5 Creative Pregnancy Announcement Ideas

After keeping your fingers crossed for what felt like forever, finally the answer you’ve been waiting for: yes! you’re pregnant! (Cue the spontaneous dance party in the bathroom).

Now that you know you’re a “we” instead of a “me,” you’re probably excited to share the news. This guide will help you find the perfect way to let the world know your family is getting a little bit bigger.

Things To Consider For Your Pregnancy Announcement

When that positive pregnancy test turns out pink, blue, polka dot, or whatever color it’s supposed to turn, you may feel like shouting from the rooftops and telling everyone that a bun has officially started cooking in your oven.

Before you book that sky-writer or bombard your mailman with the good news, take a breath and think a bit about the 5 W’s of pregnancy announcements.

Who To Tell First

While the list of people you want to tell about your pregnancy may rival Harry and Meghan’s wedding guest list, you might want to give some thought to who should know first.

1. Your partner. Definitely put him first, he did help make this happen!
2. Your emotional support systems (very close friends and family). Finding out you’re pregnant can generate a whirl of emotions. You might be feeling a little worried, anxious, or even overwhelmed—which is why telling the people you trust can be good news for you and your loved ones. They can be there for you from the start to offer the help and emotional support you might be craving (and maybe even help with the food cravings you might be experiencing).
3. Anyone who told you first. Has anyone included you in their first-to-know circle about their big news? If you two are close, they may appreciate the reciprocal gesture.
4. Whoever you want! Ultimately, who you tell first is up to you. This is your news, and you get to decide who to share it with.

A word about telling your employers or coworkers: many women wait until the end of the first trimester to inform work about their pregnancy. Legally speaking, if your company is covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act, you don’t have to tell anyone until 30 days before you want to take time off to give birth. But realistically, you’ll probably tell people sooner (and your coworkers may draw their own conclusions based on your new lunch habits and growing bump a bit sooner than the 8th month!).

Reasons women choose to tell their place of employment earlier in the pregnancy include:

• Needing accommodation for severe pregnancy symptoms or doctor’s appointments – If you’re experiencing intense pregnancy symptoms like hyperemesis gravidarum (a.k.a. severe morning sickness), you might explain your situation so you can ask your employer for flexibility on work from home policies, time off for appointments, or even just understanding when you have to come to work late after being in the bathroom for a while.
• Giving your work time to make parental leave arrangements. A little notice can go a long way in your relationship with your employer. When your employer has more time to plan for your leave, the better the company will function, and the more they’ll appreciate your baby announcement.

Whenever you decide to tell your place of work about your pregnancy, consider informing your supervisor before breaking the news in the breakroom (and let them know when you’re letting everyone else know). By ensuring your manager hears it from you first rather than through the water cooler grapevine, you can show your long-term commitment to the company and your professionalism.

When to Make the Announcement

Figuring out the best time and when to announce your pregnancy is important when considering next steps. Typically, most parents share the big news at around week 13 of pregnancy, when you’re out of the first trimester and your baby is about the size of a lemon.

After week 12, the chance of miscarriage decreases to just 5%. Though it can feel difficult to keep the new baby a secret for so long, waiting until 13 weeks helps ensure the news you share will only be good.

Word – How To Spread It

From face-to-face announcements to a thoughtful pregnancy announcement photo, the mode of communication is something to consider when announcing your pregnancy:

