How I shared my single mom pregnancy announcement
Clients often ask me, "How did you share the news that you were single and pregnant?" Sharing my single mom pregnancy announcement was a huge step that required balancing my privacy with the joy of letting others in on my happiness. I ended up sharing the news differently with each group of people in my life.
Starting with my immediate family, they were aware of the challenges I faced in trying to freeze my eggs (twice). So of course, they were very supportive throughout the process.
Telling My Family
Wanting to share this moment in a special way, I chose a casual family brunch. After finishing our meal, I stood up, revealing a shirt under my zip-up that read "Me” and “Mini Me" on my tummy.
Brought out the pregnancy test, and announced the exciting news. The genuine happiness, particularly from my dad, made this moment unforgettable.
Sharing with Friends
With my friends, the dynamics varied. There were a few friends who were already aware of my journey and required no explanation—just a simple "I'm pregnant!".
For others who weren't aware, I chose not to disclose the details of my fertility journey, allowing me to have moments of normalcy with them through that tough period.
But when it came time to sharing the news, I struggled with finding the balance of privacy and celebration.
Seeking Advice
Being an introvert and a very private person, I consulted my fertility counselor, expressing how uncomfortable I felt having to share such personal aspects of my life.
The advice I received was to share as much or as little as I felt comfortable with. It’s up to me, she said.
I just wanted to tell people I’m pregnant and that it was planned and I’m happy, and that’s it. She said then that’s all you need to say.
Finding the Right Words
But that didn’t feel right to me, I felt like people would have more questions, so I actually went searching to see what Mindy Kaling said when she revealed she was pregnant.
And her words really resonated with me when it came to answering questions about the baby daddy.
“My feeling is that until I speak to my daughter about that, I’m not going to talk to anyone else about it ”
Announcing to Friends
My announcement to friends reflected this sentiment:
“I have been meaning to share some news with you... It’s been a long and challenging journey, but I am finally pregnant! And I’m really happy and excited about it! I’m sure you have questions about the who, what, where, when, how, but I am not quite ready to share that yet. I would like to share it with my daughter first. She was very much planned, and I’m doing it solo with the support of my family. I couldn’t be happier.”
Informing Clients
For clients, I tailored the message to ensure a smooth transition during my maternity leave:
“I’m pregnant! It’s been a challenging journey but I’m so happy!
I'll be taking a short mat leave and be back in 2.5 months to support you again. I have worked out the arrangements for the baby to come back, and I will be reachable in the meantime.”
This concise update helped manage expectations and ensure a seamless continuation of our professional relationship.
Most clients just assumed I had a partner, or weren't sure, but no one asked who my partner is, or say I didn’t know you were married.
Request for Discretion
Closing the circle, I emphasized to friends: “This is news I'd like to share, so please keep this news to yourself. It’s not that I am not excited or worried about the pregnancy. I have just been through a lot to get here, and I’d like to choose who I share this journey with.”
Positive Reactions
Surprisingly, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Rather than prying into the details of my journey, most friends and clients simply shared in my joy and congratulated me.
I chose to be private about the details, because that’s me, not everyone will struggle to find the right words as I did.
As my counselor wisely put it, share as much or as little as you want. It's your choice, and your joy is what matters most.
Have more questions, or need a sounding board through this stage of the process, find out more about my coaching service here
If you want to learn more about my journey of becoming a Choice Mom, I invite you to check out my ebook, where I share my personal experiences and provide the self-inquiry questions and resources to help you on your choice mom journey.
But, if you're ready to explore whether coaching is right for you, book a consult today. Together, we can navigate this process and ensure you have the guidance and support you need to make confident choices. Because no woman needs to go through this process alone.
