounds so cute!

[porcelina]

Originally Posted by CoBabyMaker 

I told DH by writing him a card from the baby telling him that the baby was excited to meet him!

To tell our parents I am making some glass tile pendant necklaces for my mom and MIL.  I will attach a picture of each of our first two children.  For MIL I will print a generic ultrasound picture and use that for baby #3.  For my mom, who is a Scrabble lover, I will attach the letter B Scrabble tile which is worth 3 points indicating Baby #3 .  When the baby is born I can make them pendants with the baby's picture.

I think to tell my friends I will print out some pictures I recently took of my two girls for their birthday to show them.  I will take a picture of the pregnancy test and mix it in with them. 

Wow, great ideas! I like the glass tiles. I wonder if it would work to make a little clip thing for a keychain or to attach to one's purse.

Here's a cute one:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76422663/grandma-necklace-personalized-childrens?ref=sr_gallery_13&ga_includes[0]=tags&ga_search_query=purse+clip&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

[Quinalla]

I love reading these, I'm always boring and just call people I'm close to and do a quick status update/e-mail for other folks. Maybe you folks can help me think of a fun e-mail/status update announcement for when I announce to the world. When you are folks announcing your pregnancies to everyone? Last time I told close people right away (this time too), but I felt like I waited too long to tell everyone last time (19 weeks, I was in the "Is she pregnant?" looking part by then), what do you ladies think, 12 weeks?

[CoBabyMaker]

I usually tell right away.  I am still waiting for the materials to make the necklaces to arrive and it is killing me!  I just want to tell people!  I've told two friends who live in other states and one other friend because I usually do her hair and I won't during the first tri-mester at least. 

I am debating on when to make it "facebook official".  I feel like I should wait till 12 weeks but I'm not sure I care.  I've known two people in the last few months who have lost babies after 12 weeks so that feels irrelevant right now. 

I think a cute picture can be a fun way to tell via e-mail.  Maybe with a sign, or the other kids in front of numbers written in chalk and a chair with the new baby's number.  I think I might take some pictures of my belly while holding a dish of ice cream with a pickle on top.  I feel like I am already pooching out so I figure I'll have enough belly by the time I feel ready to go completely public.
 

[porcelina]

I decided on a cute FB thing to put up (a picture), but DH told me I shouldn't. He says it used to feel like a slap in the face when he was single to hear things about couples, and babies, and then was hard when we were TTC for like 3 years to hear others saying they were expecting. So, he's ultra-sensitive to the whole FB announcement thing. That said, we did post pictures of DS2 when he was born, so not sure how different that is....

Anyway, maybe I should use the picture and send it to close family instead, since I'm not sure how they'll react. They know there might be a possibility of a third, but only my mom knows we've been TTC.
 

[snozzberry]

Originally Posted by Quinalla 

When you are folks announcing your pregnancies to everyone? Last time I told close people right away (this time too), but I felt like I waited too long to tell everyone last time (19 weeks, I was in the "Is she pregnant?" looking part by then), what do you ladies think, 12 weeks?

We're going to wait to tell family and close friends til after the 8-week appointment or maybe even til after 12 weeks. I had a miscarriage in May and then a chemical pregnancy last cycle, so we're being extra cautious. (BUT...before the m/c I was spotting off and on the entire pregnancy, and this time NO SPOTTING, so I'm very hopeful.)

[Quinalla]

Ah, good ideas, maybe a picture of my DD wearing a "big sis" shirt or something would work for facebook and for work too as we are pretty casual here. I think 12 weeks sounds good, so I'll probably just go with that. Hmm, though I may talk to my sister as her wedding is when I will be ~10 weeks and it might be nice to tell everyone then or just before as I'm sure my Mom will be itching to spill the beans, but I don't want to steal any of her day.

I hope everything goes smoothly for you this time snozzberry!