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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Handed my notice at work this morning, found out I'm pregnant this evening...

42 replies

Newhere123 · 21/04/2017 06:01

Hello everyone,

Could really need some advice..

So, hubby and I have been ttc for few months now, but I never expected this..

I have accepted a job offer this morning and this evening, randomly decided to take a pregnancy test( my period is due in 2-3 days) and test came back positive, and the one after as well Smile..

The timing of it... is just unbelieveable. I have been wanting to change jobs for some time as quite unhappy at my current job and if anything- I felt this would hold us back ttc, I must have misunderstood the maternity pay entitlement, thinking all I needed was 6 months with the same employer, so I would be covered anyway- but I honestly didn't think it would happen this soon, not that I am not thrilled! I guess you can never plan everything, I'm trying to tell myself this must have happen for a reason....

The new job is with higher pay, and my probation period is 3 months. I have also started my notice period today, which is 1.5/2 months, this will be confirmed at the beginning of next week. All goes well- I should be 4.5/ months pregnant after probation period..

Has anyone experienced a similar situation? How and when do you tell a new employer you are pregnant so early on?

Thanks xx

OP posts:
mimiholls · 21/04/2017 07:38

Congratulations! It's a bit of an awkward one but you can't always plan your timing perfectly! I had been in my job 8 months when I told them I was pregnant so had been there a little longer than you will be. I would wait as long as possible to tell your new company as you want time to settle in/prove yourself as much as possible imo. There were definitely a few eyebrows raised but thats the company i work for. You've just got to tell them- do not apologise or say sorry.
You won't be entitled to even statutory maternity pay from your new employer so you will have to apply for maternity allowance, which is a similar amount of money, but will not come through your employer.

mimiholls · 21/04/2017 07:41

By late I mean maybe 4 months after your probationary period, rather than straight away.

NoLotteryWinYet · 21/04/2017 07:48

I wouldn't be too concerned - the law is what it is and a lot of people that babies can't always be produced on a schedule. It's annoying for your employer but I wouldn't personally hold it against someone. You need to beck the qualifying period for their maternity policy, usually it's 2 years so yes, SMP

thatstoast · 21/04/2017 07:51

I told my new employer I was pregnant on second day of work. I was 21 weeks (was quite fat so it probably wasn't obvious). I wasn't pregnant when i applied for the job but it was a long recruitment process. That's life.

Maybe see how things go and see if you can wait until after your probation period?

Congratulations on the baby and the new job!

SittingInBluebellWood · 21/04/2017 08:02

I had my DC 10 months after starting a new job. Life is not planned and I would hope that your new employer understands this

notborntothemanor · 21/04/2017 08:05

Coming at this from the other side, a month ago, I had just hired someone when she told me she was pregnant. Honestly, since I had had trouble ttc myself years ago, I was 95% pleased for her, and 5% erk, what am I going to do, and then after a day 100% pleased for her. Congrats on your new job, you have stat. rights so don't worry, and fingers crossed your new boss is female and sympathetic.

Hollyhop17 · 21/04/2017 09:00

I was ttc for 8 months, felt it was never going to happen so left my job and started a new one in Sept '16. I fell pregnant in October and had to tell them in November as I've got HG. Ill be honest, they arent thrilled and its not great for me being on a contract BUT I would check your new companies policy. By 3 weeks of my due date I qualify for our enhanced mat policy, so not everywhere will demand you work there for years before you qualify. Good luck.

Tilly2017 · 21/04/2017 09:15

Iam a teacher and applied for a job last oct and got it but had to give 3 months notice. Started new job in feb and five weeks after starting had to tell my boss i was 15 weeks pregnant. I wont qualify for SMP but can get maternity allowance from DWP.

blueskyinmarch · 21/04/2017 09:18

Someone joined the team I was working in and we knew before she started she was pregnant but she was a great addition to the team. She worked almost up to her due date and is now back at work. It can work out just fine.

NameChange30 · 21/04/2017 09:26

Congratulations on your new job and your pregnancy!

