How to Tell Your Coworkers You’re Pregnant

Telling your coworkers that you’re pregnant can feel oddly more nerve-wracking than telling friends or family. At work, you’re balancing your very big, very personal news with project timelines, team dynamics, and maybe even worries about how others will react.

Take a breath. You don’t need a perfect speech or a Pinterest-y “reveal.” What you do need is a simple plan for when, who, and how to tell…plus, a few ready-made scripts so you’re not stuck fumbling for words.

Tell your boss (and maybe HR) before coworkers.

It’s best for your manager to hear your news before the rest of your team. That way, they’re not finding out through office chatter or a group chat, and you two can start thinking about coverage for your leave together.

In many workplaces, you might also loop in HR around the same time to understand your parental leave and any accommodations you might need, like schedule changes or help managing physically demanding tasks. Laws like the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act protect workers from discrimination and require many employers to provide reasonable pregnancy-related accommodations, but the specifics of your rights and benefits can vary by employer and location.

Once your boss is in the know (and you’ve had at least a quick chat about timing and coverage), you’re in a great position to tell coworkers.

Need help figuring out what to say? Read our guide to telling your boss you’re pregnant!

When should you tell your coworkers you’re pregnant?

There’s no one “right” week to share your news. Many people tell work around the end of the first trimester or early in the second, when they may be starting to show and the risk of miscarriage is lower—but this is a convention, not a rule.

Think through these questions to help you decide your timing:

• Are symptoms affecting your work? If morning sickness, fatigue, or frequent appointments are making work tougher, telling a few coworkers sooner can help them understand what’s going on—and give you some support.
• Are you visibly pregnant or about to be? If it’s getting harder to hide your bump (or your stretchy-waistband situation), it may be time to share so you’re not dealing with whispers or speculation.
• Is big work stuff happening right now? If you’re in the middle of a big project, performance review cycle, or promotion discussion, you might wait until those are wrapped up—or you might feel better sharing sooner so your team can plan.
• How would you feel sharing if the pregnancy didn’t continue? Some people want the support of coworkers if they experience pregnancy loss; others prefer not to navigate that at work. Your comfort level here can help guide your timing.

Bottom line: You get to decide when you’re ready. There is no obligation to tell coworkers immediately just because you’ve told a few friends or posted online. (Read more on when to announce a pregnancy.)

Which coworkers should you tell first?

Once your boss is looped in, think about coworkers in “circles” instead of trying to tell everyone at once. Here are common circles—and a suggested order for telling them:

• Your closest work friends: These are the people who might have already guessed from your snack stash or nap-level yawns. Many folks like to share with this inner circle early, especially if they’d want their support if anything complicated came up.
  
• Your immediate team: These are the people whose work will be most impacted by your leave. Often, folks share at a regular team meeting or a quick huddle once they’ve confirmed high-level timing with their manager.
  
• Direct reports: If you’re a manger, your team will probably have the most questions about how your leave affects their projects. It’s important they hear the news directly from you—not through office gossip or a random calendar notification that you’ll be out.
  
• The wider circle: Think: cross-functional partners, clients, or folks you collaborate with less frequently. It’s often fine for these coworkers to simply hear as it comes up in conversation or when planning for your leave.

You don’t have to tell everyone the same day, but try not to let weeks pass between telling some team members and others. That’s how you end up with awkward “Wait…how does everyone already know?” moments.

How to Tell Coworkers You’re Pregnant

No need for a big speech! These short, straightforward scripts will get the job done. Tweak them to fit your style and workplace.

Telling a Close Coworker 1:1

I wanted to share a bit of personal news—I’m pregnant! I’m due in [month]. I’ve talked with [manager’s name], and we’ll be working out leave plans as it gets closer, but I wanted you to hear it from me.

Sharing With Your Team as a Peer

You might use this in a regular team meeting or quick huddle:

I have some personal news: I’m pregnant and due in [month]. I’ve already spoken with [manager’s name], and as we get closer, we’ll share more about how we’ll handle coverage while I’m out. For now, I just wanted to let you all know.

If you’re remote, this works well on a video call or in a short, clearly titled message in your team chat.

Telling Your Direct Reports as a Manager

When you manage people, your pregnancy announcement often needs a bit more reassurance about how work will be handled:

I wanted to share some happy news: I’m pregnant and due in [month]. I’ve been talking with [my manager/HR], and we’ll put together a clear plan for how we’ll handle projects while I’m on leave. I know you might have questions about what this means for your work or the team, and I’ll be sure to give you plenty of notice and details as we get closer. For now, I just wanted you to hear it directly from me.

Email or Slack Message to your Team

If your workplace communicates mostly in writing, you can absolutely share the news that way:

Subject: A bit of personal news

Hi team,I wanted to share some personal news with you all: I’m pregnant and due in [month]. I’ve spoken with [manager’s name], and as we get closer, we’ll share a clear plan for how we’ll handle work while I’m on leave. I’m really happy to share this with you and appreciate your support!

[Your name]

When You’re Not Ready to Talk Details

You’re allowed to keep things simple and private. If coworkers start asking logistics questions before you have answers, try:

We’re still working out the details, but I’ll definitely share the plan once it’s all set.

Or, if someone veers into personal territory:

I’m keeping some of the details just for family, but thanks for understanding!

Handling Awkward or Intrusive Reactions

Most coworkers will say “Congratulations!” and move on. But occasionally, you may get comments that feel…off. Here are some gentle ways to shut down conversations you don’t want to have:

• On your body or size: “I’m trying not to focus on body stuff right now, but thanks for checking in.”
• On your plans to return to work: “I’m planning as if I’ll be back after leave, and I’ll keep everyone posted if anything changes.”
• On fertility, losses, or how long you “tried”: “That’s something I’m keeping just within my close circle, but I appreciate your excitement.”

If someone says something clearly inappropriate (for example, doubting your commitment or making comments about promotions), it may be worth documenting the comment and looping in HR or a trusted leader. In many places, discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions is illegal.

What if you don’t want everyone at work to know?

You’re allowed to be selective. Some options:

• Tell only your manager, HR, and a few trusted coworkers for a while.
• Ask those you tell not to share beyond the group.
• If your role doesn’t require lots of in-person contact, you might keep the news fairly contained until closer to your leave.

That said, once your pregnancy is physically obvious, it’s likely the news will naturally spread. Try to focus on what you can control: who hears it directly from you, how you frame it, and what boundaries you set around personal questions.

A Few Reassuring Reminders

• You don’t need a perfect plan to share the news. It’s okay if you don’t yet know your exact last day before leave or the full coverage plan—those details can come later.
• You deserve to be treated fairly. Laws in many places protect pregnant workers from discrimination and require reasonable accommodations.
• You’re allowed to feel…everything. Excited, nervous, overwhelmed, private, chatty—there’s no one “professional” way to feel about being pregnant at work.

Sharing your pregnancy at work doesn’t have to be a performance. A simple, honest sentence or two is more than enough. You’re not just announcing a change to the team calendar—you’re letting people in on something big and wonderful in your life. That deserves to be met with care…including from you, toward yourself.

More for Employed Parents:

• What to Write in Your Maternity Leave Out-of-Office Email
• 5 Benefits That Go a Long Way to Support Working Parents
• Returning to Work After Parental Leave? Here’s Your Game Plan
• All About Paternity Leave

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.