When did you tell your boss about your pregnancy?

[2024Baby]

I would love to wait until close to the 12 week mark but my job has recently made us go back into the office twice a week (1hr 30 minute drive each way for me) and I also have long drives of up to 3 hours each way!! about once every two weeks to record footage for the company. I'm already exhausted and need a lie down at lunch and straight after work - I'm not even at the 5 week mark yet!

Seriously considering saying something around 6-7 weeks in the hopes my workload can be adjusted with less hours driving.

Looking to see when everyone else told their work? 😊

I think it’s different for everyone depending on the type of job you do. You need to do what’s best for you! Tiredness is awful during the first trimester but it does ease off.
I’ve had multiple high risk pregnancies and told my boss once the pregnancy was confirmed at a 6 week scan. I think once you discuss with your boss then you can look at the pregnancy/ maternity policy for your business and see what it says about travelling for work.
Sadly I work 5 days and wasn’t able to ease off during the working day but it made me he relax at night time and weekends and prioritise what I needed to do.

Due to me working in a hospital, i thought it may be best to tell my manager earlier. I told her at 4 weeks, shes scheduled more meetings in to see how im doing, how im getting on with the job, any risk assessments that need doing, and of course the risk of outbreaks such as measles, whooping cough is another one at the minute thats outbreaking in places. I have to be very careful with where i go, what i do and who i get in contact with (im not a nurse or a doctor i actually work for the charity) my manager has been super supportive of my pregnancy and even knows of my previous losses so she wants to make sure im fully supported.

Its entirely up to you when you tell them, legally you dont have to tell them until i believe your 25 weeks.

But it depends on what maternity policy they have in place to help support you and your pregnancy.

15 weeks

First day in a new job, sat down when the boss and was like “Sooooooo…., there’s this.”

I planned to wait as long as possible. In the end I was way under 12 weeks, I think around 5 week mark as I was so sick and in hospital needing fluid on different occasions.
I told HR first and then told colleges when I was ready after my 12 week scan.

4 weeks as I needed risk assessments and restricted duties

I told my boss at 7 weeks as I had a scare and had to go to EPU and get him to cover for me - he was absolutely brilliant. Told the rest of my team the day before I announced it on social media which was around 15 weeks.

I told my boss at 6 weeks as I had awful morning sickness and I wanted to be honest with him about the reason for my absences. Also like you I had a long commute a few days a week. He's a supportive boss so I felt fine saying it.

I told about 7 weeks, they knew I had a miscarriage last year, so it was hardly a surprise. I really wanted to work from home so thought I'd tell them, and anyway, I'd tell them if I had another miscarriage. I don't get the waiting til 12 weeks, unfortunately it's not some magic point where everything is guaranteed, and it's just another way our society avoids discussing miscarriage by it being hidden.

First was about 7 weeks because I needed adjustments and risk assessing due to the job I was in. Second was about 9 weeks I think because I needed time off for 12w scan.

I told my boss, no one else at work, before 6 weeks, enabled me to have the time off for the early appointments and also meant I could be excused from having to go on a work trip.

In pregnancy 1 and 2, at 7 weeks. Because I had been off over a week then with hyperemesis so had to submit a fit note which had to give the reason.

I'm 8 weeks now in pregnancy 3 and much much much less sick than the previous two times. Haven't had any time off work (yet?!). The only reason I'd tell my manager earlier than everyone else is if I need to for sickness recording. But there is a chance I might need to tell her prior to the dating scan if that clashes though, to get the time off. I only work part-time though so just hoping I will get lucky with timing and it won't clash with work.

Having said that, I already have a bump at 8 weeks so Im sure everyone at work will realise well before I tell them all. I know logically baby is tiny still but I have put on 2kg and have terrible bloating especially when I eat and as I'm a size 8 all that extra on my tummy is very obvious. Going to try wearing my loosest clothes from now on to try and hide it!

Thanks everyone 😊 it's good to get some perspective on it! I'm going to tell my manager after my 6 week scan, the job is just far too stressful (manager just piles work on!) and I want it reviewed x

I told mine at 9 weeks because I had to take 2 weeks off with the sickness and exhaustion. I had been struggling for three weeks at that point so it was a relief to explain why my work probably wasn't up to usual standard!

The worst of it seems to be easing up now at 11 weeks, so I'll go back on Wednesday, but WFH only. If I had to travel there and back I'd be getting signed off. If you are struggling, you can go to your GP and ask either to be signed off or for a fit note specifying WFH only. Your workplace does have to make reasonable adjustments for pregnancy related sickness. Good luck!