That's it, you're pregnant, finally pregnant, pregnant again or surprise: you're pregnant! In a few words and to your great joy, you're expecting a baby, it's confirmed. Now the question of the announcement arises. To whom, how and especially when to announce your pregnancy? Right away? After 12 weeks, or maybe it's 12 weeks? To all your friends, to the administration and to your employer too? Very common questions, to which we will try to provide answers.
SUMMARY
- Three months pregnant and a superstition
- Why announce your pregnancy after 12 weeks?
- Exclusively, the announcement to the dad
- Announcing your pregnancy to your loved ones and seeing their eyes shine
- Some original ideas for announcing your pregnancy
- Declare your pregnancy to the administration for proper monitoring
- Carry life and live deeply (all) its emotions
Three months pregnant and a superstition
Many couples keep their joy of expecting a child more or less secret for 3 months. You certainly know some of them and perhaps you are one of them. A "reasonable period" often presented as a recommendation. But a recommendation made by whom and for what reasons?
Around 12 weeks of amenorrhea (WA) , i.e. 12 weeks after the first day of the last period, the first mandatory prenatal ultrasound scan takes place, which allows in particular to observe the vitality of the fetus, to estimate its age and to specify the expected date of delivery.
For most parents-to-be, it is advisable to wait until this date and the confirmation that everything is going well , to announce the arrival of their child more widely. Indeed, a kind of superstition would have it that a rushed pregnancy announcement brings bad luck.
Why announce your pregnancy after 12 weeks?
Because ultrasound is the best indicator for monitoring fetal development and because the risk of miscarriage is greatest during the first few weeks after conception, doctors often consider 12 weeks to be a reasonable time to observe for the successful continuation of a pregnancy.
Over time, this caution has turned into superstition on the part of future parents who prefer to remain discreet until this date.
On the other hand, announcing your pregnancy before the end of the first trimester allows you to feel less alone in the whirlwind of motherhood. By choosing one or more people to tell , you immediately share an immense dose of happiness. In their presence, you don't have to hide, mask your nausea or justify not drinking wine! And above all, in the event of a problem or simply when faced with the ailments of pregnancy that are not always easy to manage, you feel stronger because you are more surrounded .
Experiencing a miscarriage and coping with incomprehension
Each year in France, according to the report published by MP Sandrine Josso , some 200,000 miscarriages are detected before the 14th week of amenorrhea. In France, spontaneous abortion (detected or very early) affects or will affect 1 in 4 women during their lifetime.
Figures which reinforce the fear of a pregnancy ending too quickly, the fear of talking about it too early and the fear of one day having to announce bad news.
Because, if experiencing a miscarriage is an ordeal , informing those around you is another and an additional reason given by women for not announcing the arrival of a baby straight away .
But once this term has passed, once the doubts have been lifted and the baby is firmly installed in your belly, the time has come to let your joy burst forth and announce the news to everyone around you.
Exclusively, the announcement to the dad
But yes, after you, he is the main person concerned and as such, he deserves a unique announcement. The future dad, or your partner, is also the person with whom you will be able to share the big news first , often even on the same day.
If he's not by your side when you show the positive result, take the time to sit down, breathe, process the big news and think about the best time to tell him! A one-on-one dinner? A surprise, a letter or your pregnancy test slipped into a gift wrapper? Either way, you'll be right.
By the way, if you are expecting a baby, the entire Élhée Team is joining in your happiness. 🤍 Don't hesitate to share it with us on Instagram . We will be delighted to see you there.
Announcing your pregnancy to your loved ones and seeing their eyes shine
Nothing is harder than hiding your happiness from those you love, especially when it starts to show on the curves of your body. Also, motherhood brings various ailments (such as fatigue and nausea) and some constraints, particularly dietary , the arrival of a child is not the easiest secret to keep. Not to mention the excitement! The desire to say, to share, to question, to project...
The perfect time to announce the big news to your family will therefore be the one that you feel is right , deep down. Pregnancy announcement at Christmas , on a birthday, during a family vacation or simply on a Sunday at coffee time, it's up to you.
