The tiny human you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived! Getting to share that news with the world is icing on the cake. And there are so many ways to do it, all of which can be customized according to your personality, your budget, and how much time and energy you want to invest. Read on for the lowdown on how to announce your birth, and what to say when you do.

Types of Announcements

Print: Sending out a nice cardstock keepsake is the most traditional type of baby announcement, but also the most time-consuming. First you’ll want to decide what kind of photo to include. If you want to have a photographer do a newborn session, save your sanity by comparing, choosing, and hiring a photographer before you give birth. That way all you’ll have to do is schedule the session (which will be challenging enough during the first few weeks of motherhood!). If you give birth at a hospital, they often have a photographer available to do an in-room photo session before you go home.

If you plan on using one of those photos, just make sure you bring the clothes you want to wear, and any beauty or makeup supplies that will make you feel camera-ready. Having a photo professionally shot isn’t a must, though—you’ll probably have some excellent announcement photo options right on your phone. Have your mailing list prepped before baby arrives as well, so you’re not trying to track down addresses between feeding sessions and newborn snuggles.

Digital: If you don’t feel like sealing and stamping a bunch of envelopes, or even just making a trip to the post office (understandable!), opt for a digital announcement. You can still use a professional or personal photo, just in a much more efficient and cost-effective way. Recipients won’t be able to post your email on their fridge (unless they print it out themselves—hi grandma!), but the sentiment and excitement is just the same. Have your email address list prepped before baby arrives, so it’s as easy to send off as possible.

Social: Don’t feel like sending out a formal print or email announcement? Social media offers a quick and easy way to spread the word (and happiness) to all your friends and family (and in the case of Facebook, your old co-workers, your elementary school classmates, and that random person whose friend request you accepted even though you have no idea who they are). Even if you do send an announcement out to friends and relatives, you’ll probably still want to announce baby’s arrival on social media, whether it’s simply an online version of your more formal announcement, or something quick and casual for the ’gram. This is your announcement—it’s totally up to you!

Info to Include

No matter how you make your announcement, there is some standard information that you’ll probably want to include: the baby’s full name, birthdate and time, sex, and weight and length if you feel like sharing. If you’re going the more formal route, you can add your and your partner’s full names as well.  

When to Send

Here’s the best news: it’s totally up to you! In other words, don’t stress about getting your announcement in the mail before baby’s first week on earth has ended. It’s probably fair to say that anyone who needs to know you had a baby already does. No one’s expecting anything, so send your announcement out whenever you get around to it. You can always post an announcement on social media first, and send something more formal via email or snail mail later. Just remember: announcing your baby’s birth should be a thrill, and everyone will be thrilled for you, no matter how they hear the news.