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If you've recently found out you're expecting, congratulations! You're sure to be excited—and maybe a little anxious. If you're now looking for a fun and creative way to announce your pregnancy to your family in person, you've come to the right place. As for when you should break the good news, that's up to you. Many expecting parents wait until 12 weeks, but it's also common to tell close family even earlier. Read on to learn the most creative and unique ways to surprise your family—and don't forget your phone to capture it all!

1

Surprise family photo

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  1. Gather your family together for a group photo, then say, "On the count of three! 3... 2... I'm pregnant!" You might want to set your camera to take a burst of photos. After all, it might take a second for your message to register—especially if it's completely unexpected! [1]
    • You can also have someone else secretly recording video of the entire announcement—just tell your family they're getting shots from a different angle.
    • If it's the first grandchild in your family, you might get yourself, your mother, and your grandmother together and say you want to take a photo of "four generations." Wait for it to sink in that you said four instead of three. Sneaky!
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4

Family game night

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  1. When you're up, simply give a pregnancy-themed clue for your family to guess. Just keep in mind it's likely that—at least at first—they'll just think it's all part of the game. You might need to poke them a bit more to get them to realize it's a real announcement.
    • If you don't want to actually play a game, you can set up a Scrabble board with overlapping words related to your announcement, such as "baby" and "grandparent" intersecting with "pregnant." "Baby" could intersect with the "A" in "pregnant," while the "E" in "grandparent" could intersect with the "E" in "pregnant."
5

Baby gifts

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  1. Gifting a family member a onesie , bib , or booties is a great reveal. If you're giving the gift to your parents, something that mentions "grandma" or "grandpa" is always a great way to let them know they're going to be grandparents. But anything clearly meant for a baby will signal that there's one on the way. [4]
    • This is a great idea if you want to tell your mom on Mother's Day. She'll initially think that you're just giving her a Mother's Day present, then you surprise her with the news that she's going to be a grandma!
    • You might have to prod a little if they don't get it at first. Looking for a way to make it more obvious? Include a print of the sonogram in the box.
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6

Picnic plates

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  1. Get inexpensive disposable plates and write your message on them. For this to work, you have to actually put the food on the plates for people so the message is covered up until they've eaten some of their food. Then, wait and see who uncovers the message first.
    • Make sure you're using nontoxic ink that won't bleed or run when you cover your message with food.
    • If it's normal in your family for people to serve themselves, write your message on one plate and put it in the stack of plates. If you want a specific person to find it first, just insist they go in order to uncover the plate with the message.
7

Custom baked goods

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  1. This works for cakes, cookies—really anything you can put icing on (and most sweets are better with icing). Bake something yourself or order from your favorite local baker. Then bring your special treat to your next family gathering to reveal your surprise.
    • For example, you might write "New Baby" along with the month and year the baby is expected to arrive. You could also say "We're expecting" or something similar.
    • You can also bake cupcakes with tiny toy babies inside. When your family members bite into the cupcakes, they'll reveal the surprise! [5] Just be careful in doing this for older folks, as it might be a choking hazard.
    • For a play on words, bake buns before your family arrives at your home. Make a show of opening the oven and prompt them to say you've got a "bun in the oven."
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10

Fortune cookies

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11

T-shirts

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  1. There are many different companies online that will sell you custom-printed T-shirts, or you can make your own. Invite your family over and watch the look on their faces when they see your shirt—make sure you have a camera ready! [6]
    • You can also make "Promoted to" T-shirts for your family. This theme is popular—for example, a "Promoted to Aunt" shirt for your sister, if it's your first child.
    • If you have a pet, get them in on the act! Pet bandanas and T-shirts are popular and can also be custom-printed with a special message for the occasion.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    When can you tell family members you are pregnant?
    Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP
    Clinical Therapist & Adjunct Professor
    Rebecca Tenzer is the owner and head clinician at Astute Counseling Services, a private counseling practice in Chicago, Illinois. With over 18 years of clinical and educational experience in the field of mental health, Rebecca specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, panic, trauma, grief, interpersonal relationships using a combination of Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Psychodynamic therapy, and other evidence-based practices. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology and Anthropology from DePauw University, a Master in Teaching (MAT) from Dominican University, and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Chicago. Rebecca has served as a member of the AmeriCorps and is also a Professor of Psychology at the collegiate level. Rebecca is trained as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (CBT), a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), a Certified Grief Counseling Specialist (CGCS), a Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP), and a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional (CCFP). Rebecca is also a member of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Society of America and The National Association of Social Workers.
    Clinical Therapist & Adjunct Professor
    Expert Answer
    Well, that is entirely up to you. Talk to your partner (or a close friend if you are single) about who you want to share the news with, how and when. If you think that your parents are not going to be excited about it, it may be best for you to reflect on your own feelings about this before telling them
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