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Pregnancy announcements have become a creative endeavor on social media. For many parents, making a simple statement about their new family member is no longer enough. They feel the pressure to come up with something unique and engaging to make their message stand out. However, the more desperate these attempts are, the bigger the likelihood that they will turn out cringy and offensive.

The Facebook group 'That's It, I'm Pregnancy Announcement Shaming' is a true testament to this. Since the publication of our first article, the group has seen plenty of new ridiculous content. From tastelessly-staged images that make light of serious issues to pictures that objectify the expectant mother, the group continues to showcase the worst of the worst.

But it's also important to remember that these announcements, as bad as they may be, represent real people so we at Bored Panda want to stress that it's their communication that's being critiqued here, not them — we do not know these people or how they approach parenting. All we're certain of is that they probably could've put a little more thought into their posts.

More info: Facebook

#2

That's An Odd Way To Announce A Pregnancy, Or.. An Abortion?

That's An Odd Way To Announce A Pregnancy, Or.. An Abortion?

That's It, I'm Pregnancy Announcement Shaming Report

As you can see from the pictures, these announcements come at different stages of pregnancy. But experts think that there is actually no wrong time to make one.

"Patients ask me all the time, 'When is it safe to tell everyone we're expecting?'" Heather Bartos, an OB-GYN in Cross Roads, Texas, told Today's Parent. "And I always tell them the same thing: 'Use your discretion. The decision is entirely up to you.'"

It can also be a slow roll-out, if you want to. "Announcing your pregnancy to one person—or one group of people—does not mean you need to tell everyone all at once," Bartos added. So your boss doesn't need to know at the same time as your mom or your best friend.

#5

I... I Have No Words

I... I Have No Words

That's It, I'm Pregnancy Announcement Shaming Report

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leonmalone avatar
Charlie the Cat
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A Brazilian couple is in hot water after they dyed a local waterfall bright blue on to announce the birth of their son during a gender-reveal party. The expectant parents are now being investigated by the local government and could be charged with an environmental crime.

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With that being said, "It's usually pretty traditional to wait until the end of the first trimester, around 12 weeks, when miscarriage risks greatly decrease," Bartos said. “But there are several good reasons to share earlier." For instance:

IVF babies

"I shared the news with family at six weeks,” Bartos, who is also a mother of two, said. "We had IVF pregnancies. In fact, most of the earlier announcers in my own practice have gone through IVF, too."

When everyone close to you already knows you’re going through in vitro (which often requires daily blood work, many months—or years—of treatment, and lots of medical appointments), it’s almost unnatural not to disclose the latest developments.

#8

Subtly Calling Your Kids C*ckblockers

Subtly Calling Your Kids C*ckblockers

That's It, I'm Pregnancy Announcement Shaming Report

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dominikagdulova avatar
Domi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When this little girl is about 15 and understands all this, she will be very ashamed and the "fail" child will also be ashamed.

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Extreme morning sickness

"This kind of physical burden coupled with not sharing the news can be quite isolating for some women," Shara Brofman, a clinical psychologist specializing in reproductive and perinatal mental health at the Seleni Institute in New York, said. "Telling early is a means to garner support."

Remember that if you’re unable to work, or feeling ill all day (and all night) long, coworkers and family are bound to notice. One way to deal with extreme morning sickness is to discuss accommodations with your workplace.

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#9

Imagine Putting Your Precious Infant In The Middle Of All The 💉☣️ Hazardous & Sharp Medical Waste 💉☣️ You’ve Been Hoarding For Months/Years!

Imagine Putting Your Precious Infant In The Middle Of All The 💉☣️ Hazardous & Sharp Medical Waste 💉☣️ You’ve Been Hoarding For Months/Years!

That's It, I'm Pregnancy Announcement Shaming Report

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mona_1 avatar
Mona
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get this one. As somebody with two IVF babies, I get it. Would never do it, but I get it.

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Past miscarriage

This might seem counterintuitive, but for some women who have experienced pregnancy loss in the past, informing others early on is exactly what they need.

Pregnancy after miscarriage can be a roller coaster of emotions, and some couples know they will want support and extra check-ins from loved ones, no matter what happens. "Ask yourself how you tend to cope with stressful situations," Brofman said. "If, for you, it often helps to have a few friends and family to safely share your feelings with, you might want to announce to some early.”

#12

This Is A Lot To Unpack

This Is A Lot To Unpack

That's It, I'm Pregnancy Announcement Shaming Report

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icecreamsarang avatar
Icecream Sarang
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This was me…two under two was easy…it’s the 3yo and the 2yo that are killing me.

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Early ultrasound

While The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) recommends that women have their "dating" ultrasound—meaning the scan when you find out your due date—from 11 to 14 weeks, some get their scans earlier. (This might be recommended, for example, if you have irregular periods or aren't sure of the date of your last period.) Practitioners can often determine gestational age via ultrasound (either using a traditional abdominal ultrasound or an internal vaginal probe) after seven weeks.

