When to Announce Pregnancy? The Right Time for You

If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant, congratulations!

But how do you know when to announce pregnancy to family and friends? Or coworkers?

Well, it’s simple: There’s no set time.

It’s your news, and you share it how and when you see fit.

You can choose to do an early pregnancy announcement or keep people guessing — it’s entirely up to you.

Discovering you’re expecting is exhilarating. You just want to scream and shout and tell the world.

But when should you?

There are different schools of thought when it comes to knowing when to announce pregnancy.

Some mamas-to-be like to play it close to their chest, while others decide an early pregnancy announcement to close friends and immediate family is right for them.

No matter what you decide to do, remember, it’s your choice.

So let’s find out what’s right for you: when should you tell people you are pregnant?

In this article: 📝

When to tell people you are pregnant
What week to announce pregnancy
When do most people announce pregnancy?
Knowing who to tell (when to announce pregnancy to family and friends)

When to tell people you are pregnant

Deciding when to announce pregnancy will, more often than not, come down to your personal circumstances.

You might go early or you might wait. Here’s why:

Choosing an early pregnancy announcement

If it’s your first, or if it was planned and friends and family know you’ve been trying, then you might be more inclined to choose an early pregnancy announcement.

The advantages of telling early are mostly fun.

You get to share in that initial excitement with the ones you love and the buzz of a new baby starts fast and lasts longer.

But there are practical benefits, too.

For starters, you won’t have to pretend that you’re not pregnant.

This means you won’t have to find elaborate excuses to turn down a cocktail or explain away your morning sickness as a bad breakfast sandwich.

And it also lets you form a support network from the outset to answer your pregnancy-related questions and concerns.

Between your friends, family, and the mamas on Peanut, you’ll be well covered.

Note: Depending on what you do for a living may dictate when to tell work you’re pregnant ‒ that way, you’re not putting yourself or your baby at risk.

And you may also want to tell your co-workers in case you need to call in sick from time to time.

If you’re not sure, check your contract or have a chat with your HR.

Choosing a late pregnancy announcement

Of course, your personal circumstances might mean you wait a little longer before sharing the happy news with a late pregnancy announcement.

Maybe you want to enjoy some of your pregnancy in secret, away from prying eyes and personal questions (hello, Kylie Jenner!).

Or maybe you feel more comfortable waiting until you’re absolutely certain that everything’s okay before telling people.

It’s completely up to you.

However, there is one thing to consider ‒ around the second trimester, your baby bump may start showing, which can be a bit of a giveaway that you’re pregnant, depending on your body type.

So if you’d rather choose when to announce your pregnancy, around 20 weeks, the decision might be made for you, by your bump.

What week to announce pregnancy

Let’s look at when to announce pregnancy, week-by-week, to see what works best for you.

I’m 4 weeks pregnant, should I tell family?

Announcing your pregnancy at 4 weeks is considered quite an early pregnancy announcement.

This is mainly because your pregnancy officially starts at the point of your last period (not the moment of implantation), so 4 weeks pregnant could actually be 2 weeks pregnant.

So you might have just found out you’re pregnant ‒ we get it, you just can’t wait to tell your family!

You certainly can tell people you’re pregnant at 4 weeks, although it’s worth noting that the reason why some women choose to wait is that the risk of pregnancy loss is higher earlier in your pregnancy

But that’s not a reason not to share your news ‒ some of our mamas on Peanut who have experienced pregnancy loss early in their pregnancy have said that it helped to have some people know they were pregnant at the time, to provide support.

Is 5 weeks too early to tell family?

By week 5 of your pregnancy, you’ve likely missed a period ‒ one of the telltale early signs of pregnancy before taking a pregnancy test.

Now’s the time to book your first prenatal appointment and have a chat with your doctor about your pregnancy.

You may also be experiencing some morning sickness (which can happen at any time of the day), but a baby bump is a little while off, so it’s up to you when to tell people you are pregnant.

If the timing’s right for you, go for it!

Can I announce my pregnancy at 6 weeks?

At 6 weeks pregnant, baby’s heart is beating, which can be a lovely way to announce your pregnancy to loved ones.

A lot of our mamas on Peanut decide this is the best time to announce pregnancy ‒ even if you’re not making an early pregnancy announcement to the rest of the world just yet.

Is 7 weeks too early to tell family you’re pregnant?

At 7 weeks, baby is just about the size of a fingernail, and starting to develop facial features, so if you can’t wait to make an early pregnancy announcement, now’s a great time to share the news with family.

Is 8 weeks too early to announce pregnancy?

