Megan shares beginning her second trimester and how she shared her pregnancy news with family and friends.

Published: March 3, 2016 | Updated: July 7, 2021

Just like clockwork, at 13 weeks, I got my energy back, the nausea disappeared and I rejoined my family as the mom and wife I was before.

Unfortunately, some killer headaches and migraines replaced all my other symptoms in the second trimester, but I’ve learned to manage those with Tylenol, a little peppermint essential oil, staying hydrated and getting plenty of sleep. This might be the only time you don’t get dirty looks when you say, “Honey, I have a headache. I’m going to bed.” So run with it! (By the way, if you find you’re taking Tylenol frequently, be sure to run it by your health care provider just to be safe.)

And then there’s the question of sharing your big news. With our first two kids, my husband and I were pretty tight-lipped about sharing baby news before the second trimester. With our first, we wanted to wait to tell the masses because we needed to absorb the news ourselves. To be honest, until I went to the doctor and she told me I was pregnant, I didn’t really believe it. I didn’t have any of the common symptoms of early pregnancy with my first, except being more tired.

With our second child, I shared the news with my sister early on, and that was it. With the third, we told our immediate family and a couple of close friends before the end of the first trimester, but we waited until 13 weeks to tell anyone else.

Everyone has an opinion on the best time to share your news, and I’ve heard them all. I’ve seen pregnancy tests posted on Facebook moments after a couple found out. I’ve heard it through the grapevine. I’ve met people who waited 16 weeks or longer to tell anyone.

I’ve come to the conclusion that this decision needs to be entirely yours. There are no rules here. It’s all about whatever works for you.

For me, I always worried about miscarrying, and because I am an introvert, I knew if that happened it would be something I would want to deal with on my own with my husband. Yet, I know many people who shared their news early and unfortunately miscarried, only to find comfort in the support from friends and family.

Whatever your choice, I truly believe that it is so powerful for women to hear and connect with other women who have gone through the same experiences and for them to know they are not alone — through the good times and the bad.

So when it comes to sharing your news, do what feels comfortable to you. Having a life growing inside you is something worth shouting from the rooftops! It is amazing and so exciting to share the news with family and friends, so do it in whatever way brings you joy.