Popular TikTok personalities Shane and Hannah Burcaw, better known to their followers as Squirmy and Grubs, have announced they are expecting their first child together in January 2024. The couple, who took to Instagram on September 8 to share the joyous news, have since opened up about their reasons for initially keeping the pregnancy private.
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In a follow-up video posted on YouTube, the Burcaws explained that the first five months of Hannah’s pregnancy were spent in relative seclusion. Hannah explained that during this time, they wanted to enjoy the privacy while also determining what they felt comfortable sharing regarding their journey. “We were just enjoying the privacy and also figuring out like what we should share, when we should share,” she said.
Shane echoed her sentiments, emphasising the responsibility they felt towards their unborn child. “We are bringing another human into the world, [and] they can’t like speak for their privacy right now,” he noted. The couple is committed to navigating this new chapter of their lives with care, ensuring that their public sharing aligns with their personal values.
Acknowledging the challenges that come with such announcements, the Burcaws revealed that they were also keen to protect their news from potential negativity online. Shane, who lives with spinal muscular atrophy, expressed concerns over the backlash they might face, stating, “There are going to be a number of people, a big number of people, who are not happy about this pregnancy announcement.”
He continued, “There are going to be horrible, horrible people in the comments and in the message boards and in our emails telling us that we are making the worst mistakes of our lives, [and] that I cannot and should not be a father because of my disability.” Shane admitted that this kind of harmful rhetoric had affected him deeply and that it was something he grappled with regularly.
Despite the challenges discussed, the couple expressed overwhelming happiness about their impending parenthood. In their Instagram post, they shared the exciting news and included a heartfelt caption revealing that Hannah is currently 20 weeks pregnant. Their shared joy was palpable as they stated, “We are beyond ecstatic to announce that we’re expecting our first child this coming January!”
Along with the announcement, the couple featured several photos, including images of their sonograms, which further encapsulated the joy of this momentous milestone in their lives. They revealed that while they had cherished their private experience, they were eager to share the joy with their followers moving forward.
The Burcaws are also tapping into the trending social media concept of supporting other expecting families by encouraging followers to share their own baby registry links in the comments. In a show of empathy, they reflected on their previous struggles with IVF, having faced difficulties in conceiving for several years. “We understand all too well the difficulties that many people experience when trying to conceive, and how seeing announcements can feel. Our hearts go out to you,” they wrote.
Their announcement not only marks a significant personal milestone but also highlights their understanding of the complexities and emotional realities of parenthood, especially for those facing challenges.
The couple intends to keep their supporters updated throughout their pregnancy journey and has plans for Shane to document their experiences in a baby blog. They encouraged their followers to check out their new video and blog to catch up on how the pregnancy has been progressing, as well as sharing insights about their summer.
As Shane and Hannah prepare for their little one’s arrival, many are looking forward to watching their journey unfold on social media, celebrating the joys and challenges of parenthood alongside them.