Telling people

I have been very remiss in this blog in terms of posting so for that I apologise. Work got crazy and then I was so exhausted that I had no time for anything except sleeping! But I’m back now!

We started telling family members just before Christmas. I told most of my family over the phone as they live abroad and they were all so happy with the news. We shared our 12 week scan picture with everyone and it felt so much more real! Before, it was as if my partner and I were just playing make-believe together. Telling other people was like allowing them into our private world. It was a strange feeling.

My Dad and my partner’s parents, however, we told in person. We created little boxes with photos in (the pregnancy test, 8 week and 12 week scan photos) and buried them in tinsel for them to open. They were so surprised! But I think they liked the idea and it meant that they had something tangible in their hands that they could keep. My Dad was very happy indeed as was my partner’s Dad who teared up, but I think his Mum was somewhat in shock! She is definitely happy about it but it is completely not what she was expecting!

Telling friends has been another step. I told my best friend at the same time as my family as he basically is family. But other friends and colleagues at work I told after Christmas. It’s a really odd thing to try to drop into conversation.

“So, how was your Christmas?”

“Yeah, it was good, thanks. And yours?”

“It was nice, too. Oh, um, I just thought I should let you know, I’m pregnant.”

It does not make for an easy conversation! Luckily the people I have told have been very happy for us and supportive so far. It has been a bit more of a mixed story at my place of work but that’s a story for another day and another blog post!

On social media, we have decided not to post anything about it. My feelings were, and indeed, still are, mixed about the whole social media thing. I want to share my happiness but I am aware that I have friends who can’t have children or who have lost children and I feel that would make it harder for them if they were to see me documenting every step of my journey for 40 weeks. Also I have some ‘friends’ who may be judgemental about my pregnancy, the things I’m doing and I don’t need that kind of negativity. I will happily post a picture of my son or daughter when they finally arrive, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to broadcast every moment of their lives with a group of strangers.

I am starting to get more and more excited about our baby’s arrival. We had our 20 week scan this morning and the baby is already 26cm and weighs 372g! It’s starting to get more and more real every single day for both of us!