Ideas for a pregnancy announcement shirt: due date layouts, printing an ultrasound image, big brother and big sister lines, grandparent reveals, photo shoot tips and keeping it secret.
A pregnancy announcement shirt tells your news without a word: a due date, an ultrasound photo, or a big brother line printed on a shirt someone wears at the exact moment you want people to find out. It works for a photo you post online, a dinner with the grandparents or a quiet reveal to your partner. Below you will find due date design ideas, big brother and big sister lines, how to print an ultrasound image cleanly, photo shoot tips and how to keep the order a secret. When you are ready, design your pregnancy announcement shirt and preview it before you pay.
What should a pregnancy announcement shirt say?
A pregnancy announcement shirt should say the news clearly in a few words, ideally with the due date or season, so anyone reading it understands at a glance. Short lines like "Baby coming May 2027" or "Party of four, arriving this spring" work better than long jokes that people need to read twice.
The best wording depends on who will see it and how. A shirt for a social post can be playful, because people will stop and zoom. A shirt for a family dinner needs to be readable from across the table. A few lines that work for parents:
- "Eating for two, officially."
- "Coming soon: Baby Martínez, spring 2027."
- "Plus one. Due in June."
- "We made a person. Details in May."
- "Mom loading. Please wait."
Keep it to one main line plus a date. If you want a second idea, a small back print can carry it, so the front stays clean for photos.
How do you design a shirt around the due date?
A due date shirt makes the date the hero of the design: a calendar page with one day circled, a countdown, or the month and year in large type. The date answers the first question everyone asks, so building the design around it saves you from repeating it fifty times at the party.
Some due date layouts that print cleanly:
| Due date idea | How it looks | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Circled calendar page | A month grid with the due day circled in red | Photos where people zoom in |
| Month and year in large type | "MAY 2027" with a tiny heart under it | Family dinners and group photos |
| Countdown style | "Arriving in 7 months" with a small stork | Early announcements |
| Season and fruit | "Little mango, due this summer" with an illustration | A playful Florida twist |
| City and date | Your city name with the due month under it | Couples who like a minimal look |
If the due date is still an estimate, use the month or the season rather than a specific day. Babies rarely read calendars. Try a couple of layouts in the shirt designer with live preview to see which reads best on your shirt color.
How do you turn an ultrasound scan into a clean shirt print?
An ultrasound scan turns into a clean shirt print when you start from a sharp digital copy, crop away the clinic text and keep the image a moderate size. It prints in full color, and it looks clearest when you use a sharp digital copy rather than a photo of the printed slip. Ask the clinic for the digital image if they offer one, or scan the paper flat at 300 dpi.
Ultrasound prints are small and grainy by nature, so a few steps help:
- Crop to the baby. Remove the clinic text, dates and measurement marks around the image so only the scan remains.
- Keep it moderate in size. Enlarging a small scan across the whole chest exaggerates the grain. A size around the width of your hand often looks best.
- Frame it. A simple rounded frame or a soft border makes the dark scan look intentional on a light shirt.
- Add the words below. "Hello, little one" or the due month under the image explains it for anyone who does not recognize a scan.
A real person on our team checks every file before printing, so if a scan is too small or too blurry, we tell you before it prints. For more on cropping and resolution, see our guide on how to put a photo on a shirt.
What should big brother and big sister shirts say?
Big brother and big sister shirts announce the pregnancy through the child who is getting promoted, which makes them some of the most shared announcement photos. Lines like "Big sister in training" or "Promoted to big brother, 2027" let the older child deliver the news with pride.
Ideas that families love:
- "Big Sister. Est. 2027" in a simple badge design.
- "Only child, final season" for an older child with a sense of humor.
- "I am going to be a big brother" written in the child's own handwriting, scanned and printed.
- A drawing by the older child of the family with one extra small person.
Pets can join too: a dog photo with "Getting a tiny human" works for couples announcing their first baby. Pick each person's shirt, color and size in the designer, and keep one shared color so the family looks connected in the photo.
How do you plan a pregnancy announcement photo shoot with shirts?
Plan a pregnancy announcement photo shoot by choosing a simple location, matching the shirt colors to the setting, and taking the photo in soft morning or late afternoon light. Keep the text large and centered so it reads clearly when the photo shrinks to a phone screen.
