Telling work colleagues at 17 weeks?

[TowerStork]

Hi all, this week I've told a number of work colleagues that I "should" be going on maternity leave in June. I told the main boss already, but now I'm dealing with day-to-day colleagues. Do you think it's a bit early? I worry that if something goes wrong I'm making things harder on myself because everyone will know. But if I say nothing, I'm pretending I'll be available to finish projects when I won't be and they'll have to deal with the extra work. So I'd rather be honest with them and give them time to plan, but I just feel a bit weird when they start talking about babies. I don't feel pregnant most of the time (no symptoms beyond a bit of indigestion) and I don't look pregnant yet either. I have no problem talking about it at home and with my family, but I feel weird about it at work in case something goes wrong.

You've told the people who need to know so as for everyone else just tell them when you feel comfortable.

It's up to you when you tell them really. I work for a small firm (around 25 people) and sent a general email out to everyone letting them know shortly after my 12 week scan. If something had gone wrong, I'd have got HR to send out an email to everyone letting them know. I get on well with my colleagues, and find it easier that everyone knows.

It’s completely up to you when you tell colleagues but if you can I wouldn’t pretend you can deliver projects that you will be on mat leave for. It could cause issues with your working relationships later down the line. Better to either tell them when projects for after June come up or if you want to wait until after your 20 week scan maybe you could work out with your manager what projects will need cover / handing over and then tell people then and work out an action plan? You’ve still got time for you and your colleagues to get ready for your mat leave as it’s not like you’ll just disappear one day without any warning or handover

Thanks everyone. All of that makes sense. My colleagues have been lovely. I guess I'm overthinking it and catastrophizing about things going wrong.

It’s completely understandable to be worried @RubyRoss! It’s a stressful time. I’m also due in June and am also counting down the days to my 20 week scan when I think I will feel more reassured.

I told my line manager and HR at 17 weeks, and the rest of my team at 18 weeks. It was nerve wracking but I wanted to be able to get on with planning the rest of my time before mat leave and to let them know I wouldn't be available for certain parts of projects etc so I'm pleased I did it when I did!

I told HR and my managers at 17 weeks. Not planning on telling anybody else unless it comes up in the conversation.

I told my line manager at 7 weeks. I have a high risk pregnancy and they needed to know I'd be having lots of scans and appointments. There's no right or wrong answer

@Lostintranslatio

I told HR and my managers at 17 weeks. Not planning on telling anybody else unless it comes up in the conversation.

That's what I've been doing this week so now some of them know because it impacts their work plans and others don't. It will be obvious soon enough I suppose.

Incidentally, it's very sweet that all the parents seem to enjoy a little moment of thinking about their own children or pregnancies.

I told my team members today. I'm 17+3 and my due date is 3rd July. I'm hoping to take quite a bit of annual leave directly before that though, so I needed to let them know so we can plan properly. I had several losses last year (that only my line manager knew about) so I was nervous of doing it too early as well.

Now the WFH guidance has been lifted I'll be back in the office from next week and it's definitely too difficult for me to hide it!

I told my work colleagues when I was around 8 weeks! Just because I didn’t want them to wonder why I was mysteriously away from my laptop (WFH) I was quite poorly for the first few weeks of pregnancy and it just made me feel better that they knew!

@BeeDavis

I told my work colleagues when I was around 8 weeks! Just because I didn’t want them to wonder why I was mysteriously away from my laptop (WFH) I was quite poorly for the first few weeks of pregnancy and it just made me feel better that they knew!

It must very difficult to hide it if you have a tough first trimester. I didn't even know I was pregnant until I was 14 weeks so I had a lucky escape with that