My boyfriend and I are TTC but I never thought about how we would tell our parents (main concern). Friends I feel is simple, “Hey! We are pregnant.” But how did you tell your family members?
Thanks in advance!
With #1, we just told them face to face. This time around, we employed a Big [name]Sister[/name] t-shirt and just waited for them to notice 
Overdone, but the reactions were truly priceless.
I think it’s all about personality! If you want a “drama” reveal how about having a the immediate family over for a themed dinner. I saw it on the Duggars show, but thought it was a great idea. They had all sorts of baby type foods- baby carrots, baby back ribs, etc. and then had the family guess what the theme was. If you want something more subtle how about just showing an ultra sound pic to family one by one. The news will spread quickly to outlying family and you will only have to share the news to those you feel comfortable sharing with.
We just told them… but 2 cute stories from family members:
My cousin drew a picture that looked like a child’s drawing of 2 “adult” stick figures and a little baby stick figure that said “We love you grandma”. She framed it and gave it to her mother, gift-wrapped. My aunt opened the gift and wondered why her two older grand-children (from cousin’s sister) had drawn such a childish drawing and why there were only 3 members in the family instead of 4. It took her a while to realize it was her 2nd daughter who was pregnant!
best one: my DH’s cousin took a photo of herself and her husband with “surprised” faces, standing in front of the oven. The oven door was open and there was a bread roll sitting on the rack. They posted it on facebook without any comment or description. Once one friend figured it out, there were lots of comments about the “bun in the oven”. 
I hit the 12 week mark on [name]Christmas[/name] [name]Eve[/name], so we giftwrapped children’s books (“Grandma Grandpa and Me” etc) and gave them to our parents.
For friends we took a picture of our dog with a big brother bandana. (He’s been our only child for a long time!)
With Roo, Husband (back then Boyfriend) just said it with a lot of um, ah, eh awkwardness in between the words.
I told my mum on the phone, because she was annoying. For my sister, brother, BILS, great grandmothers and very close friends I did what [name]Tara[/name] did (or rather, a romper which I embroidered Big [name]Sister[/name] on) and sent them on a txt.
Edited for privacy.
My family likes to do a big-to-do-about-nothing sort of affair. Not that being pregnant is nothing.
Usually the person with something to tell slyly invites everyone over for brunch, Kaffeklatch (coffee and cake), or dinner and then has that meal be themed. We never come out and say thing like… “I got my first period” (yes, all the food was red and white and decorations had similar connotations), “we’re engaged”, or “I’m pregnant”. It comes down to how observant everyone is. It’s quite amusing because people will be 1/2 way through the meal look up and go “Oh, My, God! You’re pregnant aren’t you.” All you got to say is “Yep!” and hand a little prize to the winner -> if you so like.
Other friends of mine bought matching sneakers and toddler shoes and took a picture of their feet (including the dog’s). With something like “we’re expecting or it’s a good thing we learned to count to ten.” and sent it out via snail-mail to all the important people.
i think the most important thing is that if you fear people might be on edge about how to feel about it - (it’s how my mom felt when she had to tell her mom she was going to be a single parent and that she was pregnant all in one) - is letting them know in no uncertain terms how excited you are and that this is exactly what you want. You might even have to say it outright but lets face it, nobody really doesn’t get excited about another person’s child - unless they are worried you’ll be overwhelmed or aren’t ready/wanting it.
You berries had so many clever ideas! I feel like since our dogs are basically our children we would probably involve them some how or another! I love the bandanna idea. Its subtle enough and not super dramatic.
@[name]Ottilie[/name]- I honestly feel like that would be my boyfriend with the ums, eh, weird pauses! haha Once he gets nervous its totally over for him.
Where any of you nervous to tell your family members?
I was super nervous telling my dad about [name]Baby[/name] #2, because he has made several comments about what a big personality my daughter has, and how no younger child could possibly compete for attention. It’s his own baggage - he’s the younger brother of a very dynamic personality - but I was still dreading telling him. Best to just swallow the frog and get on with it in those types of situations, and make it VERY clear that YOU are excited, like [name]Lexie[/name] suggested.
