First scan appointment - work query

[5rosebud]

Hi,
I’ve just had my date through for my first scan. I was just wondering what other people did about work? I know legally we are allowed to take time off for antenatal appointments but I’m not sure I want to tell my boss just yet, especially as we haven’t even told our parents yet! Equally I don’t want to say I just have a normal doctors appointment as I’ll need a good couple of hours out. I also don’t have any annual leave left 😕

I told one boss. I hadn't told my parents either. I was stressed enough without having to worry about that.
I didn't tell work last time and sadly had a mc. The phonecall after was hard work. You'd have to tell them about that either way so to me it makes no difference (sorry I know that's a negative way of looking at it!)

I asked for the morning off due to a hospital appointment. My boss didn't ask any further questions as it was a medical appointment.

Just tell them and tell them you’re keeping it to yourself for now.

I took the day as annual leave but only because I've had bad news at 12 week scans before and wouldn't have been able to face coming back to work if it was bad news again

I ended up just telling my boss at work quite early. He was one of the first people I told. He is really professional and let me have the time off I needed and obviously didnt tell anyone in the office Haha, a couple weeks later I had to tell my general manager as it was just before lock down. And boris had just announced the pregnant woman should shield.
If you really dont want to tell anyone, maybe just say important hospital appointment. They cant really ask questions.

I planned mine and asked for a longer lunch break to cover the appointment and made up my time

I just said a doctor's appointment

I have booked annual leave for mine, only because I'm keeping it secret but I had to go for a blood test as they couldn't do one at my booking appointment so I had to tell my boss I had a hospital appointment, no questions asked.

You don't HAVE to say exactly what it's for, could always say it's personal?

I am keeping it quiet until at least first scan due to previous MC that my boss is aware of and was very helpful through that situation.

I said it was for a hospital appointment in gynaecology and would need a few hours out. No boss in their right mind would question that any further! Don’t feel the need to tell them you’re pregnant or take a days annual leave! Ridiculous.

I've put in a day's annual leave, partly because it's an early appointment and I want to have the afternoon to myself to have a nap/relax, and partly because I have lots of leave to use up. I've told my boss it's for a hospital appointment as it's a few days before a big deadline, they haven't asked any more questions. Does your work have a policy on hospital appointments? I'm going to be telling my boss a few days before as I have a one to one meeting so it's convenient, also if I do get bad news I would need to tell my boss anyway for time off

Ah, was going to suggest taking a half day of annual leave but see that's not an option. I did that for one appointment. For another I feigned a dental appointment.

Unless you have lots of annual leave yo use up and want the afternoon off after the scan like PlanBea can those like CoalCraft PLEASE stop suggesting women take leave for antenatal appointments!! It’s your legal right to take these within working hours.

Completely agree- can we stop suggesting women taking annual leave for this (unless you have loads of leave left to take & want to).

I only mentioned it because I had loads left and I wanted to take it as annual leave, plus it means I can have a nice afternoon having a nap!

Fully aware of womens rights to have it off from work which I will be doing for the further along appointments.

I just said it was a medical appointment. I once had to wait 2 hours for a standard (non pregnancy related) blood test - medical appointments sometimes just take time (I love the NHS but it can be slow!) and most bosses really don’t want the details - just that you are ok and able to work or if you need support

Thanks everyone. I’m swaying towards just telling him as I don’t want to go back to work after the appointment in case of bad news etc. We are expected to make up time for general medical appointments so don’t really want to say I just have a Doctors appointment.

I said "hospital appointment". They asked no more and it's not technically a lie either.

I agree, Iknewyouwerewaitingforme, I meant to clarify I wouldn't recommend annual leave normally, just for my particular situation. You are entitled to reasonable time off for antenatal appointments and this is paid. Your boss won't (shouldn't!) go around telling people that you're pregnant, I view telling my boss more like telling a midwife, just a practicality rather than an announcement to parents/friends and family.

Depending on the time of your scan, say it was in the morning you wouldn’t be given the afternoon off as well paid. You are allowed reasonable time off for scans so travel time there and back to work and the duration of the app is all you’d get. If your app was in the morning you would be expected back in work when you were done unless you book the rest of the time off.

I’m not expecting the whole day off, my appointment is in the afternoon.

I told my boss straight away so I could attend appointments as needed, my thoughts being if I miscarried then I’d tell him anyway as would need time off. Think he was third person to know!

@Iknewyouwerewaitingforme and @DollyParton2 I think my boss must have just read the maternity guidelines, as he recently reminded me that I don't have to "make up" time that I miss for antenatal appointments!

You can either tell them 'early' and get the time off or take it as unpaid leave if you have no holiday left. I took mine as holiday but would've taken unpaid if I didn't have any as didn't want to tell them until I knew all was okay.