• Face-to-face – When possible, sharing the news face-to-face is perfect for telling dear friends, family, and of course your partner. That way, you get to enjoy the surprise, glee, and love lighting up their faces in person. Face-to-face also opens additional ways to do the big reveal that isn’t possible remotely. For instance, if you’re out at a restaurant with your loved ones, you can order two desserts for yourself, saying, “One’s for me, and one’s for…the baby!”
• Personal phone call, video call, email, or text message – If face-to-face isn’t possible or practical, you can always reach out with a phone call or video conference. If you’re sharing the news through a video conference, say you have someone you’d like to introduce to your loved ones. Wait a moment. Let the anticipation build. Then check your phone and say, “Oh, she just texted. She says she has a lot more gestating to do, but she’ll be here in about six months ,and she’s so excited to meet her new family!” Be sure to hit record before you start your cute pregnancy announcement!
• Through a formal announcement card – Formal announcement cards are a beautiful and traditional way to let your communities know you’re expecting. Plus, announcement cards can be a sweet token of remembrance. If you’re a scrapbooker (or want to become one), you’ll love including your pregnancy announcement card in your child’s baby book. You can also send e-cards that come with cute idea templates.
• Social media – The digital equivalent of shouting the news from the rooftops, social media is an efficient way to let a lot of people know about your pregnancy reveal, fast. Plus, social media offers the opportunity to be creative in how you share your family’s new addition. For example, posting a snapshot of all of your latest (and strangest) pregnancy cravings will send the message and give your followers a good giggle.

It can help to make a list of everyone you want to tell and break them up into sections based on how you want to give them the news. If you’re not sure who to tell face-to-face and who to reach out to in other ways, put yourself in their shoes: would you be hurt if you found out your friend or relative was pregnant through a public Instagram post? Or would you want them to tell you in a more personalized way? That will guide you to your answer.

What To Say in Your Baby Announcement

Have you ever been so excited to share news that when the time came to tell the world, you’re at a loss for words? Don’t worry, you can blame the hormones. You can also use this template for formal and casual announcements:

• Who is expecting (a.k.a. your and your partner’s names)
• About when your baby is due. You can announce the expected birth date, month, or even season.
• A sweet message like “We’re excited to announce” or “We’re expecting!”

Put it all together and you get:

Moe and Leila are thrilled to announce a new addition to the family, coming this fall!

We’re Expecting! Lee and Nicky will be welcoming a little one in the spring of next year.

The best is yet to come for Maria and Ramy: Baby Khan arriving next summer.

5 Creative Pregnancy Announcement Ideas

You’ve made your list, you’ve checked it twice, and now it’s time to let friends and family know you’re pregnant. There are numerous ways to create the perfect pregnancy announcement to family and friends. Your pregnancy announcement is an amazing time to get creative and highlight your personality. Are you and your partner witty, goofy, artsy, or more serious? There are so many fun ways to reveal your pregnancy, and your loved ones will appreciate the creative pregnancy announcement that best reflects you. Here are five unique pregnancy announcement idea inspirations.

#1 Remixing the T-Shirt Announcement

A Pregnancy announcement shirt that reads “Mama” and “Dada” are classic. You can put your own personal spin on this announcement style in a number of ways:

• The Super Man – Try a Clark Kent-style reveal by finding (or making) a “Super Mom” shirt and posing like you belong on a movie poster. This fun way makes for a playful in-person/video reveal as well—all you need is a zip-up sweatshirt or button-up (bonus points if you whip off your glasses and have your partner cue up a superhero soundtrack).
• The Special Delivery – Send a pregnancy announcement shirt to your friends and family for a creative way that will clue them into the news. Feel free to personalize these as much as you’d like. For example, send your mother a “Future Favorite Grandparent” shirt and your siblings “Cool Aunt” or “Fun Uncle ” shirts. If you already have a little one, you can also create a “best big sister” (or big brother) shirt to make the announcement. They’ll get the hint and wear their new garb with pride.
• Pets – You can get your furry friends involved in the announcement as well! Dressing up your pet in a shirt that says: “big brother,” “big sister,” or “baby guard dog” is an adorable way to reveal your pregnancy. Pets are an important part of your growing family, so including them in the announcement is very special.

#2 Say It With Cake

Is there anything sweeter than being able to tell your family the wonderful news? Yes: saying it with cake. Make or order a cake decorated with the good news to make for a fun pregnancy announcement idea.

• Potluck surprise – Invite your family or friends over for a potluck and say you’ve got dessert covered. Keep it in a box until the meal is done and present the cake with a flourish. Have sparkling cider on hand for toasts afterwards.
• Icing on the cake – If you’re a whiz with icing or know a bakery that turns cake into pieces that belong in an art museum, take a few pictures. You can use the photos of the cake for a formal announcement card or a creative pregnancy announcement on social media.
• Cupcake Messages – You can also spell the news out in a fun way with cupcakes. Decorate each cupcake with a letter and arrange them artfully on a platter. You can also scramble the “letters” for board game night if your friends and family love a good game of scrabble.

