To get pregnant 6 months into a new job?

[Whatislifegw]

How long would you recommend waiting? I have a career and I’m keen to continue to grow and ‘climb the ladder’ but I also want my children to be relatively close together in age and already have an 18 month old.

is it better to wait a year or even 2

Why would you wait? Even I you became pregnant tomorrow, you'd still have been in the job for well over a year.

Does the industry you're in frown on women taking maternity leave? Will it impact your career?

I wouldn't worry about work. Have another kid if you want to. You can climb the ladder afterwards.

I got pregnant the month I started a new role but I am a CS and had move departments for a promotion so I knew my years of service and enhanced maternity leave entitlement would stand

when I start maternity leave I will have been in my job 14 months, my only consideration was to make sure I’d get the full maternity pay.

Just be aware that 6 months in, you have presumably finished any probation but you've got few legal rights...I personally would wait until you've been there 2 years.

I did this when I’d been there 6 months as I knew then I’d get the maternity pay they offered; I didn’t actually think I’d fall pregnant so quickly and imagined it’d end being longer but you just don’t know.

If money is no object get pregnant whenever you want. If you have to be in this employment for longer to get enhanced maternity benefits it might be worth waiting.
Don’t delay having a baby if you want one because you’re worried what people will think of you (i think that’s what you’re trying to ask about?)

Check when any enhanced maternity benefits kick in plus think about childcare and possibly needing to pay nursery x 2. At other end 2 at Uni at same time can be expensive.

I would check if they do enhanced maternity pay, and if so check how long you would need to be there in order to receive it. But other than that you're fine - you will have been there for well over a year by the time you are on maternity leave!

I got a positive pregnancy test the day after my first day in a new job. I didn’t feel bad - I work to live, not the other way around.

get pregnant as soon as you want to (and are past probabtion) employers don’t prioritise you so don’t plan your life around them.

obviously If there’s enhanced benefits on the table then consider that but otherwise I would go for it. Life is too short and it may take you longer than expected

The only consideration is being eligible for benefits. There is no reason to wait, have the baby when convenient for you - nothing wrong with doing that on day 2 of the job, excluding the caveat above

Hi @Whatislifegw i wouldn't wait x

I wouldn’t wait because of your job but like others have said check you are eligible for enhanced maternity pay.

wtf are you on?

Think about the salary situation at least a little but generally I wouldn't wait. Contrary to popular belief, you can't really 'plan' when your children arrive, you can just hope for the best!

I don’t think you know what you’re talking about.

Youre probably one of those people that think employers pay stat Mat pay and not the government. Or someone who had to quit their job when they became a parent back on the day.

If you wait a couple of years, there will be a three or so gap between your two children. Would it mean one at junior, one at infants at some point, so they are known as individuals and not just thought of as the other child's sibling?

As a business owner, I can claim back around 90% or so of the SMP but I do also have to continue to pay NI and pension contributions, as well as accrued leave so it's far from being without cost.