Tips from the prints that come out best in photos:
- Pick a calm background. A beach, a park path or a plain wall keeps attention on the shirt.
- Coordinate, do not match exactly. Parents in the same design and two different shirt colors look planned without looking like a uniform.
- Stand square to the camera. Text on a shirt turned sideways is hard to read.
- Use props that explain. A tiny pair of shoes, a sonogram print or a chalkboard with the month.
- Shoot a reveal sequence. One photo with jackets closed, then one with the shirts showing.
If both parents want coordinated designs, our ideas for matching couple shirts show how to pair two designs that work together.
How do you announce a pregnancy to grandparents with a shirt?
To announce a pregnancy to grandparents with a shirt, give them a shirt as a gift that says "Promoted to Grandma" or "Abuelo, est. 2027" and film the moment they read it. The surprise works because they figure out the news themselves while unfolding the shirt.
Wrap it so the text is folded inside, and ask them to hold it up for a photo. Many grandparents read it twice before it lands. If you have two sets of grandparents, give both shirts at the same time over a video call so nobody hears the news second. You can create a grandparent announcement shirt in a few minutes with their names or nicknames.
When should you order, and how do you keep it quiet?
Order announcement shirts about two weeks before the big day, and keep the news quiet by using your own email and phone, shipping to your own address or choosing pickup, and opening the package yourself. Nobody else sees the design unless you share the preview.
Orders ship within 2 business days, but transit time is extra and depends on your carrier, so the two week cushion leaves room for a size swap. If you are announcing in South Florida, pickup in Hollywood, FL avoids a package sitting on a shared porch. Planning a gender reveal later? Our guide to baby shower and gender reveal shirts covers team shirts and the second big moment.
Why order pregnancy announcement shirts from Imperial Custom Apparel?
Imperial Custom Apparel prints every shirt in house in Hollywood, FL, with full color direct to garment printing that handles ultrasound images, handwriting and soft gradients. You can order one shirt for a private reveal or a set for the whole family, at the same price per shirt and with no minimum.
- From $25 per shirt with a full color front print, no minimum.
- Live preview: pick your shirt, color and size and see the scan or the date in place before paying.
- A real person checks every file, so a blurry scan gets flagged before it prints.
- Prints up to 12 x 16 inches from a transparent PNG at 300 dpi, 4500 x 5400 px.
- Ships within 2 business days, across the US, or pickup in Hollywood, FL.
- Damaged or misprinted orders are reprinted or refunded.
Share your news your way: make your pregnancy announcement shirt with your date, your scan and your words.
Frequently asked questions
What should I put on a pregnancy announcement shirt?
Put one short line and the due month or season on a pregnancy announcement shirt, such as "Baby coming May 2027." An ultrasound image, an older child's handwriting or a circled calendar page can support the words. Keep the main text large so it reads clearly in photos.
How do I get a clear ultrasound print on a pregnancy announcement shirt?
To get a clear ultrasound print on a pregnancy announcement shirt, use the clinic's digital file or scan the paper flat at 300 dpi. Crop away the clinic text, and keep the image a moderate size so the natural grain does not get exaggerated.
Can I order just one pregnancy announcement shirt?
Yes, you can order just one pregnancy announcement shirt because there is no minimum. Each shirt starts at $25 with a full color front print, and the price per shirt stays the same whether you order one for a private reveal or a set for the whole family.
How far ahead should I order pregnancy announcement shirts?
Order pregnancy announcement shirts about two weeks before the reveal. Orders ship within 2 business days, and shipping transit time is added on top and not guaranteed. Local pickup in Hollywood, FL is the quickest option for announcements in South Florida.
Where can I get a custom pregnancy announcement shirt made?
You can get a custom pregnancy announcement shirt made at Imperial Custom Apparel. Upload an ultrasound image or add your due date, preview it on the real shirt color, and order from $25 with no minimum. Shirts print in Hollywood, FL and ship across the US. Text (954) 280 0627 with questions.
Announce it with a shirt, from $25
Add your due date, ultrasound image or big sister line, preview it on the real shirt color and order just one. A real person checks every file, and orders ship within 2 business days. Text or call (954) 280 0627.
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