Announcing Baby to Husband and Family on Christmas?

I had the same exact timing for my second. I couldn't wait--I told my husband as soon as I saw the positive test, and we told the family on xmas morning (over the phone, because they all live out of the area). They were all excited by the "present".

I would tell them. My brother and his wife didn't tell anyone they were pregnant and then miscarried. Non of us knew, so we couldn't be there for love and support. When I did find out a couple weeks later I felt so bad, because I had talked to them many times, but didn't know they were going through that hard time.

Husband should know right away. Wait until after 12 weeks for the rest of the the family, save for anyone you are really close to like mom or sis. Congratualtions!

My husband's mom knew before he did and he didn't mind at all. That being said I would have your husband open one gift Christmas Eve, maybe a picture of your daughter wearing a big sister T-shirt or an ornament for the tree that said Baby's First Christmas 2009, Then have your daughter wear the big sister T to the family celebration and see if they catch on.

I always told everyone when I found out, because even if I lost the baby, I knew I would want my family's support and not want it to be a secret. Everyone is different, though, so you have to think of what you want. I really liked the balloon idea, but I would tell him before you go, just to make it special. Oh, and I'm a doula in your area if you need anything!

As for telling your hubby I would do it in private for the two of you... the picture idea is great and the big sister shirt is even better! I plan on doing that when and if the second happens. I have that part all planned out...

In regards to telling family! I think is a wonderful Christmas gift for everyone. I know the thoughts behind telling to soon are valid, but to me if you loose the baby won't your family find out anyhow when you are upset about it? Won't they ask questions?
I wonder how does not telling family stop it from hurting when you just end up telling them after it is gone. It isn't like you are telling your boss or your neighbors or even random people. It is close family and to me if you loose the baby, wouldn't they be the ones you will turn to anyhow for support??? It isn't like they will be less upset for you if they had never know about the baby. They will be heartbroken along with you, regardless if they know about it before hand.

To me it is a great time to tell family of such a blessing and if something should happen, then you already know you have them behind you!

Everything will be fine and it will be a great memory.

Good luck!

Personally I have always told my husband as soon as I knew. If everyone else waits that is okay. I understand waiting till 12 weeks I have had a miscarriage and told everyone right away. Yes I might have had to explain it anyways but it killed to have to call everyone and tell them that I had lost the baby I had barely a couple weeks earlier just told them I was going to have. For me my feeling is that you do something that feels special and makes you happy. Your husband will more than likely be happy no matter how you tell him I think that your ideas are cute.

I think the t-shirt idea is really cute. I would tell your husband before the trip. We never told the family until we had the first ultrasound or were out of the first trimester, actually at 15 weeks since we had lost one at 14 weeks. Anyway, congratulations! I hope you feel well enough to enjoy the holiday.

I would tell your hubby right away...though I can never keep anything from him because he usually knows my cycle, but I always try to come up with a fun way to tell him. (The 1st baby I did the Mylar balloon that said it's a boy! and clipped the preg test to it!) I've always wanted to do the "baby' meal...you make baby carrots, baby shrimp, etc...anything that associates with babies and see if your hubby gets it! Make sure you tell him what each thing is as you are serving him...stressing the "BABY" part!

The next baby (we are trying now and am 3 days late now, but too scared to take a test yet because cycles the past few months have been screwed up and got hopes up too many times before!) my husband and I have decided to do the t-shirt idea, but since we live in a smaller town without those readily available, we are going to make it. I bought puffy paint and a plain white t-shirt and I am going to write on the front "Won't I make a cute big brother" and on the back "Coming soon...and the approx month and year". We are going to put it under a light sweater and say that he looks like he is getting hot and have one of the family members take off his coat. I can also take a photo to send to relatives far away to e-mail and tell them that way.

Good luck and congrats!

S.

I agree with the previous two posts, but would also keep in mind that the longer people know about your pregnancy, the more you will get comments in the end like "hasn't that baby come yet?" and "wow, you've been pregnant forever!". It also seems to go by faster when you announce it to people at a later time. If things like that don't bother you, then I think telling them as such a big family event would be really fun! Congrats and good luck

I know you've gotten a lot of response and it is a little late but if you haven't already told your husband I think it would be a great gift, but I think you should do it privately.
I also think it is okay to tell everyone you are pregnant. I had a miscarriage at 13 weeks, everyone knew just about as soon as I knew because I get so sick, but I think it was nice to have the support. The next time we were pregnant we told our family pretty early again but told them we were just telling family.
You had some cute ideas, I love the big sister shirt. Another cute idea is to hang a little stocking up Christmas morning for the baby. Have fun!

First off, congrats! Personally, I would probably tell hubby before everyone else. It is special news for everyone, but REALLY special news for daddy-to-be, so I think he should know before you make the big announcement. I like your idea of putting your little girl in a big sister t-shirt and see how long before he notices what it says. Of course, you could do the same for the announcement back home too, if you are going to be at a family gathering. Put her in the shirt and see what happens! We didn't tell family with our first (and only, so far) until I was through the first trimester. It just seemed safer that way. But, we also don't live near family, and were not at any big family event where we could make some announcement to everyone, either, so it wasn't that hard for us to wait to tell people. I would have fun with it this time around! But it is your call with what you are most comfortable with. Happy holidays!

