Relationship reactions
Some women find they are very concerned about the possibility of miscarriage in the early weeks. This may stem from a past experience, or perhaps because it has happened to a friend or family member. Miscarriage is something that has become more acknowledged in recent years and society has slowly come to realise just how common miscarriage can be (as high as 15% of confirmed pregnancies during the first 12 weeks).
Your concerns may be just the normal worries of early pregnancy or they may be linked to unexplained bleeding or possible risks you are aware of that may increase your chances of miscarriage (such as smoking, or using alcohol or drugs before the pregnancy was known). You may be concerned about playing contact sport or experiencing an accident or fall. Some women will fear miscarriage if they are dealing with traumatic emotional issues (although this is often based more on cultural beliefs, rather than physical reasons). You can read more in
miscarriage.
Concerns about miscarriage can make many women reluctant to want to share their pregnancy news, until they pass the 'magic 12 week stage' (when the likelihood of miscarriage is considerably less). If you have experienced a past miscarriage, it may be that you psychologically need to move past the point where the previous pregnancy was lost, before you can feel more comfortable about accepting the permanence of this pregnancy.
Not wanting to tell people about your pregnancy can be a way of protecting yourself. However, this may in itself increase your feelings of stress, as you quietly go about your day-to-day life under a cloud of concern. If your worry is due to a past miscarriage, then it can be truly hard not to think about the loss of your previous baby and the vulnerability you now may feel with this pregnancy.