Telling my supervisors about the baby tomorrow

[AcademicNerd]

Hiya,

Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day: I am going into my PhD annual review, during which I will be telling my supervisors I'm pregnant (14 weeks on Tuesday).

They won't be expecting this news, and it will certainly mean some disruption to my studies/the project.

Can anyone tell me some nice stories about telling your boss about a pregnancy?

[sophiaslullaby]

Is this your first baby?
I told a colleague before my boss so I had a bit of support but you really should have nothing to worry about - as in, if they make it difficult for you that's discrimination.Unless you're poorly during pregnancy then there's no reason why your work is going to suffer (although fatigue might mean you'll need to take it easy later down the line), you're no less of a woman. Infact you're MORE - you're a working, studying mama-to-be and should hold your head high and proud!

Can you approach it as if telling them joyous news? And then say what your plan for the coming few months in regards to your studies/project will be before they have a chance to worry. ;-)

Good luck and COngratulations!

[sophiaslullaby]

Sorry that kind of reads wrong - of COURSE it's joyous news but I know it can feel as if you're telling your boss or supervisors bad news, shame really.

[AllAboutCats83]

One boss gave me a Crunchie with a little smiley post-it and my other boss told me she'd wrap me in cotton wool and get our technician to do any displays/ladder work/lifting for me 😊

[AcademicNerd]

sophie, my first baby.

allaboutcats chocolate sounds nice.

In my wobbly hormonal moments, I feel like I'm ruining the project and spoiling everything. In my more level moments, I rub my barely-visible bump and think of all the songs I need to learn the words to so I can sing to my bean when it arrives.

[Trulyamnearanear]

Feeling your fear. I'm taking the plunge tomorrow. I've avoided it as long as possible but my bump popped over the weekend (20 weeks) so there's no hiding it.
I'm expecting my boss to be mad as another team member just quit and there's too much work as it is.
Out of interest, what is typical maternity leave in academia. I heard it can be quite restrictive.

[nolly3]

I'm a lecturer, told my boss and she said it was wonderful news and was there anything they could do to help work be ok during pregnancy. She also said - in response to my saying I wasn't going to be very productive- that she was sure I would do everything I needed to do, and everything else could wait. Perfect! Don't worry! It will be fine. Think how outrageous it would be for anyone to say anything to make you feel uncomfortable and how unlikely that it.

Worth checking out your rights in advance as you're a student- lots PHD students get good leave but all depends on funding etc.

In answer to q, 6 months full pay and 3 months stat is not unusual. And academia in general can be very flexible and family friendly, depending on field (and probably on %female workforce)

[divadee]

Depends on the education establishment. I am on FE college and it's just statutory maternity leave so 6 weeks at 90% and then stat pay until 39 weeks and then nothing.

[AcademicNerd]

I told them... and it was fine! I think they were a little surprised, but happy. We're making plans for how we're going to approach the work over the next few months.

[nolly3]

Hooray! Anticipation so often worse than reality. Have you found academics corner yet?

[justjuanmorebeer]

Congratulations! Who are you funded by? Hopefully you get 6 months paid leave?

I am just starting my PhD but I have quite a few friends who took mat leave during PhDs and lived to tell the tale. One friend took two lots.

How was the annual review otherwise?

[AcademicNerd]

nolly Yes, seems a little quiet but I intend to make use of it.

justjuan I am officially satisfactory (it's either this or unsatisfactory)! I feel relieved.