Why Waiting to Announce Your Pregnancy Might Be Good for You

Most people have heard the general rule of thumb about keeping a pregnancy secret until the first three months (also known as the first trimester) are over. But what are the real reasons behind that general rule? And are there any others that would leave you feeling cautious about spilling the beans too soon? Of course, for some people, it just feels right to share the news with everyone right away; but for others, sometimes keeping the secret longer is better for them. Here are some thoughts on why waiting to announce your happy news might be good for your particular situation.

Miscarriage
Any woman who's been pregnant hates the thought of a miscarriage, but unfortunately, it's just a part of the process. The first three months of any pregnancy is considered at high risk for miscarriage. But the fact (and good news) is that when the first trimester is over, the chances of miscarriage drop dramatically, which is a major reason why the 'three month rule' is such a popular one. Many women need support during such a difficult thing if it happens, but many also feel that privacy is very helpful at a time like this, so the less people that even know you were pregnant in the first place, the better.

A Fun Little Couples' Secret
In the ideal situation, you want to make sure that your husband or partner knows first about the great news. Sometimes, keeping that good news a secret and just between the two of you for awhile can be a fun and healthy thing for your relationship. It might even spike up the romance, and the two of you should enjoy the spark and newness while you can. And think of it this way...between the baby and your family and friends wanting involvement in this happy time in your life, this might be your last chance for privacy and fun secrets for quite awhile!

Warning Time For Siblings
By waiting a little longer to tell the world about your pregnancy, you give yourself time to tell other children you may already have about their upcoming brother or sister. Sometimes, it's a little hard for a first child to take in the news, but if you give them some time to adjust before telling other family and friends, then you can concentrate on making just that child comfortable first. Also, telling them that it's a secret for only their ears can make them feel special, and strengthen their bond and trust with you.

Time For You
Waiting to announce your pregnancy can give you time to really think about certain things without all that unwanted advice people tend throw at you when they find out the news. For instance, who will you tell first, and in what order will you be telling your family and friends? It also gives you time to figure out how your partner feels about when to tell people and who to tell first. It can also take some time for you to adjust to the news yourself, and to figure out how you feel about everything and to let it sink in. Believe me, from personal experience, sometimes it's easier to reflect on this impending life-change without all the madness that news like this can bring to your family (not that that's a bad thing, either!).

The Work Situation
Giving yourself extra time for secrecy and privacy in the beginning of your pregnancy also allows you to think through your work situation thoroughly. Before you tell anyone at work, you should have an idea of how you want to handle the pregnancy, maternity leave, and returning to work afterwards, or if you'll even go through with any of these. And another thing to remember about telling any of your co-workers is that once you let news like a pregnancy loose, it can spread like wildfire. You will want to really think about telling your boss first, and how and when.

Again, everyone is different and has different needs, but whatever you decide, just make sure to enjoy every moment, because pregnancy can fly by in a flash!