Bringing a new baby into the world is one of the greatest joys of life, one of the most magical and creative endeavors you’ll ever face – and announcing the arrival of your little bundle of joy is one of the first things you can do to set the stage for your little one. Whether you’re expecting your first baby or adding to your family, there are many creative ways to share the happy news with your loved ones. I’ll walk you through some of my favorite ideas, and share with you the special ways we announced our babies!
Pregnancy Announcements
A simple and common way to share the news is through a social media post. This is a fun way to involve your friends and family in the excitement of your new addition, and can include a photo of your growing bump, a funny pregnancy quote, or even a video announcement.
For close friends and family members, a phone call or personal visit can be a perfect way to share the news and is much more personal and impactful than a social media post. This allows you to share the details about your delivery day and give them the opportunity to share in your excitement. If you’re sure that your parents or other close family members won’t have a favorable reaction, it may be best to deliver the news over the phone so you don’t allow their negative energy in your physical space.
For new parents expecting a second or third baby, a sibling pregnancy announcement can be a fun way to involve your big siblings in the excitement. This can be as simple as a photo of your older child holding a sign announcing the arrival of their new brother or sister, or a creative idea like a “big bump, little bump” shirt for both mom and older child to wear.
For those who are expecting a rainbow baby, a special announcement can be a wonderful way to honor the memory of your previous loss and celebrate the arrival of your new little star. Consider making your announcement cards and designs rainbow themed to acknowledge the life that was lost while also celebrating the new life that is beginning.
If you want to do a creative and unique pregnancy announcement, look to Pinterest for inspiration. You’ll find DIY instructions on everything from flat lay pregnancy announcements, dog-related pregnancy announcements, funny pregnancy announcement ideas, and sibling pregnancy announcements. You’re sure to find all the inspiration you need for a great way to deliver the big news!
When my husband and I were expecting our first Covid-era baby (believe it or not, we had TWO during that time), I knew we had to make it extra special – it was my fourth baby but it was his first! Since we couldn’t travel to physically see anyone at the time, I created an announcement box and mailed to our parents. It included this cute onesie from Amazon:
And this onesie folded behind it:
With the onesies I included a cute book Dear Grandchild, This is Me – a place for them to write about themselves to be able to one day give to their new granddaughter.
Our parents where shocked and delighted upon opening the boxes!
We broke the news about the baby to our older children in a slightly different way but in a very special way to us. One afternoon we sat the three older kids down on the couch and I handed them each a gift bag. Inside was a stuffy I knew they’d each adore, along with a book on “how to be a good big brother/sister”, along with a note, from “the baby”, talking about how excited they were to meet their big sisters and brother. I wrote it in the first person from the perspective of the baby. It was something they have kept now for years and is very special to them.
Here’s one of the notes, given to my daughter Seraphin:
However you announce your pregnancy to the world, you’ll want some ideas on how to word the pregnancy announcement. Here are some ideas for inspiration:
Sample ideas for wording the pregnancy announcement
- “A little bit of heaven sent down to earth – we’re expecting!”
- “We’re over the moon to announce that our family is growing by one”
- “A new adventure begins, we’re expecting a baby”
- “We’re thrilled to say that our love story will have a new chapter, a new baby!”
- “A new little life is on the way and we can’t wait to meet him/her”
- “Our hearts are full and our family will be too, with the arrival of a new baby”
- “We’re adding another little one to our tribe and we couldn’t be happier”
- “A new little blessing is on the way and we’re beyond excited”
- “We’re expecting a new little miracle to join our family”
- “The greatest adventure starts with the smallest step, and we’re expecting a baby!”
Baby Shower
If you’re expecting your first baby, or even if you’re expecting your second baby, third baby, or eleventh baby, a baby shower is a wonderful way to celebrate the arrival of your little one. Not only is it a fun way to celebrate with your loved ones, but it’s also a great opportunity to share your baby’s name, baby’s due date, and any other details you’d like to share. A baby shower, no matter how big or small, is a beautiful way to set aside time to honor yourself as a growing mother, to invite warmth and love and celebration for the new life growing inside your womb, and to give this event in your life the sacred time and attention it deserves.
There are some people who might feel odd about having a baby shower for a second or third baby, especially if the babies are close together. If you are in that position, I recommend you try looking at it this way – life gives us many challenges, many hardships – none of which we can control. We have to celebrate and find joy where we can. Whether this child came first or last in the birth order of your family, their life, given by God, is blessed and sacred, and making time to celebrate their arrival is not something you will regret.