Two months pregnant! At 8 weeks, you may notice you’re carrying a little more weight, which could be the decider for you that this is the best time to announce pregnancy.

Your chances of pregnancy loss at 8 weeks have also dropped significantly ‒ now it’s about 2-4% ‒ so you’re reaching the so-called pregnancy “safe zone” when most mamas choose to announce their pregnancy.

Is 10 weeks too early to announce pregnancy?

Now you’re 10 weeks pregnant, your baby bump may be even more visible, so you might decide this is the best time to announce pregnancy for you.

10 weeks also means that your chances of pregnancy loss decrease even more ‒ to about 1%, edging closer to the pregnancy “safe zone”.

Why is 12 weeks safe to announce pregnancy?

It’s not uncommon for women to navigate the first trimester before spreading the word.

But why is 12 weeks considered the pregnancy “safe zone”?

Well, roughly 80% of miscarriages occur during the first trimester, but once you’re past 12 weeks, that risk falls dramatically.

This should offer some peace of mind that everyone is safe and healthy.

At the same time, too many women suffer miscarriages without the support of their loved ones, as they believe they must stick to the long-standing social convention that is the “12-week rule”.

So please remember that when to announce pregnancy should be a personal choice, and should never feel like an enforced obligation.

When do most people announce pregnancy?

Most of our mamas on Peanut decide the best time to announce pregnancy is at 12 weeks.

However, the majority of expecting mamas also decide that as soon as they find out they’re pregnant is also a good time to announce pregnancy to immediate family, close friends, and their partner.

So you could have a tiered approach when you’re deciding when to tell people you’re pregnant ‒ close people as soon as you find out, extended family and friends at 12 weeks, and everyone else soon after.

When do you start showing?

When you start showing is generally a bit of a giveaway that you’re pregnant, so it’s something to consider when you’re deciding when to announce pregnancy.

When you start showing depends on lots of things ‒ your body type, age, and the shape of your uterus ‒ but your baby bump could start showing from around 11 to 16 weeks.

Knowing who to tell (when to announce pregnancy to family and friends)

It usually goes a little something like this: first, you find out, then your partner, then the grandparents-to-be.

Then it’s often the turn of close friends and family, and maybe colleagues.

And then, of course, there’s social media (if you partake) to inform acquaintances, third cousins twice removed, and friends of friends of friends.

When to tell your partner you’re pregnant

There’s no set rule on when to tell your partner you’re pregnant ‒ it depends on your relationship and your circumstances.

It’s totally up to you when to tell your husband you’re pregnant (or your boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, spouse, or partner).

You might think the best time to announce pregnancy to your partner is as soon as you find out ‒ if you’re actively trying, they might well be there when you’re finding out.

If you want to make your pregnancy announcement a little more dramatic, you might need a little time to prepare a memorable pregnancy announcement for your partner.

You do what you think is best!

When should you tell your parents you’re pregnant?

The grandparents of the baby-to-be are often the next people to know.

If you’re wondering when to tell your parents you’re pregnant, it depends on how close you are.

Some people wait until the pregnancy “safe zone”, while others can’t wait to make their grandparents’ pregnancy announcement.

Should I tell my boss I’m pregnant at 6 weeks?

This is where things get a little tricky: when to tell your boss you’re pregnant.

There are several things to consider here:

Your work contract, which may detail when to tell your boss you’re pregnant.
The stress levels of your job ‒ if it’s a particularly stressful sector, you may want to let them know sooner.
The physical side of your job ‒ if you’re standing up for long hours or doing heavy lifting, for example.
The structure of the company ‒ a smaller company may appreciate an early pregnancy announcement, to make preparations.
Your relationship with your boss ‒ if they’re a close friend, you might want to share your news with them sooner.

Most pregnant people wait until 12 weeks to tell their boss they’re pregnant, when the risk of pregnancy loss has severely decreased, and there’s still plenty of time to discuss things like allowances for appointments, ways to make your pregnancy more comfortable at work, and your maternity leave.

Should you announce pregnancy on social media?

When it comes to how to tell family you’re pregnant, a quick Tweet or Facebook post probably won’t cut it.

But should you play out your pregnancy journey on social media? That’s another question entirely.

Some like to use it as a way of sharing their happy news with those they’re no longer in touch with on a daily basis, but others are reluctant to post about it in case it upsets those who are struggling to conceive.

Ultimately, announcing your pregnancy on social media is another deeply personal decision.

In the end, however, there’s no cookie-cutter approach when deciding when to announce pregnancy.

Take your time, let the news sink in, discuss with your partner, and do what’s best for both of you — and bump, too.

And once you’ve told? You can get to work planning the shower.