When to tell work?

[ForTheLoveOfDoughnuts]

It's very early, so I know I didn't need to tell them yet. But what about midwife appointments? I have one in 2 weeks time when I'll be roughly 6 weeks... Should I say it's a standard doctors appointment or midwife?

It's up to you. If you want to tell them then say it's a midwife appointment, if not tell them it's a doctors appointment. The only difference being that the workplace has to allow paid time off for antenatal appointments but depending on your company's policy, they may not have to for a standard doctors appointment. If that's something that bothers you, maybe tell them.

A lot of people wait until their 12 week scan just incase, god forbid, anything goes wrong but sometimes it makes more sense to tell them before that. You don't have to tell them until 25 weeks I don't believe but it's best to as they will conduct a risk assessment. Completely depends on your personal circumstances.

I told mine about 17 weeks.

Thank you both. My work is very flexible, I work remotely and at home. So I don't normally tell them about doctors appointments. When I have they never question it at all and are always supportive.

I get on very well with my boss and my work is flexible but I didn’t tell them (or anyone actually!) until after the 12 week scan. I just said I had a docs app initially.

I told mine early - must've been about 2 months - because I caught every cold going and was as sick as a dog. Plus we were organising loads of work events (very boozy) and I couldnt make up enough 'I'm not drinking because...' excuses.

I have my work Xmas party coming up and I'll be 10.5 weeks. I really don't think I'll get away with any excuses so may tell everyone at work then (small team, work remotely and don't see each other very often)

I told my boss shortly after I found out just because I was very unwell with it and didn't want it to be misunderstood

I have had a very physical job and told work as soon as I got the positive test so I could be given more suitable duties.
If something did happen to the baby (god forbid) chances are you would need some compassionate leave anyway.
I didn't get paid time off as I worked a rota and random shifts, but they rearranged all my shifts to fit into my appointment schedule.

I told them as soon as I found out, around 5 weeks along, as I had appointments booked and I didn't want to lie

@ForTheLoveOfDoughnuts hi lovely.
I got pregnant first time in July and couldn't hide my excitement so I told them. Lucky I did as I miscarried a few weeks later and they were all so supportive. I am now pregnant again however just told three main management people this time.
Congrats ❤️

I told my boss a few weeks after finding out, but told him to keep it to himself until I was ready to tell people. I wanted to be able to go to my appts without having to lie or make up excuses :-)

WHENEVER YOU WANT AND WHENEVER YOU NEED TO.

Sorry for the caps, but so many people are told the old “not until 12 weeks” thing, but the first trimester is HARD and you don’t need to struggle alone.

I told my work immediately due to the risks involved (mainly harmful chemicals) it really depends on the roll, and if there are any serious risks. I just told my manager and two senior managers, so an appropriate risk assessment could be put in place, the whole workplace obviously doesn't need to find out as it's confidential information. If you don't need a risk assessment for your roll (i.e. Office job), and you are happy telling your employer that early appointments are just doctors appointments then there's no need to tell them until you want to TBH. I would have had to tell mine earlier anyway as I was so poorly in the first trimester and needed a lot of time off.

Thanks everyone. Going to keep it quiet till I've seen the midwife in 2 weeks, at least till then. Doesn't really feel real yet.