You won't be entitled to SMP but you will be entitled to Maternity Allowance. There isn't much difference between the two; SMP is paid by your employer (but they can claim it back from the government) and is 90% of your salary for the first 6 weeks, then £139/week after that. Maternity Allowance is paid by the government and it's £139/week from the start.

The only way you would really be losing out financially is if your current (soon to be former) employer has an enhanced maternity package that you would have been entitled to? If your new employer has an enhanced maternity package it's extremely unlikely that you'd be entitled to it.

Anyway money isn't everything and as long as you can still make ends meet, it's more important to have a job you enjoy - and a baby on the way! Smile

FWIW I got pregnant the week after starting a new job - I was very nervous about telling my boss but she was lovely about it, very happy for me. I just missed out on being able to claim SMP but I'm getting Maternity Allowance instead.

NameChange30 · 21/04/2017 09:34

Maternity Action has information about your rights at work, and the deadline for telling them you're pregnant, etc, on their website:
www.maternityaction.org.uk/advice-2/mums-dads-scenarios/pregnant/pregnant-at-work/

museumum · 21/04/2017 09:44

Honestly - I would tell absolutely everybody that you didn't test till you were two weeks late (so in about 17 days from now).
I'd try not to tell your new work till after probation if st all possible - depends if you can get to appointments.

Lemondrop09 · 21/04/2017 09:53

I was seconded to a new role. Accepted job in December to start in January. Easily January got pregnant! Had been ttc for a year so couldn't wait around forever.

I'd been in my new role literally 5 weeks when I had to phone my manager and not only tell I was pregnant (surprise!) but I was so sick with HG that I was being signed off! Now that was awkward and embarrassing. It's now nearly May and I haven't set foot back in the office since mid February, although I've been doing my best to work from home. It is what it is, luckily my new manager is being very supportive.

Technically I should be entitled to very generous maternity pay (as I am only seconded and have worked for my actual employer for over 6 years)..... BUT my actual employer is going through mass redundancy and essentially shutting out London office. So I'm likely to lose my maternity pay and my job while having a new baby. Yaaaaaaay! (Sarcasm)

But sod it. I really want this baby and that's the most important thing. Everything else will work itself out somehow.

Original poster
Newhere123 · 21/04/2017 11:09

Thank you everyone for all your responses- so great to read your input and advice, it is also incredibly reassuring to know that I am not the only one who has gone through it.

It is quite a sticky situation- as I said before- I never thought we would be this quick, but the timing of finding it out on the same day of giving my notice and signing the job offer.. must mean something, right?

My direct manager and the company's MD at the new company are both men, but as far as I know, they are married with young kids, so hopefully they could show some sympathy? I should probably wait till a bit after the probation period is over, during which I'll work hard to prove myself, before I let them know - and hope for the best..

Thank you for the clarifying the Maternity Allowance, which isn't much but any means- and this leads me to my next question of what other benefits can you claim once you've had a baby? only asking to get an idea of what to expect financially until I return to work.

Thanks again girls- I really appreciate your comments

xx

OP posts:
thatstoast · 21/04/2017 11:15

Benefits will depend on you and your partner's earnings. Possibly Child Benefit and tax credits. There's a good calculator on MSE.

primaryboodle · 21/04/2017 11:19

I have just gone back to work this week. Had 9 months off with SMA - it doesnt sound much but we got by without struggling - my dp earns around 19k. You will also get child benefit which is £20 per week but unless your dp is a v low earner that will be it. Just get saving now!! (And buy everything second hand - but not til baby is nearly here as youll never know what kind friends/friends of friends/family will gift you!!

Original poster
Newhere123 · 21/04/2017 11:29

Points taken- thanks again for this!

Will keep you updated at a later stage of how it all went, if not earlier if I'll have more questions :)

I only moved here 2 years ago and still settling in socially, so this forum and your support throughout the process would be incredible.

