How long until I can’t hide the bump…

[TwinTree]

I'm 14 weeks pregnant (some complications so it’s high-risk, two miscarriages over last year (one at start of 2nd T), long fertility journey).

I'm 5 ft and small framed and I am starting to look pregnant (mostly bloat I know!). A friend of mine already guessed. I can't do up any trousers now and am wearing baggy dresses to work.

I'm nervous about telling work firstly in case I have another loss, and secondly because I'm a freelancer.

My contract ends about a month after my due date, but the project is already looking likely to extend, so I'll miss a significant chunk of it.

I actually only just started this job, so I'm worried that if work find out too soon they'll just want to replace me! Due to being a freelancer they can fire me with one week notice. I won't get any maternity pay from them so that's not a concern from their POV.

I guess I'm wondering how long I've realistically got until it will be very obvious that I'm pregnant!! I am already showing sooner than on my first pregnancy. When did you all start showing?

And any pearls of wisdom from fellow freelancers about how to navigate pregnancy with self-employment would be much appreciated!

Thank you in advance

For me I could have got away with it until about 26 weeks with DD1 if I wore loose clothing, with DD2 I told work people when I was 16 weeks because I thought I looked huge but most of them hadn’t guessed so I could have waited until about 20 weeks I think.
I’m 5’4 and was about size 10 with DD1 and a 12 with DD2

Sorry no idea about contracts - but this is now the season for long chunky wide scarfs - hide all sorts for months!
good luck.

I got away with it until about 18 weeks, I liked keeping it secret.
Get your big coat out!

I am tall and lean, and was quite fit. I managed to get to 25 weeks before I told my team.

I lived in black slim leg trousers, black ballet flats, black t-shirts and brighter coloured jackets. As I got further along I wore a scarf to fill the gap between the button edges of my jacket.

I was lucky that I didn't have any nausea and wasn't tired which helped.

I’ve only had one baby and don’t think I really showed till about 25 weeks.

Could probably have made it until 24 weeks if I wasn't waddling at 16 weeks from pelvic pain.

First, congratulations! I've found that oversized white shirts, especially maternity shirts, over maternity trousers, hide things well. I have a decent bump and went the office at 21 weeks and felt well-disguised. A blazer on top also helps. This is my go-to work outfit.

Sorry, I have no experience of freelancing, but waited as long as possible to tell my manager. We have a minimum time before the due date to inform our employer. Could you speak to the company's HR team in confidence first?

As others have said 24 weeks, second pregnancy. I told work at about 20 weeks with my first.

With my 1st around 27weeks, I only told work at about 23weeks and I got a double look from my manager as if to say where on earth is this baby hiding?! 2nd I told work at 13weeks after my 1st scan and I’d say I could’ve got to about 20weeks without a few guesses! However I am tall and slim (well I was before I had 2 in under 2 years!)

I didn't show until 8 months, but then I went from looking not pregnant at all to being very clearly nearly at term.

Just read the whole post. I recently read the autobiography of Maria Von Trapp, and she tried to hide on of her pregnancies becasue she wanted to be able to travel with the family choir.

A friend adviser her to make her bossom bigger with padding so she would look fat, and she said that worked a treat.

Maybe you could just pretend like that?

DS1, could have got away with it until 25 weeks ish.
DS2, about 16 weeks.
DD, I never actually showed. I was a week overdue and no one guessed I was pregnant!

Everyone is different. I started showing at 24 weeks with my first and 17 with my 2nd. I am 5ft 8in and a little on the heavier side.

With my 1st i could have gotten away with never telling anyone i was so small but i told most people around 12 weeks, my second i managed until 20 weeks purely through choice and got away with it easy and he was my biggest baby my 3rd i got to 13 weeks but then out of nowhere this huge belly appeared and it worked out well because i had wanted to do a Christmas gender reveal to my older children and i managed to do that. It’s upo you really you could just say no if anyone guesses before you are ready to tell people

Even as a freelancer you are still legally protected from discrimination at work. If you told them you were pregnant and then the next week they gave you notice you could bring a claim against them. If anything this would be a reason to tell them sooner rather than later.

I was a freelancer when I was pregnant with my second baby. Nothing happened! I told them and they were happy for me. I don’t think you have any risk cause they know that once you are on mat leave they don’t have to pay you and they will be happy for that 😂 I was pregnant for 7 months while on the same contract. My contract naturally finished then and I went on mat leave and I had my baby. Then 4 weeks after birth I got a new contract for another 6 months with an employer. Ah good old days of high day rates 😂

IME pregnant women think they look “obviously” pregnant for a while before other people would come to that conclusion. If you’re wearing baggy clothes you could probably get away with it until 20-25 weeks. Some people might wonder but wouldn’t be brave enough to assume.

I felt I looked pregnant from around 17 weeks and if I wore a maternity dress people would notice and congratulate, but if I wore something baggy no one would bat an eyelid.

I’ve only had one baby so can’t help but I didn’t properly show when wearing clothes until 32 weeks

I told my team at 19 weeks with DC2 and one replied with “thank goodness; we thought you’d been on the biscuits”! One said he’d already worked it out as I kept touching my stomach.

Thank you everyone for your really helpful responses!

I’m going to try and wait for a while longer. It sounds like baggy clothing is the key!!

Thanks that’s a good point! I’m probably overthinking it

Im 170cm and a size 10. In my previous pregnancy (with DD2), nobody guessed until I was 28 weeks pregnant! Even then the colleague was not 100% sure. With winter coming, loose clothing will definitely help. I hope you can hide it until you are comfortable to tell.