We, I, or my wife had a baby?
As a father of a newborn, do I say:
1. We had a baby. 2. I had a baby. 3. My wife had a baby.
Which one is it?
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1 and 3 are fine. 2 is likely to raise a smile, since it is not commonly used, and implies you personally have given birth to a child -- it will still be generally understood, however.
Dave3 Mar-09-2005
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I'd like to point out the utterly obvious, which is that your usage depends on context. You can easily see which to use in the following sentences:
____ had a baby, and we're both tired from getting up all night.
____ had a baby, and her obstetrician made her stay one extra day in the hospital.
____ had a baby, but now I have a teenager.
speedwell2 Mar-10-2005
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*Did* you have a baby? If so, congratulations :)
speedwell2 Mar-10-2005
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The first and the Second one sound good to go...:)
The meaning implied in the first is that you and your wife have a new addition in the family.
The second makes it explicitly clear that your wife has had a baby.
Archna Mar-22-2005
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When Mary had a little lamb
the doctors were surprised.
But when Old MacDonald had a farm
the doctors almost died.
1. The idea of using "we" is, I'll bet, a more recent form used to be more iclusive of the father, or at least share the blame ;-)
Works if both parents are present but sounds a bit odd if the father (alone) is speaking to someone; then 3 works better.
2. Works if you're the mother.
3. Works if you're the father.
Wayne Apr-08-2005
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Dyske still hasn't mentioned if he really is "...a father of a newborn...." LOL
speedwell2 Apr-13-2005
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Hi Speedwell,
Yes, thank you. My wife did have a baby.
Dyske Apr-14-2005
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Excellent. Hooray :) Best wishes to all of you.
speedwell2 Apr-14-2005
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Why not say "My wife and I had a baby" or "I became (or have become) a father"? I've actually heard these versions more often than those you mention, dyske.
Anyway, congratulations!!
Diana1 Apr-16-2005
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if your talking to someone say "we" but if your talking to the family say "my wife"
user109342 Nov-25-2020
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