#3 Capture the Reaction

If you’ve held off on telling your partner, you have a fabulous opportunity for announcement material. Have a camera on hand (or a very close friend you trust with a camera) and grab a few shots of your partner’s face after you tell him those two marvelous little words: “I’m pregnant!”

Here are a few tips to help capture the moment:

• Before and After – Before and after shots will become treasured keepsakes and make for heart-warming announcement cards. Don’t forget to snap a few of the two of you smiling together.
• Test the lighting beforehand – You’ll never forget the look on your partner’s face when he finds out he’s going to be a father. To ensure the camera captures every detail, take a few practice shots before you surprise your partner.
• Get photos and video – If you can, set up a bonus camera (either your phone or a video camera) to record the entire conversation. You’ll rewatch it over and over again. If your partner is okay with it, you can also share the moment on social media. Just be prepared for several teary messages of love and excitement to follow after you post it!

Need ideas for a cute way to tell your partner the news? We’ve got you covered: Read our blog for more ideas on how to make a great pregnancy announcement to your husband or partner!

#4 Make A Playlist

Put together a playlist of songs with the word “baby” in the title. From there, you can let the good news play out like a favorite song.

Take a screenshot of the playlist to share in a traditional announcement or on social media. You can also title the playlist with you and your partner’s names and a cute clue such as “Nick and Molly’s New Adventure Playlist” or “Pat and Leo’s New Favorite Songs.”

#5 An Artful Bun in the Oven

Of all the idioms for pregnancy, “a bun in the oven” might be the silliest (and sweetest). Play up this saying with a few delicious ideas:

• Mise en place – A “mise en place” is French for “everything in its place.” It’s a cooking term for when every cooking ingredient is portioned out before preparation. Create an aesthetically pleasing mise en place for baking buns. No, you don’t have to actually cook anything, just put out things like:
  • Flour
  • Eggs
  • Sugar
  • Whisks
  • Cutting boards
  • Rolling pins

You can spread out a thick layer of flour on your cutting board or kitchen countertop and, using your finger, write out the good news on the soft white canvas. Take a picture for social media and announcement cards.

• Picture-perfect buns – If you’re already feeling those pregnancy cravings kick in for all things sweet, head to a bakery or bake up some buns for yourself. You can use a bistro-style chalkboard to write out the news and place it in the photo.
• Head chefs of bun-making – Grab your chef hats and aprons and take a few pictures together baking in your kitchen. Let loose and have a little fun (flour fights are totally acceptable) ,and snap a few candid shots of the bun-making process. Caption the photo “We’re cooking up something wonderful” or “Our Sweet Little Bun: Arriving This Spring.”

Discover (And Reveal) Your Baby’s Gender with SneakPeek

Want to announce your pregnancy and your little one’s gender in the same go? Good news: you don’t have to wait long to discover or share that amazing information. The SneakPeek Early Gender DNA Test lets moms find out their child’s gender as early as 8 eight weeks into pregnancy with over 99% accuracy¹!

Our easy-to-use test kit arrives at your door with a comprehensive step-by-step guide. Collect your sample, ship it to SneakPeek Labs using our included prepaid packaging, and within days of the package’s receipt, you’ll know if you should update your announcement from “Baby” to “Baby Girl” or “Baby Boy.”

Let SneakPeek give you the answers you’re looking for sooner than ever. Make that special announcement sooner with SneakPeek!

Sources:

Healthline. When Is the Best Time to Announce Your Pregnancy? https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/when-to-announce-your-pregnancy

The Bump. Pregnancy Week by Week. https://www.thebump.com/pregnancy-week-by-week/13-weeks-pregnant

The New York Times. How to Tell Your Boss You’re Pregnant. https://www.nytimes.com/article/how-to-tell-boss-youre-pregnant.html