Sharing Pregnancy News with Work Colleagues

[Redstar2015]

I am currently 16 weeks pregnant and already feeling baby move. Have had a good 12-week scan and also check up with midwife a few days ago, who was able to find baby's heartbeat with the doppler and all sounded well then.

My question is when did you start to tell more work colleagues about your pregnancy? I have a lot of maternity cover to work out, so I am trying to get all of this in order but it feels like I'm telling a lot of people when I really wanted to keep things quieter until the 20-week scan just in case of bad news.

Anyone else in this position? What did you do? It's not like I want to make some grand announcement, I genuinely am just trying to get my ducks in a row before going on leave and as I'm further along in my career I'm involved in quite a few major projects.

Congratulations

I'd tell my boss first and tell them that I don't want the wider team to know yet, and then tell more people closer to the time.

I'd probably tell my boss somewhere between 12 and 20 week scans. Depends on the nature of the work, as some might need a revised risk assessment.

You don't need to tell them. Tell your boss and say you want it kept quieter from the rest of the team. At some point someone will ask your boss or rest of the team and it will get out. There is a number of weeks you have to tell HR by.

I told my boss before 12 weeks then wanted to wait longer but ended up telling everyone at work just after 12 weeks. I didn’t post it on Facebook until 17/18 weeks but this time I think I’m going to wait until 20

It’s completely up to you - I told my boss in confidence about 8-9 weeks because I had terrible sickness and kept having to leave meetings/be away from my PC so didn’t want her to think I was just slacking. I told colleagues after 12 week scan because I wanted it out there.

My boss new from 6 weeks, had no choice as I was in the toilets most the time due to sickness.

Everyone else at 12 weeks.

Totally up to you but HR need by a certain time. You can ask your boss to keep it quiet until your ready.
There is also a health and safety aspect to it, DSE etc.

Thanks, all! I told my boss at 14 weeks, which was the soonest I could book a meeting with her after my 12 week scan. I did ask her to keep things quiet, which she has done, but because there are certain aspects of my responsibilities which I do need to plan well in advance and rollover to other colleagues, I am finding myself having to inform more people than I expected before the 20 week scan. I guess I'm wondering if I'm just being silly at this point and should not worry about it. I wouldn't make some huge announcement, but would want to let those who need to know (e.g., because they are taking over a role) know and start working on getting my cover handled. I am in a job where this does take months, so I'm not really planning too early here. I hope that makes sense and explains why I'm torn!

I told my boss at 16wks and other colleagues at 22wk