How did you announce you were pregnant to colleagues?

[AriAliyah]

I'm only 4+3, and have only told my boss so far so I don't have to keep lying about why I keep running to the bathroom/am late in to work.

Out of curiosity, how did you announce to your co-workers when you felt you were ready? Did you make an announcement? Tell one person and let it spread? I'm intrigued to know!

No announcement needed, they all guessed. One of them told me I was pregnant before I'd even taken a test at less than 4 weeks.

Most of them tell me there's a look about pregnant women and once you know it, it's very obvious, it must be since they all individually took me aside to ask if I was ill and then if I was possibly pregnant.

@GummyGoddess oh wow. Maybe my colleagues have guessed already... I can only keep the 'stomach bug' lie up for so long! Considering suffering from imaginary ibs for a while...

My pregnancy was achieved after lots of IVF which all my colleagues knew about so they also knew what my official test day was which was a Saturday! They were all waiting to find out if it was a yay or nay on the Monday morning!

I told boss at 8 weeks, and colleagues a few weeks later as it came up! I wore a baby on board badge to commute from 12 weeks ish so people saw me coming in the office wearing it, which helped

I puked on my colleague's shoes No further announcement was needed 😂

@reallybadidea that's one way of doing it I suppose!!

@Pittcuecothecookbook fab idea! I'm dreading my commute when I finally have my bump...

@reallybadidea. bless you !

I told manager and project leader week 7-8. Waited til 12w for the rest of the team and took some cakes in.

@juddyrockingcloggs how lovely they were able to share that with you

@DaisyLand always an excuse for cake 🎂

I travel on southeastern and always get a seat when wearing it. Not so consistent on the tube though! Have you got far to go? People are used to the badges now so think they are noticed quite quickly. Congrats x

I wasn't suffering from sickness at that point though! The only symptom I had was that I seemed to have excess saliva, but obviously that's not the sort of thing you bring up at work.

Literally just sitting at my desk on a Friday, chatting to colleagues about something. One of them suddenly stops and looks at me, then later privately declares me to be pregnant. I told her I wasn't, she messaged me on Saturday morning to ask if I was sure, I had literally just taken a test which was negative which I said. Then on Sunday I had the faintest possible line come up, could only see in certain lights if held at an angle.

Over the next few months most of my female colleagues took me aside to ask if I was ok and then to inform me that I was clearly pregnant. Thankfully I didn't mind, they just wanted to take care of me

@Pittcuecothecookbook I've seen people on my train actively ignore a pregnant woman because they didn't want to give up their seat! My colleague is pregnant and struggles to get a seat sometimes too even though she's 7 months and carrying big. It surprised me when she said she had to ask people to move and someone refused once because they had an hour to travel and 'got there first'

I've got an hour in the morning and the same in the evening. Mega busy train! Have to stand most evenings.

Glad your badge worked for you though. What a fab idea!

The people I was closest to had guessed long before I told them at 18 weeks — there were various medical reasons I kept schtum for so long — because they’d heard me throwing up in the loos, and, in fairness, losing two stone and continually vanishing to appointments at the hospital suggested either pregnancy or a serious illness. I’ve always been grateful they were tactful enough not to ask. I’d told my head of dept as soon at 12 weeks because of planning for mat. cover, but just told the people I was closest to, and let the word filter out gradually.

I haven't told them yet - I'm 8 weeks and feeling atrocious (plus a 70min each way commute) and have been dithering for the last week on how to do it!
I work in the NHS and don't get much 1-1 time with my boss. Will watch for any tips on how to tell her, it will entail a whole host of risk assessment stuff which I know will be a faff for her.
I am however grateful that all our toilets have been redone so they're single rooms so I can stick the tap on and no-one can hear me vomit!

@GummyGoddess how strange! You must've had that pregnant lady glow I work in law enforcement and spend lots of time with detectives... hoping their detective skills aren't too sharp!

@FleetwoodSmack sorry you had other medical issues to deal with. Pregnancy on its own is stressful enough! I would really struggle to wait so long as I'm so excited!

@caoraich lucky re the toilets! We only have three for a whole floor so around lunch time I have to wait. Dreading the day I have to throw up and can't get to the loo!

Good luck re telling your boss!

@Pittcuecothecookbook also, thank you! Right back at ya

Tbh, I've never had someone refuse but some people do avert their eyes. I go and sit in first class otherwise as I've got a 2hr journey and it normally opens up after 30 mins so can then move back to standard.
I'm suppose to have applied for a special ticket to do this with first class but never actually posted the application. I've only got 8 weeks left before mat leave so will keep doing it even though it's cheeky. And only if no-one offers me a seat! I can't stand now, get very achey bump and back!

@Pittcuecothecookbook I can't possibly imagine refusing a seat to someone who needed it!

Hey, you sit in first class all you like! I very much doubt anyone would kick you out. I don't have a first class on my train unfortunately (would be nice though)

I sent the team a diary notification saying I'd be in late due to an antenatal appointment.

I signed their Christmas cards with love from me & baby pumpkin and handed them out at our Xmas meal. I have some excellent pics of shocked faces! I was around 18 weeks so only had a tiny bump back then (and work was v busy so nobody cared/noticed what I was wearing).

Ds1 was conceived via IVF. Two close colleagues were sat with me when I received the phone call from the clinic saying my blood test was positive

Is 4+3 4 weeks and 3 days? That's very early to tell everyone? I'm actually similar. 4 weeks since conception, but 6 weeks if you go off the date of my last period. I wasn't planning on telling anyone until after my first scan, in case I miscarried, and then only a select few people (boss, family etc). No one has the faintest idea about me as I wear loose fitting clothes anyway. My pants feel tighter, but no sign of morning sickness yet. I think legally employer doesn't have to know until around July, but I guess if you are in a certain kind of profession or have complications then they should know sooner.