From Laughs to Silence: 10 Women Shared the Strangest Responses to “I’m Pregnant”

Announcing a pregnancy is a huge moment - one filled with excitement, nerves, and the hope for happy reactions. But sometimes, instead of joy or congratulations, people respond in the most unexpected ways. From awkward silence to jaw-dropping comments, these women shared the most surprising reactions they’ve received after sharing their baby news.

1. My mother-in-law gasped—but not in a good way.

My mother-in-law had always been supportive of my career, so it never crossed my mind that she might have believed having a baby would jeopardize it. When I told her we were expecting, I had expected enthusiasm. Instead, she gasped, her expression shifting to anger.

I stood frozen as she stepped forward, placed a hand on my belly, and softly said, “What about your career? Women who have babies always lose their careers.”

2. My friend’s reaction was totally confusing.

When I told a close friend my big news, she just raised an eyebrow and said, “Are you sure it’s his?”

I was stunned. My husband and I had been together for years with zero drama. I asked her what she meant, and she just shrugged, saying, “You never know with men.”

I didn’t even know how to respond. It was supposed to be a happy moment, but she turned it into something ugly.

3. My best friend made it about herself.

I couldn’t wait to tell my best friend I was pregnant. We’d talked about our future kids for years, so I assumed she’d be thrilled. But as soon as the words left my mouth, she sighed dramatically and said, “Wow, must be nice. I wish I had my life together enough to have a baby.”

I didn’t know how to respond. I wanted her to be happy for me, but instead, she turned my moment into a reflection of her own struggles. It put a weird strain on our friendship for a while.

4. My dad's reaction was...just confusing.

I told my dad I was pregnant over the phone, expecting a classic “Congratulations, sweetheart!” Instead, he paused and said, “Huh. Well, that’s interesting.” Interesting? I wasn’t sure what that even meant.

He followed it up with, “You know, I never thought of you as a mom type, but I guess we’ll see!” I laughed it off, but it stung a little. I guess he thought I was more of a career woman than a parent, but why not both?

5. My aunt's response hurt me a lot.

After suffering a miscarriage the year before, I was nervous but excited to share my pregnancy news with my aunt. Instead of congratulating me, she just nodded and said, “Well, let’s hope this one sticks.”

I felt like I had been punched in the gut. It wasn’t meant to be cruel, but it completely deflated my joy. Some people just don’t know when to keep their thoughts to themselves.

6. My brother’s first question was about my dog.

When I called my brother to tell him I was pregnant, I expected some version of “Congratulations!” Instead, there was a long pause, followed by, “So... what are you going to do with your dog?” I was so caught off guard that I just stared at my phone in disbelief.

My dog is like family, and I had no intention of giving her up. I assured him that the dog was staying, but the whole conversation left me bewildered. I hung up, wondering why that was his first concern.

7. My MIL was so unsupportive.

I told my mother-in-law I was pregnant, expecting at least a polite congratulations. Instead, she sighed, took a long sip of her tea, and said, “That’s… unfortunate.”

I laughed nervously, thinking she was joking. She wasn’t. She went on to explain how she thought we should’ve waited until we were ‘more stable’ - even though we were married, had careers, and owned a home. It was the most backhanded reaction I never saw coming.

8. My grandma wanted to know if I was sure.

Telling my grandmother I was pregnant was something I’d been excited about for weeks. I pictured her clapping her hands in delight or tearing up. Instead, she squinted at me and asked, “Are you sure?”

I assured her I was, indeed, sure, but she kept pressing, “Well, you never know. Those tests can be wrong!” I appreciated her concern, I guess, but it was definitely not the warm response I’d imagined.

9. My husband’s unexpected panic.

I had dreamed about the moment I’d tell my husband. I imagined happy tears, a big hug—maybe even a romantic moment. But when I handed him the pregnancy test, he blurted out, “Oh my God. I need to sit down.” He actually sat on the floor, staring at the test like it had just ruined his life. For a full minute, he said nothing. Then, finally, he looked up and said, “Wait. This is good, right?”

I laughed, half-annoyed, half-touched. “Yes, it’s good.” It took him a few hours to recover from the shock, but by the next morning, he was already picking out baby names.

10. My mom suggested baby names—for the wrong gender.

The moment I told my mom I was having a girl, she gasped and said, “Oh, wonderful! You should name him after your grandfather!” I gently reminded her that I was having a girl, but she brushed it off, insisting that many boy names could be unisex. I know she meant well, but the whole conversation ended up being more about convincing her my baby was actually a girl than celebrating the news.

Pregnancy announcements don’t always go as planned, and these stories prove that people’s reactions can be anything but predictable. Whether it’s shock, unintentional rudeness, or just pure awkwardness, one thing is clear - sometimes, the response says more about them than it does about you.