#16

Terrible Pregnancy Announcement! It Looks Like The Baby Died

Terrible Pregnancy Announcement! It Looks Like The Baby Died

That's It, I'm Pregnancy Announcement Shaming Report

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stephanie_sukhareva avatar
Peryton
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The term rainbow baby is pretty messed up. Calling your child that when they are old enough to understand will constantly remind them of your loss and the kid will grow up feeling like they have to compensate, like they're some kind of replacement or trophy. It's called survivors guilt and it's horrible to push that on a child.

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Some genetic screening is back

Some pregnant women receive non-invasive prenatal testing (sometimes called cell-free DNA or cfDNA, or the Harmony test) as early as 10 weeks (depending on your age, whether the pregnancy is a high risk, and other factors).

Here, parents-to-be can learn whether there are any indications of Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities a bit earlier than the more traditional screening that’s typically completed between weeks 11 and 14.

As a bonus, if you choose, the NIPT can also determine the sex of the baby, without waiting for the anatomy scan. (If you do not do the NIPT, you’ll get a nuchal translucency scan, an ultrasound that measures the fetus’s neck fluid—see below.) "For some, getting more information helps them feel more confident to announce," Brofman explained.

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#18

We Get It, You Screwed During Quarantine

We Get It, You Screwed During Quarantine

That's It, I'm Pregnancy Announcement Shaming Report

Primetime for pregnancy announcements is around the end of the first trimester and the start of the second. This is because:

Miscarriage rate drops

Come trimester number two, most women's chances of a miscarriage drop to roughly 1-5%. “[At this stage], many couples now feel more comfortable bringing people in on their excitement—and even allowing themselves to feel their own excitement more fully,” Marissa Long, a licensed clinical and reproductive health psychologist in Southern California, said.

#22

Premesis

Premesis

That's It, I'm Pregnancy Announcement Shaming Report

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professormcgonagallminerva avatar
Stardust she/her
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kind of funny I guess? Not too terrible compared to others. That’s just my opinion, don’t downvote

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Some genetic screening is back

Between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy, most women receive a blood test and/or an ultrasound that, together, look for markers that could indicate an extra or missing chromosome, such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21), trisomy 18, and trisomy 13. “Getting the results can be reassuring; parents-to-be have more info that can encourage them to share their news,” Brofman added.

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#24

Sick Burn On Dad, Though

Sick Burn On Dad, Though

That's It, I'm Pregnancy Announcement Shaming Report

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Icecream Sarang
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this. My spouse always teases he did the hard work and I just had to lay there. 😉

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Morning sickness and exhaustion may reduce

Most women generally start to feel less sick right about this time too. So they might be excited to share the news because they’re no longer bogged down with nausea or feeling cruddy.

#27

Also- What’s With The Terrible Spacing On That Text?

Also- What’s With The Terrible Spacing On That Text?

That's It, I'm Pregnancy Announcement Shaming Report

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professormcgonagallminerva avatar
Stardust she/her
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, he also planted tomato seeds. What a good man, growing his own food organically /s

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#29

I'm Trying To Figured Out If They Already Have One, And Are Adding Another, Or What

I'm Trying To Figured Out If They Already Have One, And Are Adding Another, Or What

That's It, I'm Pregnancy Announcement Shaming Report

There are, however, reasons why couples may want to wait even longer.

Feeling ambivalence

Whether your pregnancy was planned or not, many women are unsure of their feelings about becoming a parent. "When you’re aware that others will react with excitement and they’ll expect the same from you, it can be easier to avoid that pressure rather than pretend or force an emotion that you don’t have," Long said. Additionally, a pregnancy announcement often puts the spotlight squarely on the mom-to-be. If you’re attention-shy, you may simply want to savor your privacy for as long as you can.

The anatomy scan

Between weeks 18 and 20, women get their anatomy scan (also known as a level two ultrasound), at which they can learn their baby's sex (if they desire to). At the same time, a clinician checks to see if the baby's size and position are on target and if the baby’s brain, heart, lungs, and other organs are developing as expected. "For those who have a very real concern about genetic disorders, they may not share their news until this scan offers some reassurance," Long noted.

#30

Victimized With An Ultrasound And A Disney Font

Victimized With An Ultrasound And A Disney Font

That's It, I'm Pregnancy Announcement Shaming Report

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reddmenace23 avatar
Green Machine
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah... cause kids running around in costumes at Halloween need to know this lol. I know you're excited, but damn.

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Note: this post originally had 51 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

For the majority of first-time mothers, the tell-tale baby bump usually "sticks out" at about 14 to 16 weeks of pregnancy, making it harder not to share (without some very strategic wardrobe decisions).

In the end, there is no single right time to announce your pregnancy. In fact, the mere idea that there is a ‘right’ time can cause distress and create worries.”

Just go with your gut. Unless it tells you to make a pee stick popsicle.