How to approach new employer about pregnancy after previous losses

[Worriedaboutxrays]

I have posted about this on the ‘Pregnancy’ topic but got no responses so looking for general advice.

I started a new job about a month or so ago; it’s a nice job and so far, my colleagues seem lovely. The issue is I have just found out I am pregnant- very early days, I’m about 4 and a half weeks. The problem? A large portion of my work involves radiation/ heavy lifting/ general stuff not advised when pregnant. Being pregnant will massively impact my role so I could do with letting them know asap.
However, I have suffered losses previously. In fact, I’m not very adept at getting pregnant, or remaining pregnant. We’ve had a lot of struggles. This wasn’t such an issue in my last job- I’d been there for years, and it was a small company, so everyone knew what was going on and me being pulled on and off certain tasks was never made a big deal as such.

I’m concerned about my pregnancy becoming very obvious due to having to avoid certain jobs and then suffering another loss and having to explain that to a large group of people that, insofar I like, but I barely know.

My priority is obviously my pregnancy - it is so very much wanted, but I just am not sure how to navigate this.
Thank you kind people 🙏

You just need to tell them. Tell HR that you need to avoid radiography room etc. they’ll have seen it alll before.
Unfortunaly you may get people guessing about miscarriages if you then return to duty, but if you’re TTC maybe a more permanent role switch would be better anyway. People should be sensitive though and you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.

Thank you @MJagain . I would hope that any comments would be tactful but again, I just don’t know these people well enough to be open with them.
I can’t really change role to one minus the above risks- unless I changed career, unfortunately a lot of it is just part and parcel. I put off the move to this job for years due to TTC but then thought, sod it, and took the opportunity when it arose!

I’ll speak to my line manager first and see what they suggest. Thanks again.

I work in an industry where there are multiple risks- lifting, radiation, anaesthetic gases and multiple drugs that can not be handled. The sooner a member of my team tells me the sooner I can protect them. How we protect them is my problem not theirs.

I have some parallel experience here. I think the crunch question is: can you bear to risk the job? Because that's the worry, isn't it - that they'll be unprofessional wankers about it. I suppose in that context, you could comfort yourself by saying if they are awful about early pregnancy, it was always a red flag that they'd have been terrible about other things.

A decent company and a decent line manager/boss ought to deal with it if you say 'I am in the very early stages of pregnancy; it is a fragile pregnancy; I know x, y and z are too much of a risk right now'.

They ought also to be able to throw their weight around enough that others don't ask questions. And you could have a cover story. 'I'm on medication that's having a horrible impact on me' or whatever.

I don't know if it helps - but, my job involves heavy lifting and so I really worried; recent research indicates that if you are accustomed to heavy lifting it really won't make a blind bit of difference. It is no longer thought that avoiding exercise and physical work is a good idea - in fact, I think one study showed that women who did continue exercising actually had slightly better outcomes, even in the very early stages.

Best of luck. I understand the worries and hope you find a good solution for you.

I think, although I was trying to be as vague as possible, that we are in the same industry so I do really appreciate this perspective. Thank you.

Thank you @SarahAndQuack for your experience and advice.
I am hoping they will be reasonable but appreciate this will be a real PITA for them. Obviously, not my problem but a consideration on top of everything else. Interesting regarding the heavy lifting, as that is also part and parcel of my job. I will adopt your phrasing re fragility as well- I think that’s the main issue here, I’m kind of already expecting the pregnancy to end early so mentally preparing for navigating that in a new environment.

I hope it goes well. It's so hard but I really do think the worst thing about heavy lifting is people guilting you if the worst comes to the worst - not the lifting itself. But I know it is impossible not to worry.

I thought it might be. The lifting in our role has unpredictability and thrashing with it on occasions.
Honestly I congratulate the team member and then work out what we need to do. I have two members pregnant currently.

Yes, not always that fun when said thrashing has half a tonne attached to it 🤦‍♀️
Manager extremely understanding so just prey this one sticks 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 thanks again, and hope work not too hectic!