In the baby shower invitation you can always say: “Please, no gifts, we have all that we need! Join us in surrounding our little pumpkin with all the love they need as they prepare for a grand adventure with us.” Or you could ask everyone to bring their favorite books as a simple gift, or simply words of encouragement and wisdom for the new little person growing in your belly.
Sample baby shower invitation ideas
- “Please join us in celebrating the arrival of [baby’s name] at a baby shower on [date and time].”
- “A gift from God is on the way, and we’re throwing a baby shower to prepare. Please join us on [date and time].”
- “It’s a baby shower for [baby’s name]! Please come and celebrate with us on [date and time].”
- “We’re thrilled to announce that [baby’s name] is on the way and we’re throwing a baby shower. Please join us on [date and time].”
- “Join us in welcoming [baby’s name] to the world with a baby shower on [date and time].”
- “Please come and help us celebrate the impending arrival of [baby’s name] at a baby shower on [date and time].”
- “We’re so excited to share the news that [baby’s name] is on the way and we’re throwing a baby shower. Join us on [date and time].”
- “A new little bundle of joy is on the way and we’re throwing a baby shower to celebrate. Please join us on [date and time].”
- “We’re having a baby shower to prepare for the arrival of [baby’s name] and we’d love for you to join us on [date and time].”
- “The stork is on its way and we’re throwing a baby shower to prepare. Please come and celebrate with us on [date and time].”
Birth Announcements
If you want to keep it simple, one of the easiest ways to announce your new baby is through a special announcement card that you mail to family and friends and post on Facebook, Instagram, or other social media platforms. A birth announcement card can be a simple, elegant card with your baby’s name, birthdate, and weight, or a more creative option like a letter board with a funny announcement caption. Be sure to include a photo of your new addition!
Also remember to keep a couple extras for yourself to store in your “baby box” so that you can look back on it years later. I recently purchased these baby boxes and store their birth announcements, hospital ID bracelets, and other special items in them.
Sample ideas for wording the birth announcement
When it comes to announcing your new baby, the right words make all the difference. Some perfect wording options include:
- “Our little miracle has arrived!”
- “We’re thrilled to announce the arrival of our brand new pair of genes!”
- “Introducing our precious soul, [baby’s name]”
- “The arrival of our baby boy/girl is the best gift we could ever receive”
- “Our family tree just grew by one little branch”
- “The world has gained another beautiful child.”
No matter how you choose to announce your new baby, the most important thing is to share the news in a way that feels special and meaningful to you and your loved ones. Whether it’s through a social media post, a special card, or a phone call, the arrival of your new bundle of joy is a sacred occasion and sharing the exciting news is a wonderful way to celebrate.
After the baby advice
Lastly, a new baby is no light matter. Whether this is your first baby or your fifth, your life is about to change in many ways. I’ve had five babies myself and my top advice for new moms is:
- Go easy on yourself. Give yourself grace and patience and love and forgiveness.
- Ask your partner for things that might not seem obvious to them– ask for refills on your water, ask for 20 minutes of time to be alone so you can reset from being touched all day and all night. Ask for a back rub. Ask for extra pillows when you’re nursing. Sometimes we feel bad asking or we think our partners should “just know” what we need, but in reality they don’t! But they DO want to help. So ask.
- And let’s not forget the importance of self care after delivery – don’t forget to take some time for yourself and get a lot of sleep, even if it’s 20 minute power naps staggered throughout the day and night. Schedule a massage for yourself for 2 weeks after delivery. Schedule in advance, otherwise you’ll be too overwhelmed to do it once baby comes and your emotions will tell you you can’t take time away from baby. (Your emotions can’t be trusted!) Schedule it, get the massage on your calendar, and make sure you keep the appointment.
- Fill your surroundings with loving, positive affirmations. Listen to uplifting music. Listen to podcasts about the joy of motherhood and about loving marriages. Have your favorite scents going in a diffuser.
- The birth of your child will bring a great depth and variety of emotions. You are going to be exhausted, overjoyed, overwhelmed, profoundly moved, and everything in between. These are all normal. Give yourself a little time to adjust, give yourself permission to soak it all in, feel all the things, and just soak it all up. Before you know it you’ll be preparing for their first day of Kindergarten, making appointments for braces – this is heavy, this is SO much and so hard but it’s THE GOOD STUFF.
Announcing your new baby is a special opportunity – it allows you to capture a special moment that you’ll want to remember forever. So go ahead, share the good news and enjoy this exciting time with your new little bundle of joy and your loved ones. This will be one of the very best times of your life as you prepare your body, your home, your world, for this precious child.