When should I tell my boss I'm pregnant?

[Momma22]

Hi, so I'm currently only 7 weeks pregnant. Only my DP, parents and in laws know I'm expecting at the moment.

Ideally I'd like to wait until at least the 12 week scan to share the news with my boss, but I'm not sure I should? My job requires me to work late nights, spend 8 hours solid on my feet, lift very heavy objects, run up and down stairs and be up and down ladders. We have to move very fast to get the work done, and it can be a highly pressurised environment to work in.

Not sure what I should and should not be doing at this stage in my pregnancy? Have my first appointment with the midwife so I'll ask her about heavy lifting, being very physically active etc when I see her.

I've tried not to push myself too hard up to now and have asked for help lifiting heavier items etc, using the excuse that I've pulled something in my back, but there's only so long I can get away with that excuse. I feel okay in myself but I am very very tired and i do have the occasional dizzy spell. So I have been trying to take it easy, just because I don't physically have the energy to work at the same speed I used to and also because I had a MC in April and I'm scared to push myself too hard. I feel like I'm going to need to say something soon as my boss might look at my work and assume it's just me being lazy as opposed to just trying to do things at a slower pace. And I know once he knows I'm pregnant legally speaking he'll have to accommodate that in certain ways.

If I do tell him before I'm 12 weeks it goes without saying it'll be strictly between the two of us until I'm ready to tell the rest of my colleagues. Just not sure when the right time is.

Anyone else in a physically demanding job? When did you break the news at work?

I'm not in a physically demanding role but I told my boss at 9 weeks because I am spending so much time in the toilet with sickness! We have a few busy bodies in our team who would definitely report me so I just wanted it known.

In your position I would definitely tell them now. The only thing that matters is keeping you as safe as possible and it is their duty to support you in that. You can ask then to keep it confidential until you are happy for others to know

Thanks for the advice @Jenda I do agree. No idea how I'm gonna approach him, I've been rehearsing how I'm gonna say it in my head for days 🙈

I told mine at 17 weeks but I have a sedentary office job. You should not be lifting heavy objects in pregnancy because you're at greater risk of injury as ligaments relax during pregnancy. Your employer only owes you a duty of care relating to your pregnancy once they know about it - so I would tell them now.

I told mine as soon as I'd found out. Mainly because i have a physical job, I was only 5 weeks.
By 6 weeks the morning sickness hit and I'd had to have told them then anyway.
It wasn't very bloody confidential though, everybody already knew by the time I was ready to break the news.
Apparently managers don't know how to be discreet or keep private information to themselves.

If you usually do a physical job I think your body is used to it and it isn't a problem. Riders generally carry on riding nowadays for that reason.

I am sorry about your miscarriage and know the second pg is very hard and full of worry. I hope all goes well for you this time.

I work for the emergency services and I posted a very similar question. I ended up telling my boss at 8 weeks, had an early scan and found out I was actually 6 weeks. I was taken off front line work and put in the office immediately. My morning sickness kicked in about 7 weeks and I was glad that they already knew, I don’t know how I could of kept it secret!!

I had also had a recent MC and I was suddenly very aware of all of the dangers around me and everything that could go wrong. I also felt that I was holding back in situations which then left my crew mate in more danger, so I told them early and I’m glad I did.

From what you’ve described, I would tell your boss very soon. It is already affecting your job, if you are having dizzy spells, you shouldn’t be on ladders. You have more chance of harming yourself than the baby but I didn’t want to take the risk. Good luck with what ever you decide x

I told my boss at around 6 weeks both times. I have an autoimmune condition which means a lot of hospital appointments, especially early on, so it was the best option for me so there were no issues around time off.