Work and second baby

[Andtakeadeepbreath]

Ds is 2.8. I’m pregnant again.
Already work slightly reduced hours and flexible shifts which I know Annoys some of my childless colleagues.
Aibu to dread telling work I’m pregnant again and will be going on maternity leave? I’m tempted to leave it in until the last minute (I think you don’t legally have to disclose until 25 weeks) because I’m worried about the reaction I will get.
Let’s face it it’s a pain in the arse for them to find cover and they are hardly going to be overjoyed about my news. I feel bad about it as well and I don’t really know why as I expect most women have two dc and take two lots of maternity leave, with amendments to working hours until dc are a bit older.
How have other people found it?

Your lot doing g anything written g. Your only having what your entitled too. Leave them to waffle on and grow up.

Your not doing anything wrong*

God knows what happened then.

Any of your colleagues have the right to apply for flexible working if they want to.

Oh I know that they have. I sometimes feel like it’s frowned upon though as I don’t cover certain times like I would have before ds.
It does usually always mean that someone having flexible working, there will be an impact negatively on their colleagues at sometime or another.
Then I’m off again on maternity.
I really do get that I’m certainly not the first and I won’t be the last, but I do feel bad about it still.
I suppose I will have to just hold my head up and get on with it, I may look for something else when I return after second maternity leave if things do become unpleasant.

Your workplace sounds crap.
It's your employer's responsibility to arrange suitable cover and they get SMP refunded anyway. Not great but shouldn't be an issue for them really.
However i just want to say that not all women reduce their hours for the DC. more and more its a joint responsibility and having kids doesnt mean a woman cannot work full-time. Being a parent can of course limit flexibility but colleagues should understand that.

So your workplace is hostile towards pregnant women/mothers? That’s unfair and must be really hard.

I didn’t dislose my pregnancy with DC2 to a hostile line manager until I was visibly pregnant - I thought she would make a thing of it if I left it until after she’d guessed! — and said nothing to colleagues until around 22 weeks. Some later said they had guessed but Luckily my colleagues were polite and hadn’t said anything!

Oblada I work two long days and a short shift, most weeks, then one week I work three long days and a short shift and to be honest it suits me because the hours are reduced a little which fit in with my childcare, but I’m not loosing too much money.
Yes it is crap I suppose that I feel bad about telling them and that there is twisting and whinging about my hours from co-workers.
Oh well I suppose if the same
People are still moaning in a years time, then I could leave and go elsewhere.

Colleagues get annoyed when management doesn't make appropriate arrangements to pick up the slack. Redistributing work load with no renumeration irritates everyone no matter the circumstances. Peoples good will only extends so far.

This is a poor management problem, not a pregnant employee problem!

Yes dozer that’s about the sum of it.
I may well leave it as long as possible.

I'd ask for clarification if your work life balance will continue to be honoured once you return from mat leave. You may need to apply again and could be turned down if its not fitting their business need.

Psychobabble My hours are contracted so I very much doubt they could change these.
But I suppose they could change the shift pattern if they felt it didn’t fit which would make life more complicated.

I get how you feel. I went back at the beginning of March (after 9 months mat leave) to flexible working doing a similar working pattern to you. I haven’t told my boss or colleagues I’m pregnant again and will be going off in September, and will be leaving it until the very last day I legally have to because of all the moaning and gossip it will cause

I know how you feel and I’m self employed! I’m 32 weeks and am only telling clients now because I’m finishing work at 38 weeks and they need to know. (And it’s fairly obvious) I’ve been putting off telling them because I’m scared of their reactions. I’m taking 3 months leave and a few are most put out I won’t be there over the summer to tend to their needs, but I’ve got to the point where quite honestly I just think tough shit. It’s my life and its down to me and dh what choices we make in regards to having a family- nobody else’s.
Sorry, not advice but just to say you aren’t alone.

Thanks it’s never and sunny.
I feel better thinking I’m not the only one.
Some people with a thicker skin probably don’t give it a second thought, and why should they really, women have campaigned for years to have equal rights and this means we need protection when off for child bearing reasons.
I’m worried about what psychobabble has said, could they make changes to my hours and shifts when I return from maternity leave?