How soon is too soon to start TTC in a new job?

[WhereverElse2019]

Hi all, posting here for traffic.

I started a new job in January this year under a temporary contract, via an agency. I was offered and accepted a permanent contract in September this year. Doing the exact same job, working with the same people etc but just with the added security of a permanent contract.

DH and I are hoping to start TTC soon but don't know if it's too soon work wise? I already qualify for the enhanced maternity pay so no worries on that score. I'm just worried about being seen as a bit of a cheek! My job is pretty niche/specialised so it would be hard to find cover and take months to train them. My colleagues could pick up the slack but we're already very busy so I worry they'll become resentful of the extra workload.

I'll be 29 next year so still quite young. Due to the nature of my work, if I did conceive I would need to inform management of my pregnancy pretty much ASAP.

I do really enjoy my job, get on well with my colleagues, and don't want to cause any bad feeling. It's a very large company so legally I know I'd be protected. I don't know if I'm just overthinking this! 🤣

I should add that I've double and triple checked and I do qualify for enhanced maternity pay already.

Honestly, there is no good time for businesses so I would just do it. In my first 5 years of being at my company I had my two children (the first after a year) and they've got more out of me for being so family friendly. I've also been promoted 3 times since being back from maternity leave.

Good luck OP!

Thank you 😊

The key is to also check SMP. The rule of thumb is start the job, have one period then TTC.

Employers should be pragmatic about mat leave.

Yes, I understand you have to have been employed for 26 weeks by the time you're 25 weeks pregnant.

If you already qualify for the enhanced maternity pay I’d just start TTC as soon as you are ready. You don’t know how long it will take to get pregnant (obviously could happen quickly), I wouldn’t put this on hold for a job.

Thank you. I guess I just feel bad because we're so busy! All of my colleagues are either male or childless women. But I suppose there's never really a 'good' time to go on mat leave and we're always going to be busy!

I started a job in the September and got pregnant in the November - going on my third maternity leave in 4 years next year. I luckily work in a very family friendly role where the nature of the qualifications means most people start at about the same time as wanting to start a family. It's basically accepted that in a 40-odd year career there'll be a couple of maternity leaves and no-one's too fussed about when they are - it means staff loyalty is high, turnover is low, and it contributes massively to job satisfaction.

Just start ttc. You don’t know how long it might take.
Women go on maternity leave all the time.
Companies will put themselves first, I found that out the hard way. Don’t put it off if it’s something you want to to do.
Good luck!

Seeing as you already qualify for the enhanced maternity pay (please double check that, just in case!) I would crack on. No way would I postpone my life for a job. You should put yourself first, god knows the company won’t ever do that!

Honestly for the company it will never be convenient, and although you are fairly young still you don't know how long it will take. What if you have fertility issues? Do you want multiple children? If you want more than one and want them within the next say 8 years then I think you need to start soon.
And however much you like your job if you end up nearing 40 and struggling to conceive your 2nd/3rd child I am fairly sure you will resent an extra year you waited far more than you will feel good about helping them out.
I totally understand the guilt, but this somewhere you need to prioritise yourselfni think. I would be more concerned about do you have a financial plan re savings and a viable childcare plan for your return to work sorted.

Thank you. DH and I actually already have two DC who are 6 and nearly 3. They were both conceived pretty easily (within 3 months) although obviously I was a bit younger.

Financially we are comfortable and luckily do not need childcare as DH and I work opposite shifts.

I’d probably wait to time it so you’d be 3 months (or whenever you want to ‘reveal’) by January 2026, after 2yrs continuous service. That’s when a company can’t just boot you out for any reason.

just get on with your life and crack on. you don't even know if it will be an easy journey. I wouldn't overthink it. I once started a job pregnant and carried on working there for many years.