How has work been since you announced your pregnancy?

[KittyMcTitty]

I’m interested in other pregnant ladies experiences.
This is my second time and it is far worse than the first time! I definitely feel under appreciated and cut out! I’m close to maternity leave now but just so frustrated! Particularly knowing I will be returning!
Share your experience!

Hi @KittyMcTitty

How many weeks are you? Sorry to hearing you’re feeling like that, did they make you feel like this straight away or has it just been bubbling away?

Im 19 + 4 today and work have known since week 6 for me, the morning sickness kicked right in at week 6 and is still continuing now! I work in HR anyway so I would have been surprised if my colleagues and manager were not surportive or understanding. They’ve been great I honestly couldn’t fault them, which has helped as I’ve unfortunately had to rest up/work from home which I really don’t enjoy anymore.

I’m not sure on your situation but companies have to remember that every pregnancy is different and ultimately put their employee first. It’s a shame some companies don’t or try to use under handed tactics really, I’ve heard a lot of horror stories and my last place was shocking for it

Really good- my boss was happy for me and I’ve already told them I plan to come back full time and want to stay in touch when I’m on maternity leave. I’ve had time off sick and they have been supportive.

To my complete surprise they recently promoted me (quite a significant promotion) and I’m really looking forward to coming back after maternity leave.

I think their approach will pay off. I feel incredibly loyal and lucky to work there and am very motivated to do the best job I can.

During my last pregnancy I faced what I would describe looking back as discrimination (different company). I missed out on two annual appraisals and a promotion - despite having been doing the job for a year before I went on maternity leave. Their loss as I left 2 months after returning- haven’t looked back and have won contracts that they went for at my new employer

I was off sick for a good chunk of my pregnancy and this didn’t go down too well (even though I’d never had a day off before I was pregnant) DD was born early and some collegeaues I thought were friends still haven’t acknowledged she was born 6 months later 🙄 Management on the other hand were great and sent flowers when we were home from hospital and have been quite supportive.

I’m due to go back in March... it may be a little awkward with certain colleagues, but not through my doing (they have all had children who are of school age now)... even funnier I have just found out I’m pregnant with DC2 so will be going back with that news (and looking pretty pregnant), for only around 3/4 months 😂

My employer has been surprisingly very supportive. Especially given that I went back to work in October after having DD1 and I'm due to start my next mat leave in February with DD2. 🙈

This is my third pregnancy and my employer, and the whole (small) company, has been really supportive every time. Happy for me, and just getting on with organising things for while I’m off. It must be awkward for them as it’s a small company, and mine isn’t a role you can realistically recruit maternity cover for, so my colleagues will be taking on my case load for the year, but I’ve not had anything negative.

I got sacked immediately. They said they couldn’t afford it and didn’t want the hassle. Which quickly changed to another excuse for sacking me when they realised that was illegal.

Been quite mixed for me. My boss was brilliant when I first found out but has been off on long term sick ever since. The organisation has done nothing to help cover his role so I've been doing two jobs for the past few months and despite asking for help all the time there is no recognition that it's hard! I guess I'd feel the same even if I wasn't pregnant but it's been tougher than expected. Job wise I've coped but the little things like having to be a on 12 month waiting list for a locker (we hotdesk so I've been carrying all my equipment in and out for the past few months with an increasingly achy back!) and HR having lost my maternity application 4 times(!) haven't helped as I've had no line management support.

I have lovely colleagues however and I only have a couple of weeks left. My boss will be back when I return after mat leave so I'm in a better position that many...just counting down the days!

My boss did a double take, said “F**k, how old are you?”

Two days before I left for maternity leave they tried to get me to sign a new contract without reading it - which would have taken away my car alllowance and cut my pension by 3%.
After ds was born, I got a letter from the pension company saying they were sorry I’d decided to leave the company scheme
And then they fired me at 9.40 on my first morning back.
Bless ‘em.

Crikey @Seniorschoolmum what a bunch of arseholes!

Thank you all for coming back.
This is my second at the same work place and is probably more symptematic of the job then maternity and probably am being dare I say it at 32 weeks a bit sensitive... but the handling of it has just been so thoughtless this time!
I have been allowed all my legal entitlements but its things like I was in a meeting with a supplier who knew I was pregnant (despite not having told them) because a contractor who will be covering one element of my maternity leave (which I knew nothing about!) has posted they would be working for my company in my role (no actual mention of me) on linked in! I was fuming and more so when I found out my boss knew and hadn't mentioned it!
I have to do a handover for both elements of my job - one is easy and the other has been left so up in the air - and I can't think f**k it as I want to come back and I would never want to leave a job in a mess but it can be so frustrating!!!
Only told our board of Directors yesterday - had to write my own email and then a large part got removed (I am not gushy or flowery) ended up being two lines and read so cold!!! I feel that sometime women are just not treated in the manner they should be - I am a great worker (in my opinion of course) but with evidence to support this and now I am off on maternity its like bye!

RealTurnip - what type of role did you have? I have read of this happening with nannies!

Oh my god senior school mum - that is soooooo rude!!!! That does put mine in perspective - its lots of little things and the feeling of being undervalued but yours is a whole different thing! Did they make you redundant? It is so frustrating to know this happens so frequently!!!

I hate the idea some people think as soon as you get pregnant you stop caring or trying!

Just getting annoyed and counting down the days I supppose! Moan over.... well until my husband gets home ha ha!

Don’t worry, my solicitor did a good job. They were persuaded around to my point of view eventually. Took a while but we got there

Generally I think companies are being a bit less supportive. Legal insurance is a sensible investment for anyone planning a pregnancy.

That is such a shame to even have to contemplate legal insurance!!!

I’m absolutely dreading telling my managers if I’m honest. I’m a TV producer and I have no idea how I’ve got to 12 weeks without anyone knowing.. although I have been really lucky and only been really tired and felt sick in the evenings. Going for my scan today and then going to tell them on Wednesday but I can’t help but feel like they’re going to take it horrendously. I work 12 hour shifts and really don’t want any special treatment but I think they’re gonna hate the fact I’m going away for months on end and probably think I won’t come back! But I want to! I hope I don’t get fired :(

Lotikins, write out an email stating that you are pregnant and your due date. Just before you go into your meeting, (seconds before) send the email to HR, blind copying your personal email address, so there is a paper trail. Then go into your meeting and tell your boss.
Also print out a copy of your diary for that day, and put it in your bag, before you go in.

You’ll probably be absolutely fine but having a little bit of documentation never hurt anyone. Good luck

Thanks so much for the advice @seniorschoolmum :)