When I found out about our second baby, we were visiting my folks in Texas for Christmas. I wanted to surprise him with the news, so my mom gave me a tiny pink dress that was mine when I was born. I wrapped it in a little box with a card that had a picture of a baby's foot and it read Congratulations! My husband was very surprised and excited. He didn't mind that my mom knew before he did. He was just happy. We already had a boy, so I was taking a chance with the little pink dress. We ended up having a girl, and my husband will never forget the gift he got for Christmas that year.

Looks like you've got lots of opinions already! My sister-in-law informed her husband for Christmas about their 3rd and it was the BEST GIFT EVER for him. They didn't wait to tell the rest of the family because she gets sick and wants people to understand why she needs more help or isn't around for those first few months. I say do what YOU think is best as far as telling the fam. Your idea of telling your husband for Christmas is fabulous!

First of all Congratulations! I would tell your husband first- maybe with a Christmas ornament. I think it would be so cute to get your youngest daughter a big sister shirt, wrap it under the tree and then have her try it on and see if the family catches on. How fun!

Hi J.,

I love the Big Sister T-shirt idea!! Very cute! Tell your husband first, before the rest of the family.

Why not tell your family now? You'd probably tell them later if anything (God forbid!!) happened.

Congratulations! God bless and Merry Christmas!!

If your husband's a fun surprise-loving guy I'd save it for Christmas, if not give him his own private no-pressure news.

I would tell your family right away if you would tell them anyway that you had a miscarriage and you want their support no matter what. If you are more personal and don't want talk with them if anything goes wrong, then I would save it for later on.

I personally think you should tell your husband first and let have you and him come up with an idea together on how to announce it and when.I also am announcing my pregnancy on christmas i will be seven weeks and am having my little boy wear a big brother shirt.Congrats!!!!

No offense inteaded but I have never understood why people want to wait to tell others about their pregnancy. Whether or not you go full term and deliver a healthy baby or God forbid you miscarry this is a joyous, happy time share it with the world. If something bad does happen then you have a secret that sooner or later you will have to explain. Think positive be positive and good things will happen. CONGRATULATIONS! If your husband is the type that would like to know 'before' others your idea is great if not make it a GRAND announcement to the family. If you decide to tell your husband first then both of you make the announcement.
Happy Holidays

I don't really have any suggestions but I just wanted to say that this is the cutest idea ever :o). You are right, what a wonderful gift. My oldest daughter was born on Christmas day so she will be 3 in 5 days :o) Congratulations and please update us with how he reacts.

-M.

So exciting...congratulations on your pregnancy! One of my friends told her husband she was pregnant by buying a mylar balloon that said "Congratulations on a job well done!" and she bought a baby toy to tie to it and also attached the positive pregnancy test (in a ziplock baggie, of course!). I've always thought that it was a really fun way to tell him...and help him feel like he'd really accomplished something great :) As far as telling family...I would wait, cause when the news is out, it's out and then you feel like you're pregnant FOREVER! Good luck :)

Tell your husband first. Don't let him find out at the same time as the others.

Congrats to your new one on the way. Merry Christmas!!!

What a fun time of year to find out you are pregnant! Congrats! I think it would be fine to tell your family this soon, but I would tell your husband first. If I announced my pregnancy to my whole family before him, he would be upset. If for some reason their are complications and you lose the baby, it is nice to have the support of your family anyways. Hopefully all goes well for you. When I told my husband about our 3rd, I put both my older boys in big brother shirts and then waited for him to notice. I have a friend who wrapped up baby booties for her husband. Having a present for your hubby to open early would be fun. good luck and congratulations!

I'm not sure about best methods for telling your husband.

But for telling the family, I would tell them as early as possible. The reason for this is that it gives them the opportunity to celebrate with you the new life that is growing. I know a lot of people say to wait in case there is a miscarriage but if people know you are pregnant and there is a miscarriage, you also give them the opportunity to mourn with you and to find ways to care for you as you grieve. I pray that you don't have to experience that but that your family can celebrate the joy of new life for the next 8-9 months and for the rest of your child's life. Congratulations!

Hey there J.,
I know you already have a ton of responses but I thought I would add my two cents. With my second, I could wait to tell my husband, in fact he was in Iraq when I found out so as soon as he called, I totally just blurted it out! LOL!
As far as the family, I think it is good to go ahead and tell everyone. Before I had my first baby I had a miscarriage. It was right around Thanksgiving and I was just going to wait to tell everyone at dinner. Well unfortunately about a week before Thanksgiving day I miscarried. So I then had to tell everyone that a. I WAS pregnant and b. now I'm not. When we conceived my daughter I went ahead and told everyone because even if we did miscarry again, it would be something they could support me in. Thankfully that was my one and only MC so far. Each pregnancy I've had I went ahead and told my close friends and family so they could pray for our health and encourage me. Anyway, I suppose that's a little more than two cents but I thought it would be helpful for you to know both sides. :) Take care and a HUGE congratulations!!! :)

I agree with Lisa! The shirt idea is super cute! I had a friend do it to tell her family. I would tell your husband on Christmas eve, that way he can be in on shareing the news with the rest of family!