I was nervous to tell my family, as I was not in a very serious relationship (they didn’t know about it), in college, and had recently moved back in with my parents due to medical issues.
I told my mom at the doctor’s office, I asked her to drive me to an appointment and then told her in front of my doctor - part of the reason she was upset was because of medical issues - I needed to go off medication, and the doctor helped reassure her I would be ok. She was upset for a few minutes, but then said congratulations and gave me a hug, and quickly became VERY excited to be a grandma.
I was probably even more nervous to tell my Dad…and when I told him I think he was shocked, he was dead silent for about a whole minute afterwards. He then asked me if I was going to keep the baby, and I said yes, and he said “that’s cool”. He was happy and supportive.
SO’s family was pretty much the same way. He didn’t tell them until I was about 6 months pregnant (we didn’t get back together until shortly before she was born), and the only thing they were upset about was that he didn’t tell them sooner.
I still have a picture of him in his bandana up on the fridge…it’s hilarious how some people have to stop and think about it for a second but other dog people immediately get it. 
I ordered ours here: This item is unavailable - Etsy
Not pregnant for a long time but I’ve contemplated afew ideas. My [name]MIL[/name] was an English teacher so we might send her a book that has “please read to me on/after (due date).” For my FIL I have no idea. Same with my parents.
For a general announcement we might just do the “bun in oven” picture.
For my son we gave my father and stepmother one of those photo albums that stand up on their own like a frame that said Grandchildren on it and had individual pictures of all their grandchildren with an ultrasound picture in the back.
For my daughter we put my son in a Big Brother in Training shirt and let him run around at Thanksgiving. My grandmother-in-law thought we were just letting our son wear his cousin who was already a big brother’s shirt so we corrected her and announced it to everyone.
[name]Man[/name], all I did was call people on the phone after I got a couple of positive tests!
I haven’t been pregnant, but I enjoy watching pregnancy announcements on YouTube when I’m bored. My favorite is when people set up a camera to take a family photo and set it to video, then say, “[name]Say[/name], (Insert Name Here) is pregnant!” rather than “cheese.” Most of the time people are shocked and happy… but the really good ones are when they actually repeat what was said, there’s a pause, and THEN they get it. So funny.
Another one I’d be more comfortable doing is wrapping up a baby-related present, like a onesie or bib or something that says grandma/grandpa on it, and giving it to your parents.
Thought I’d throw those out there. There are tons of ideas on YouTube if you’re still looking!
Thank you everyone for responding! It makes me feel better knowing some of you were nervous. I am only 23 (going to be 24) and my boyfriend is 26, we are TTC but I am nervous people will think we are too young to be parents and judge us. I want a subtle way to do or a way that I do not have to say it to their faces lol
northernlights- Thank you for the suggestions! I really like the bandanna idea with our two Pit bulls or the onesies.
Not pregnant or TTC, but I’ve thought about just calling my parents up when it happens and asking “So, do you want to be called anything besides Grandma or Grampa?”
With my brothers I’d probably throw something relevant at them. Literally. We’re like that. Or just make a ton of comments about cravings, since they already ask ‘What, you pregnant or something?’ when I say that word (normally in direct relation to Taco [name]Bell[/name]).
It would be cute to do weekly ‘bump’ pictures on facebook for your friends without saying what they are and see how long it takes them to notice.
Depending on the situation, I’m also the kind of person who would just… show up places with a baby… see what happens…
Sending gifts is even better. Like ‘World’s Best __________’ mugs or something.
This is exactly what we did! I’m so happy to have this moment on video for posterity 
Warning to headphone users: the women get pretty loud when they figure it out.
@mrstoon- that is amazing!!! I love all of the reactions and thank you for sharing that! It’s amazing you have it documented. Such a brilliant idea.