Returning to work from maternity leave pregnant

[Holiday16]

Hi, I have just found out I'm pregnant, I'm due back to work In September from maternity leave and will be roughly 2 months pregnant.
I've not slept a wink through worry of telling them I'm pregnant within the first week of returning. I feel embarrassed and I worry that they won't be impressed. Any advice? Anyone else been through this and how did work take the news?

No advice but some empathy as I'm in exactly the same situation! 11 weeks in September when I return, so will probably be showing as well 🤦‍♀️

I had this. I found out I was pregnant 3 days before starting back. I waited till I had had the 12 week scan before saying anything, though my boss had changed in the interim, so I felt less bad. I them sorted out maternity cover myself, so the impact was minimized.

Basically you are still entitled to maternity leave you are just being efficient in having them close together!

If it helps it's happened to a few of my colleagues and it's been completely fine.

Wait to tell them once you've had the scan. There's no rush you could wait longer still.

Maternity leave is such a short time in your career (although it feels very long at the time!) your employer will cope.

Congratulations!!

And work took it fine, but as I say, my boss had changed and also I worked for a big company, so felt it wasn't impacted.

My sister was almost in this position; fell pregnant just a month after returning to work. It was all completely fine 😊

I actually had to end my maternity leave 3 month early because I was pregnant and needed to be back for 17/40 to get maternity pay through work. They're desperately short staffed at the moment though so even though it's short term they were pleased to have an extra member of staff to see them through.

There's nothing they can do, they can't outwardly express that it's inconvenient so whatever they think they have to carry on as normal with you and be happy for you.

I posted a similar thread a few weeks ago, im on maternity leave but will be 7 months pregnant when I return to work. I had some lovely comments on here and it's made me less worried about telling work.

@bumblingalonghappily I will also be 11 weeks when I return. So probably also showing. I feel like I should just tell them on my first day back. It's a small company and want to be as honest as I can be. How are you planning on telling yours? Il be back for 6 months before going off again! It'll be great if we can keep in touch to tell each other how it went? I no I'm worrying too much about it as it's only work but I feel like I've let them down.

@Hannah9176 Thankyou for the reply I'm technically back this month but I'm taking holiday and have quite abit left - why did you have to return early? Is it because of the 8 week average pay thing? I think il be back in time for that I hope

I feel like I've let them down but I no I'm just being silly x

@Butterflyinthesun hi Hun, congratulations, when are you due back? Let me know how it goes when you tell them! I'm worried about my colleagues taking the mick and also about them getting rid of me. I no I'm being silly and should just enjoy the pregnancy x

Thankyou everyone for your replies. This makes me rest slightly easier. I suppose I just feel like a let down as they have waited so long for my return and given me my flexible working that I wanted and now I'm going off again but I no family is more important than work and once I return il be back for good. Just hope they are as understanding as you guys and don't get rid of me x

They can't just get rid of you, especially if you have been there more than 2 years.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz I've been there for 3 years so not masses of time and I've been off on maternity since last October x

Hi @Holiday16, I work in HR, this happens literally ALL the time. Legally it's not an issue and you are protected, also I'm sure your line manager will have seen this before and be very supportive. At worst expect to be mocked a bit about Irish twins and being 'busy' in lockdown

I returned from maternity 15 weeks pregnant with my 2nd. I was worried at first but everyone was very happy and supportive, it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I had built up in my head! When I spoke to HR about the dates etc the person said it was very common.

The way I see it is I will be working for the rest of my life after this maternity leave so they will get their money out of me then!

I'm going back to work in September and I'll be 7 months pregnant...!! So only going to be back for 2 months before I go off again. I work for the NHS and thankfully qualify for a 2nd maternity leave and pay although will be less than this time. I was really worried about telling work but they were really nice. I'm sure you'll not be the 1st or last to go back pregnant so try not to worry!

Hi @Holiday16 I haven't fully decided yet, but I'll probably tell my headteacher (I work in a school) towards the end of the summer- I would imagine I'll need to ask for time off to attend the 12 week scan a couple of weeks into term anyway. Plus with covid around and with me about to be exposed to 150 different kids a day in a small room she'll probably want to do some kind of risk assessment!

Yes would be great if we could both update each other 😊 I'm sure it won't be as bad as we think. I've also been off since last October and have also only been there for a few years so we're in v similar situations!

I did this. Boss was a bit but it wasn't a big deal at all. In a way actually it's worked out better for my career, got the maternity leave bit out of the way quicker and both kids to school sooner!

I don’t think it’s that uncommon, having a small gap between two children is pretty standard, so I don’t think your work will be that surprised. I had more of a gap between my first two, but then went back pregnant after my second mat leave - my boss was definitely surprised, but your family comes first! I wouldn’t worry about telling them on day 1 unless you really want to, most people understand why you might want to wait for the scan first.

I was sorta in the same situation except I returned the work pregnant, worked 3 weeks , got furloughed for 3 months and then returned to work half way through my pregnancy 😬. I called them before my return to tell them and it was awkward but oh well! I was sooooo nervous to tell them but I felt so much better afterwards !

It's fine.

In my case they kept the person who was acting up in my role on mat leave 1 in the same role (At my suggestion) for continuity and I returned to do a stand-alone project for a couple of months before going on maternity leave no 2.

More awkward was returning from Mat leave 2 only to work my notice to go to a new job I had been offered.