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Pregnancy

When did you tell your boss about your pregnancy?

34 replies

Bunnyfluffy · 26/09/2017 08:18

I'm pregnant, for the first time so not really sure what to expect. The nausea has hit big time. I'm 5 +6 today.

Felt fine yesterday (EXHAUSTED but not sick, I cycled the 7 miles home from the station) but I woke up around 1/2am feeling really really sick and was up most of the night feeling sick (wasn't actually sick but feel AWFUL).

Thankfully I have a job where I can work from home a bit, so I'll email my boss and say I am working from home today, but I can't do that every day.

I'm very worried as I am meant to be going abroad on a business trip next week, and the week after I am meant to be speaking at an event...... If I feel the way I do now there is no way I can do those things.

I was hoping not to have to tell my boss I am pregnant just yet (ideally I wanted to wait until 12 week scan) but I'm thinking I might have to.

When did you tell your boss? Would you in my circumstances? My boss is pretty nice btw!

OP posts:
Meepmoop · 26/09/2017 08:22

I told my boss at 6 weeks as she wanted me to fly to a meeting and I didn't want to go. I had a great relationship with her so I wasn't to worried. She didn't tell anyone and just made excuses for me until I told
everyone else

gamerpigeon · 26/09/2017 08:25

I told my boss at 8 weeks because I had really bad morning sickness and couldn't get out of bed without being sick.

Worth telling early because then you have more legal protections re. sick days as you can't be disciplined for pregnancy sickness I think

NiceCuppaTeaAndASitDown · 26/09/2017 08:27

I had an early scan at 8 weeks and told mine after that. I kept fainting so it wasn't practical to try and keep it a secret

Lules · 26/09/2017 08:30

At 6 weeks. I had HG and had been hospitalised for the first time over the weekend and then she asked me to take on a big project for 9 months time so I didn't really have much choice! She was brilliant though and reorganised my workload.

McTootBlowsOnHisBagpipe · 26/09/2017 08:53

I told them as soon as I found out. I had a miscarriage a few months ago so they'd already said they wanted to be as supportive as possible the next time I was pregnant. As it turns out I've now been signed off for 2 weeks due to the nausea being so extreme so it's meant that I've just been able to be honest with them and not have to hide anything.

glow1984 · 26/09/2017 08:56

I didn’t say anything until 12 weeks, although one of my colleagues noticed as I was eating everything in sight and then I didn’t drink at our Xmas do . However, if you think it might affect your work sooner rather than later, I think it’s a good time to tell your boss so they don’t think you’re taking the piss.

TiramisuQueenoftheFaeries · 26/09/2017 08:56

I told my direct boss at 7 weeks, because I was suffering nausea and exhaustion and wanted her support. I'm close to her and knew I would have her support so it wasn't a concern.

Told HR "officially" at 12 weeks because I had to take time off for pregnancy related sickness, otherwise I'd have kept quiet longer - not because I'd be penalised, just because I'm quite private and didn't really want to talk about it at work.

TiramisuQueenoftheFaeries · 26/09/2017 08:57

I told my direct boss at 7 weeks, because I was suffering nausea and exhaustion and wanted her support. I'm close to her and knew I would have her support so it wasn't a concern.

Told HR "officially" at 12 weeks because I had to take time off for pregnancy related sickness, otherwise I'd have kept quiet longer - not because I'd be penalised, just because I'm quite private and didn't really want to talk about it at work.

Dustywillow · 26/09/2017 08:57

Around 10 weeks because I'm high risk this time and all my appointments are on the days I work only work 2 days and I can't change them. My boss is lovely and very supportive so I'm glad I told them earlier x

TheNewMrs · 26/09/2017 09:03

Also told mine early, about 6/7 weeks, more for ease of arranging MW appointments. But I do have a good relationship with her, and she's keeping it to herself until I'm ready to tell the others Smile

TonicAndTonic · 26/09/2017 09:04

Straight after my 16 week midwife appt. By then it was just beginning to show so I couldn't have kept it to myself any longer really! I'm quite a private person.
I was lucky though, I had no symptoms and being pg didn't affect any specific aspects of my job. I'd have told earlier if I was ill, as pp have said you get more protections if your employers know.

