- my iParenting

- quick clicks
- preconception articles
- preconception q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.

Expert Q&A
![]() | ||
| By Kathy Loebel Kathy Loebel is a certified nurse midwife | ||
How long after you confirm pregnancy should you wait to tell your family?
The currently marketed home pregnancy tests are as accurate as any urine pregnancy test used at the health care provider's office. There are special blood tests that are more accurate and can provide information about certain hormone levels in early pregnancy, but these would be used only in special circumstances.
As to telling your family, that is an entirely individual decision. Statistically, most miscarriages occur in the first 12 weeks, so I counsel my clients that before the pregnancy reaches 12 weeks, to tell only those people that you would feel comfortable with for support if you had to then tell them you had miscarried. For some women, this would include most of their family members and many friends, for other women, it may mean telling only their partner or spouse."
Related Expert Q&A
- My period is 4 days late. How long should I wait to take a pregnancy test and should I be worried?
- Is there any test out there that will give me accurate results on Day 20 of my cycle?
- How soon after conception could someone find out if they're pregnant?
- My period is late but the home pregnancy test was negative. What's going on?
- How long after you confirm pregnancy should you wait to tell your family?



