Would you tell your manager in this situation?

[Number1number2]

I just got my bfp over the weekend, so only 4+2 now

Tomorrow I have my end of year review (very large, household name, corporate office job) My manager is lovely, and passionate about supporting progression. We are likely to have constructive conversation about my career aspirations, things I can do in work to help my progression, who I should network with, etc.

I think being honest with her that I might have another impending mat leave is likely to be more productive, and also I would feel disingenuous talking about plans for the next 18-24 months knowing I might not be around for all of that.

It won't affect the outcome of the review either as that's already decided and purely based on the years performance, it's a tightly controlled process to avoid any bias etc.

The last piece of context is that she's leaving for a new role in a couple of months, so ultimately it's not going to affect her directly.

I trust her and if anything did go wrong and I needed time off work I would likely be honest about the reason why, but there's still something in the back of my mind that I shouldn't mention it.

What would you do? Any advice?

I think based on what you've said re it won't affect your review & you're confident your manager will be 100% supportive if you needed it - I would say go for it

From what you’ve written about your company and manager it does sound like you’ll have good support there, and you’ve written in a way that makes me think you’d like to tell you manager now so you’re being honest and on the same page.

Which is the total opposite of what I’m doing 😅. I’m 16 weeks pregnant tomorrow and had my end of year review chat last week (went great) and goal setting for the year ahead coming up this week.
In my case I’m going for promotion this year and want my goals set in stone and signed off before letting my manager know and then adjusting the goals to fit the new time frame.
I’m incredibly paranoid about unconscious bias, and even though my manager is lovely, this news will have to passed upwards and I’m just scared of not getting my deserved promotion because I’m going on Mat Leave. If I have a promotion plan written up and in place that’s less likely to happen and I’m just not willing to risk it for the sake of openness and honesty, but maybe that makes me jaded about sexism in the workplace!

In all honestly if I was you, you’re so early in pregnancy it’s totally feasible you wouldn’t even know at this stage, so I wouldn’t say anything until my year ahead is mapped out. I wouldn’t want opportunities for career progression or networking put on the back burner or deprioritised because they know you’re going on leave.
Even if your company controls very well for bias, unconscious bias is exactly that, unconscious!

From reading other thread, I’m definitely in the minority, but just thought I would offer another perspective.

I personally wouldn’t say anything yet but that’s because I did back in October when I got a bfp then lost it at 5-6 weeks and then it happened again the following cycle (I didn’t say anything that time). My manager is mega supportive but I hung on and told her at 7 weeks this time as I knew I would want the in work support but it was so hard telling her about the loss. That’s just me though as I struggle talking about things like that.

I don’t think you will have a loss btw I just know from experience it happens

@CityKity that's really useful context and definitely sounds like you're doing the right thing in your situation! Even if the perfect role came up, I'm definitely not ready for a promotion this year so for me it's about making sure the next 8 months are mapped out with a view that I'm in a good position when I get back. But equally having read your post.....why limit myself? Maybe I am?! Argh! I think I'll see how the conversation goes tomorrow and keep it in my back pocket.

@allgoodthings84 so sorry to hear about your losses and wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy this time :)