Thanks again xx

OP posts:
Lemondrop09 · 21/04/2017 11:31

Just to say, keeping quiet about your pregnancy isn't always the best way forward. Firstly, you may have health implications and need their support early on (for example, bad sickness in the first trimester). Also you are protected as a pregnant person, but this protection only kicks in once your employer actually knows you are pregnant. For example, you cannot be penalised for pregnancy related sickness - but only if your employer knows. Just something to bear in mind.

Also if you can join a union, might be a good idea. Just in case Smile

Sewingbeatshousework · 21/04/2017 11:36

Congratulations! This happened to me twice 😳

First time we weren't ttc, found out I was pregnant about 2-3 weeks into the job. Told manager when I was around 10 weeks and although she was shocked she was lovely about the whole thing.

2nd time I'd moved towns while on maternity leave so I was unemployed, we'd agreed to start ttc a few months into new employment, after 6 months job searching with no luck we decided to just go for it, presuming it would take a few months to conceive. Apparently not as the next month I was offered a job and 2 days later found out I was expecting. Although planned I felt so ill & guilty about the situation.

Told manager after my first scan, I actually ended up in tears telling her as I was so nervous/worried about it but she was lovely. Unfortunately for them I was only there 6 months, on maternity for 12 months, then I was off long term sick after being back 5 months, I handed my notice in as didn't feel
I'd ever be able to go back due to health.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 21/04/2017 11:49

I had been ttc for 2+ years and fell pregnant during a very long recruitment process for my job. I had an email offering the job 2 minutes after doing a pregnancy test. I accepted and was about 18 weeks pregnant when I started. I told the boss I was pregnant at about 13 weeks. Although it's a massive ball ache for her, she was never anything less than supportive. I had a pretty good pregnancy, was considerate about the timings of appointments so they had a good 20 weeks work out of me before maternity leave. I am likely to be with the same employer for the next 30 years, so in the scheme of things it's not a big ask.

Trinpy · 21/04/2017 12:03

This happened to me except I found out I was pregnant on the last day of my old job. I had felt a bit weird at work all day and when I got home Dh had bought a bottle of wine to celebrate and I thought 'maybe I should take a pregnancy test before I drink that...'.

I was really worried about telling my new boss and put it off until I was 16 weeks but she was really lovely about it and it was fine. During my pregnancy we cut back a lot on luxuries and saved a fair bit to get us through mat leave. You will still get maternity allowance though which isn't that different from smp.

Good luck with it all!

NameChange30 · 21/04/2017 14:05

Most people can claim Child Benefit (it gets a bit complicated if you or your partner earn more than £50k/year, but if you both earn less than that, it's straightforward).

Depending on household income (your salary / maternity pay and your partner's salary, plus any other income) you might be entitled to Child Tax Credits.

You could use an online benefits calculator or call Citizens Advice to ask them.

ERog84 · 21/04/2017 15:49

I'm in a similar situation, we've been ttc for 2 years and I hated my job, finally got a new one and started in Feb. I'm on 3 months probation and found out last week I'm pregnant....I'm over the moon happy but not looking forward to telling my employer just after i pass probation!!

Tigger001 · 21/04/2017 17:51

I had handed my notice in at work and worked my notice, with the plan of a month off then back on the job hunt. I went to the docs a week after finishing up at work to find out I was 13 weeks pregnant.
I didn't continue the job search as thought it unfair to start a new job without full disclosure and was pretty sure no one would want to employ me knowing I would be going off again shortly.
I have been advised that I can get maternity allowance but the forms state they need the original MatB1 form but I have been advised by other people to only to send a copy as you only get 1 copy of your Matb1 form, gas anyone sent copies and had any problems ??

NameChange30 · 21/04/2017 18:45

Tigger
You have to send the original MAT1B form, but they send it back to you. If you're worried you could photocopy it before you send it, keep the copy, and send it "Signed for" (recorded delivery).

You don't need your MAT1B for anything other than maternity pay, anyway... maybe the NHS exemption certificate although if I remember rightly I think the midwife just signed/stamped my form.