5 Reasons to Keep Your Pregnancy a Secret

Some women want to shout it from the rooftops when they get a positive pregnancy test, especially if they've been actively trying to get pregnant or have struggled with infertility. Within hours of seeing those blue lines, their entire network of friends and family are privy to the "big news." Others prefer to wait a few days or take a few more tests, while some would rather go to their doctor first just to make sure that things are "official" (although home pregnancy tests are very accurate these days).

But what if you're still not ready to share? You may feel like you're supposed to, but there's no reason for anybody but you and your doctor to know that you're pregnant until you're ready to share. In fact, there are some valid reasons to keep your pregnancy a secret for a little -- or maybe even a longer -- while. Depending on how long you want to wait, it can be tricky to keep people from finding out; growing another person inside your body does tend to have noticeable effects. There are legitimate medical reasons for keeping your pregnancy a secret for a little while, though; your doctor may even suggest it. Read on to find out why.