Working during my pregnancy

[DecMummy]

I am hoping you can help me?
I am expecting my first child and I am currently still in my first trimester.
I had wanted to keep my pregnancy from my employers until my 12 week scan however I am having a difficult time which has resulted in me taking some days off work(Only two currently). I am thinking about making my
boss aware can you please tell me where I stand on how flexible they need to be to my pregnancy?
I am extremely tired and I am struggling to function, tomorrow maybe a better day however I do not want to feel forced into any situation that may affect the health of me and my unborn child- I am very aware I have along way to go being only 6 weeks pregnant!

You should DEFINITELY tell your boss. They have to be very flexible with you regarding appointments and days off for antenatal stuff. Plus if your boss knows you are pregnant any days off do not count on your sickness record.
It will make things much easier for you. I went through the same thing. I've just hit 12 weeks and am still feeling ill!
As soon as I found out I told my boss, but everyone else still doesn't know

I would tell. The minute they know you're protected by law - you get time off for appointments, they have to do a risk assessment and they can't treat sick days as a disciplinary issue.

If you are struggling to function, you really do need to tell your boss. I was the same, and told my boss at 9 weeks. I was hospitalised that night and ended up having 8 weeks off work (4 spells in hospital), with a phased return under the supervision of Occupational Health. I am now pg again, and told my boss at 6 weeks, in preparation for the same thing happening again. I am now in my 5th week off in this pg, having had 2 spells in hospital. Work have been fantastic.

I hda to tell work at around 8 weeks as I had horrendous morning sickness and kept having to take days off. It is better than trying to come up with various excuses for why you're ill.

Like others said - tell your boss and don't feel guilty about it, you can also ask him/her to keep it confidential until you decide to announce it to other people. They are obliged to carry out a risk assessment when they find out you are pregnant and as others mentioned you pregnancy-related sick days do not count against your sick leave and you are entitled to time off for antenatal appointments etc.
Congrats on you pregnancy and take it easy! :) The most important person is now YOU and you BABY so work can take the back burner for a while :)

How are you DecMummy? Have you told your boss yet? x

Thank you everyone, this has really helped.Iam due to see my boss today and i now feel empowered to not be so apologetic, this is the happiest time of my life and i shouldnt feel guility.Beesok you are right me and my baby are the most important things right now.Its a great relief to know any sick days can not go towards a Disciplinary.Not great to hear that things still arnt great for you Renaissance227, thank you for your honesty everyone.This is my first time using MumsNet and it has helped alot, i will definatly return
!

I'm not sure if it's still the case (it was when I worked), if you are on pregnancy related sick leave then your employers can force you into starting your maternity leave on the first day you are eligable for it.

going - it's only once you reach 36 weeks that pregnancy-related illness triggers maternity leave. You are entitled to start maternity leave much earlier than that (29 weeks or thereabouts, I think) but being off work due to a pregnancy-related condition cannot trigger maternity leave at that point.

Hope things improve for you soon, OP.

You're entitled to start your maternity leave any time from 11 weeks before your EDD, it's triggered by pregnancy related illness any time in the 4 weeks before your EDD, the live birth of your baby at any point and stillbirth after 24 weeks - maternity leave advice from direct.gov

Hello All, i have told my boss, he was ok, im not sure what i was expecting and iam not sure why i was worrying.You can never tell how your employer feels about you starting a family and i know reliese i shouldnt care either- this should be and is the greatest time in my life to date and no stress is good.
Thanks everyone