When do I tell my new job I am pregnant?

[BLLMCP]

Hi, I'm hoping to get some advice about a situation I'm in at the moment.

For some context, I currently work for the NHS in a patient facing role. My role currently means that I switch teams every 6 months for experience but I want something more permanent.

At the beginning of November I was approached by an old colleague (let's call her A) about a job coming up in her team and which she wanted me to apply for. This role is a Band higher than my current role with more responsibility and a pay rise. It came at the perfect time, I was feeling so down about my current role and I had always wanted to go back and specialise in this area and work with this team again.

'A' helped me prepare for the application and interview. At this point she told me the team had been struggling due to poor staffing and a large caseload. Both 'A' and another member had threatened to leave unless they hired someone new. This didn't bother me as I really wanted the job and knew I could help. The team itself is a very young team, currently 2 are recently married and 2 returning from maternity (and part time). I am also recently married. One member expressed concerns to 'A' that 'A' would be leaving on maternity soon and that if I join I also might leave soon. I brushed this aside at the time and didn't say much as it didn't bother me.

Fast forward 1 week later, I've applied and I'm waiting to hear. Then I find out I'm pregnant (currently 8 weeks). Baby is not planned but we are so happy. Then the anxiety hits in - should I still apply? Or will the team be angry? They are so short staffed and I don't want to cause problems. As my role is patient facing I know that I won't be able to fulfil my role properly past 28 weeks as that's the current recommendation following risk assessment.

I decided to go ahead with the interview and then decide. I got the job and accepted. I think I was the only one who applied and they are now going out to advert again to try and hire another as one member has handed her notice in.

Am I being selfish by accepting this job? I know I am within my rights to accept, but I know the team so well and I don't want to put them under more pressure by having a staff member who's useless after a couple of months. I feel so conflicted between what is right and what I feel is morally right.

What would you do? If you took the job, when would you tell them you're pregnant? I am 12 weeks at the beginning of January.

I would tell them ASAP. I know lots of people wait till 12 weeks but as a radiographer we have to say immediately for the safety of the baby, and to be honest, it removes a lot of angst. Do it like ripping off a sticky plaster. Think of it this way, your not letting them down if no-one else applied. They'd have you or no-one.
telling them sooner is less of a let down, but it's not like they turned down anyone else. Noww they have someone for a few months. Not ideal bit you will ease the pressure. Discuss all the ways you could help. Perhaps in 20 weeks you'll be able to keep working, depending on your vacination...i don't know. Being short staffed sucks. We've got two people leaving at Christmas and I'm planning on TTC. So similar boat. Good luck with your pregnancy.

Legally you have to tell them by your 25th week but if you are in a job that may cause harm to the baby I'd tell them asap although if you know the rules say you're fine until 28 weeks i'd probably wait til i am settled in a bit.

I told my manager at about 8 weeks as was ill and exhausted and needed to be cut some slack but didn't officially tell work til after my 20 week scan. but i do a WFH desk job

You have no obligation to tell them until 25 weeks. But if you do tell them now, you're in a good position because you work for NHS and you're well protected because you're pregnant. It's awkward but you can't lose your job or be discriminated against. If you're working with high risk drugs (chemotherapy) or with radiology machines etc I'd obviously tell them earlier but if it's low risk, just do what's best for you. They can't touch you and they can't even be shitty with you because you're pregnant.

Congratulations!
Definitely take the job,
It's a personal decision about when you tell them but the sooner you do, the sooner you can get a workplace risk assessment.
I'm a patient facing NHS worker and chose to tell my work around 12 weeks

Thank you for all your replies!

In my current team my manager knows as I wanted to make sure I didn't have to work with any patients with Covid or infections. I've decided to wait and tell my new team when I start and once I'm 12 weeks :)

Thanks for your help!