To not tell work about pregnancy yet? (Teacher - timetabling)

[kmurray1]

Recently found out I’m pregnant (about 5 weeks) and ideally I’d wait until after the first scan to tell anyone. However, I’m a teacher and timetabling is being done now. Nothing is set in stone yet but I’ve been told I’ll likely have at least 2 exam classes next year (GCSE/A level). It’s a private school and we break up at the end of June, when I’ll be about 10 weeks.

WIBU to wait until 12 weeks to disclose my pregnancy? Or should I tell my line manager ASAP?

Where did I say or intimate that pregnancy is a disability?

If you were advising Edward, 26, ambitious primary school teacher - would you recommend he take an intervention role to help his career progression?

If not, then you are discriminating, however much you sell “no parents' evening” as a perk.

Meanwhile back in the actual world of school where Edward would also appreciate a term of intervention to hone his skills.

Tell me you know nothing about school without telling me.

You have avoided answering the question. Would you advise him to take that role if he was looking for promotion? Is it going to increase his chances?

I’ve a fair bit of experience of schools, I’ve also a fair bit of experience of recognising discriminatory practices when I see them dressed up as being good for the recipient.

@C8H10N4O2 you really haven't got a clue I'm afraid. And yes, it actually would help your career progression had you only ever taught in one key stage. I had a teacher who had only ever taught in EYFS- did an intervention role whilst pregnant 3 years ago across the primary school range of 4-11. Found out and loved key stage 2- She is now head of key stage 2, something she wouldn't have had without that experience.

I wouldn't be telling them because of timetables. I would tell my line manager in confidence. From a health and safety po8nt of view I personally felt better that someone knew incase I became unwell or had an accident at work. Should the pregnancy not progress there is a high chance you will need a bit of time to recover so would have to tell them anyway. Wider staff can wait until September. But ultimately you need to do what makes you feel comfortable at work not what will make their lives easier

Lots of these comments are not from teachers or those who are exam focused. My advice don’t! Not unless you need appointments etc this side of summer. Once you are back schools can adapt, kids not care and you’ll be forgotten once on mat leave. Otherwise next year you’ll only get younger years classes

To be entirely fair, I had a week off after a miscarriage at 17 weeks, and that is not what the medical certificate said, and one at 7 weeks, I dealt with on a business trip and gave a presentation at 9.30am the following morning.

When I had a missed mc at 12 weeks, I had a two year old so no time off then either except for the night in hospital.

Hello @kmurray1 - firstly massive congrats on your pregnancy I hope this is a happy & positive thing for you.
I do apologise & I don't mean to be so blunt but what is the point in waiting until after the 12 weeks? I personally done the exact same as you and the majority of other women and didn't tell anyone about my first pregnancy until after my 12 weeks scan, until everything was 'safe', and then my 20 week scan, and my 24th week scan and my 30 week scan, my 32 week, 34 week, 36 week & 38 week (I was high risk due to a health issue of my own)- my pregnancy was textbook, not one issue, not even a UTI the entire time, (again due to my condition I had an elective GA section) at week 39, I felt my baby moving the day before and was not allowed to eat or drink the next day to the GA, it was only once I was admitted that we found out there was no longer a heartbeat 💔. The postmortem confirmed the placenta had failed up to 18 hours before I showed up to my 8am appointment and that was it- there was not a thing wrong with my sweet baby whatsoever- just the placenta I'm truly not telling you this to scare your or make you feel anything sad or negative but it just angers & frustrates me when people assume once they've had a positive 12 weeks scan that means in another 28 weeks they'll be coming home with a healthy baby- this was nearly a decade ago for me and obviously nothing has changed in the sense of informing women that just because you get passed the 12 weeks or even the 20 week scan it doesn't mean your certain of anything, your pregnant right now & your employer is counting on you to be able to do certain tasks that you may not be able to assuming everything with your pregnancy & labour go safe & well (which I hope so much that they do 💜💜), so there's no point in not telling them, I would tell them, because hopefully they will need to work around you being off on maternity leave with your beautiful new baby & im sure your employer will appreciate your honesty and effort to try to help them figure it out sooner rather than later- but that's just one broken mums opinion 🤷🏻‍♀️- I do wish you the healthiest pregnancy & safe labour and I hope you get to do all the beautiful and amazing things all new mums should get to do with their newborn babies 🫶🏻🫶🏻 xx

Would I reccomend it to him for a term, yes. Would there be a situation where it's likely he will be in school for just one term of an academic year so could do the role, not really.

Of course it would increase his chances of promotion. It's a different role and adds a new skill set.

@247achybreakyheart I’m so sorry for your loss, thank you for your kind words and advice.

Thank you I appreciate that, and I sincerely hope everything goes well with your pregnancy & with the delivery and you & your beautiful new baby are both happy & healthy xx take care xx

I’m 17 weeks and also a teacher (SENCO SEN school) I told my manager at about 6 weeks for health and safety as I’m often on call. I had a number of early scans due to previous loss and complications so it helped for them to know. I told the rest of the team at 9 weeks after 2 scans and told the pupils last week!
Congratulations, do whatever makes it easier and safest for you, I told management earlyish with my loss too and everyone was nothing but supportive

You are under no obligation to tell them, so don’t. Keep it until you are ready. Schools get by and maternity cover would hopefully be found.
I told my school (secondary teacher) at around 9 weeks with my first pregnancy, because it was COVID times so different risk assessments, and because I was constantly sick. I then miscarried at 12 weeks. I don’t regret it because my Head at the time was amazing, she was extremely understanding and kind. With my second pregnancy I waited until after the 12 week scan and just went off sick as needed without letting them know why (I’m sure they guessed but didn’t let on). It is your decision entirely. I would not tell my school now early as we have a new, useless Head and he can’t make any capable decisions for the Maths teacher who is about to go on maternity leave with no cover sorted, despite her telling him 6 months ago…. It doesn’t make a difference sometimes!

To add, I am another woman who unfortunately knows that 12 weeks doesn’t mean everything is ‘safe’.. but for risk assessment reasons it felt like an important stage to inform my school with my second pregnancy. I teach a practical subject so some consideration had to be made longer term for certain projects with chemicals etc.

@kmurray1

I'd tell your line manager - as it'd be really unfair on the kids in exam years to have a teacher leave halfway. Would you want that to happen to your kids one day?

It's not about jinxing the pregnancy, or making big announcements. And hopefully, your pregnancy will be happy and healthy. And statistically it is more probably that it will be - so it's prudent to assume you won't be there through the end of next academic year, and hence should NOT get a GCSE/A-levels class assignment.

Good luck!!!