Announcing the upcoming arrival of a child is also an opportunity to talk about the first birth gifts! Furniture, stroller, clothes, maternal care , childcare items, you can already sketch out your list.
When to tell your older child that you are pregnant?
In the midst of your joy as a pregnant woman, you gradually become aware that your first baby, your eldest, might see things differently. Until now the center of all attention, he will have to gradually learn to share .
Telling your child that you are pregnant should therefore always be done with joy and positivity . A good way to show him that the most beautiful news has arrived.
After waiting until the end of the first trimester and even if he already suspects something, show him your first ultrasound, your growing belly, make him guess your pregnancy in the form of a game and, why not, establish a little daily ritual of hugs and songs addressed to the future baby through your belly.
Some original ideas for announcing your pregnancy
When you have chosen the perfect moment to announce your pregnancy, do it in an original way with Pomelo Creation® . We offer several creative options to surprise your loved ones and see them marvel. Opt for a scratch card that will add a touch of suspense and surprise, a "crossword" card to reveal this wonderful news in a fun way, or a customizable bottle label for a unique and memorable announcement.
Declare your pregnancy to the administration for proper monitoring
Here, you don't have to do anything. If the pregnancy declaration must be sent to the CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) before the 14th week , your general practitioner or gynecologist increasingly often carries it out online, following the first prenatal examination scheduled between the 9th and 12th week of amenorrhea.
However, if you receive a pregnancy declaration in paper format, send it quickly to your CAF and to Health Insurance for the calculation of your assistance and the payment of your birth bonus.
When to announce your pregnancy at work? You have the choice
In fact, there is no deadline for you to reveal your pregnancy to your employer or colleagues. Here, it's all a question of feeling.
However, the Labor Code specifies that every woman must declare her pregnancy and justify it with a medical certificate to benefit from the advantages that are due to her: authorizations of absence for medical appointments, reduction of working hours, protection against dismissal and maternity leave. Note that these rights apply from the announcement to your employer.
Carry life and live deeply (all) its emotions
You now have the keys to choosing when to announce your pregnancy to the different circles of your entourage. But, the most important element remains your feelings about this revelation. To know when to talk about the child you are carrying, you must first listen to your body , your desires and your own emotions .
Each couple must be able to manage the announcement of their unborn child as they wish, respecting their pace, their history and their beliefs.
Keeping your motherhood to yourself for three months is reassuring and allows you to protect yourself : either because you have already experienced the premature end of a pregnancy and the pain that goes with it, or because you want to enjoy a few weeks of intimacy and well-kept happiness.
However, more and more doctors and psychologists are pointing out that this habit also contributes to making invisible miscarriages that occur before the 12th week of a pregnancy that was never announced .
Because pregnancy and parenthood are among the most powerful and life-changing adventures, free yourself from dogmas, norms and dictates . Announce the arrival of your child or keep it to yourself, talk about it freely to everyone or confess your fears. In this matter, there is no truth, only your feelings.
IN SUMMARY
When to announce your pregnancy, 12 weeks or 12 weeks?
To date a pregnancy, you can choose to speak in weeks of pregnancy (WG) or weeks of amenorrhea (WA). The former start on the presumed day of conception of the baby, the latter on the first day of the last period. To announce your pregnancy and respect the three-month recommendation, you will choose to wait until 12 WG.
Why wait 12 weeks to announce your pregnancy?
Because the majority of miscarriages occur in the first weeks of pregnancy, it is recommended that expectant parents wait until the third month of pregnancy to announce the arrival of their child to everyone. It is also at this time, between the 9th and 12th week of amenorrhea, that the first prenatal ultrasound scan takes place.
When to announce your pregnancy to your parents?
Announcing your pregnancy to your parents, your closest relatives, can be done quite quickly, after confirmation of the pregnancy test and blood test, that is, from the first days. It is possible to discuss with them the risk of miscarriage, which is greater during the first trimester.