NerNerNerNerNerNerNerNerBATMAN · 26/09/2017 09:07

In my last pregnancy I told my boss at 5 weeks because if an almost identical set of circumstances to you. I was due to fly out to work on the continent for a few weeks and there was no way I could get off the sofa, never mind on a plane. Was signed off work for five weeks and had to cancel work trip 😞

I'm 6+2 with number 2 now and rough as arseholes and in my second week off work. New boss is a nightmare do I'm ringing HR later for advice. My boss isn't my employer so I'm pondering whether I can tell my employer before my boss iyswi.

Topsyloulou · 26/09/2017 09:14

I told my boss at 8 weeks. I was supposed to be hosting a physical corporate hospitality event that you couldn't do if pregnant so I either had to tell her or make up a rubbish excuse. It was a no brainer to me to tell her, particularly as I've had 3 mc in the past. She was great & kept it confidential. I told the rest of my team at 16 weeks. It makes it easier if work know why you're feeling rubbish so they can flex home working, time for appointments etc rather than having to hide or take holiday.

OnNaturesCourse · 26/09/2017 09:57

About 6 weeks as I kept being sick!

Bisquick · 26/09/2017 10:09

Likewise, told my boss at 7 weeks. Was v fatigued and had morning sickness + I need to be assessed for risk in using our equipment when pregnant. She was v supportive, we came up with a v feasible calendar of what was achievable before I went on mat leave and I'm making good progress on that. But generally supportive people and industry so you'll need to make a call based on that!

jmscp2015 · 26/09/2017 10:12

5 weeks as I’m a vet nurse Smile

MagicFajita · 26/09/2017 10:17

7 weeks , I work with vulnerable and sometimes challenging children , so had to fess up early on.

namechanger2735 · 26/09/2017 10:23

I told my boss at about 3 weeks, Day of testing..as the pregnancy led to my relationship break down and I had to pack my stuff and move, couldn't come in to work. She was quite unhelpful. A bit "omg I don't know what to say. Hope you're okay, I'm not at work at the moment so can you ring and tell them you won't be in" yeah no worries, life's just fallen apart of course I want to ring around everyone I know and tell people. Would it kill her to let them know?
Then when I returned everyone knew. Which was really fucking annoying as I didn't really want to talk about it or even acknowledge it was really happening at that time

ClaireBear1986 · 26/09/2017 10:40

I'm hoping to not tell my boss until 16 weeks. Not sure if I will be able to keep it a secret that long.
My job is just sitting behind a desk, and I haven't suffered from any really bad symptoms yet.
The only reason I am keeping it quiet so long is I am on a FTC and don't want to give them a reason to end my contract early. The only downside is having to take sick days for any appointments I have at the moment.

If you are suffering badly though, then I would tell your boss now. She will also be more understanding then if you wish to work from home.

Bunnyfluffy · 26/09/2017 13:44

My boss is a he.
He's got a few kids himself so hopefully he'll be understanding

OP posts:
LexieLulu · 26/09/2017 13:59

Two pregnancies. One I told earlier, say 6 weeks and one I waited till 12 weeks.

No major reason for either, but I didn't get any sickness etc.

You have more rights and protection when pregnant so it's good to let them know x

LentilBaby · 26/09/2017 14:07

Can't remember exactly but was early, first few weeks. I work in the medical field so everyone needed to know not to send kids with rashes etc to me!
Think people must have been wondering as I'm normally a caffeine fiend and was turning down offers of tea!

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harrietm87 · 26/09/2017 14:33

I'm 12 weeks tomorrow but hoping to hold out until 16 weeks. Desk-based job though quite stressful! I've put on loads of weight though so feel like people have prob already guessed...

ButtMuncher · 26/09/2017 14:37

I got to 12 weeks before telling my manager. I did tell a close colleague prior to that as I felt sick/dizzy a few times but as I largely have an office based job it wasn't really a health and safety risk. I also work in the same building (not department, thankfully) as my fiancée so I knew I didn't need to worry too much.

ButtMuncher · 26/09/2017 14:47

I got to 12 weeks before telling my manager. I did tell a close colleague prior to that as I felt sick/dizzy a few times but as I largely have an office based job it wasn't really a health and safety risk. I also work in the same building (not department, thankfully) as my fiancée so I knew I didn't need to worry too much.

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