Making the announcement that you're pregnant can be one of the most memorable moments in your life. Some couples choose to quietly spread the news, while others devise unique and unforgettable ways of breaking the news. Telling your family that you're pregnant can be a fun way to get them excited about the newest addition to the family. Before you rush off to break the news, sit down and think about how long you want to wait to tell family, friends, acquaintances and co-workers. Some couples may feel more comfortable waiting a little while, while others may want to immediately shout it from the rooftops.

There are advantages and disadvantages to announcing your pregnancy early on. For one thing, you'll have an automatic excuse for mood swings, strange cravings, fatigue and looking a bit bloated. You'll find that your friends and family will take better care of you, giving you the best seat in the car, making sure you eat first, and planning activities around you. If you have other children, you may also get more offers of help while you're struggling to get through the adjustment of the first trimester. Announcing your pregnancy early on to your boss may get you leniency, and definitely a little more understanding if you have to take a couple of sick days off, or spend more time in the bathroom than usual. Remember, your boss cannot fire you for announcing your pregnancy, so you needn't fear for your job.

If you like advice and input from others, announcing your pregnancy early on may be beneficial to you, particularly if this is your first pregnancy. You can benefit from your friends' and family's experience and expertise. You'll have a lot of decisions to make such as who will deliver the baby, what hospital you'll use, what type of childbirth education you'd like to take, and so on. The women in your life will most likely have opinions, and will be excited to share them with you.

On the other hand, if you wait to announce your pregnancy, you and your husband get time to savor the news privately for a little while. You can take time to prepare yourself for the excitement, questions and inevitable advice that comes with announcing your pregnancy. Certain decisions, like finding out the gender of the baby, having certain prenatal tests, etc., can be made without the sometimes unwanted advice from well-meaning family and friends.

The disadvantage to announcing your pregnancy early on is, well, the excitement. While it may be heartwarming to know that your friends and family share your enthusiasm about the little one, you may soon tire of the constant questions and interest. Many pregnant women feel a bit overwhelmed at how all-consuming pregnancy is, and can't stomach one more question about it. Waiting to announce your pregnancy can leave your friends and family a bit confused about why you seem different, and you may feel a bit guilty keeping the secret from those closest to you. Some couples feel a bit uncomfortable announcing a pregnancy early on for fear of miscarriage, and may wait until the end of the first trimester to break the news, when chances of miscarriage significantly fall.

One thing to keep in mind when announcing your pregnancy is to think carefully about your timing, who you tell first, second, and so on. Some friends and family members can feel a little left out if they find out second hand that you're pregnant. While it is your choice when, how and who you tell, keep the feelings of others in mind to avoid hurt feelings. Once you decide when to announce your pregnancy, the next decision you'll have to make is how to do it.