Pregnancy during probation period

[Mummabear225]

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some guidance from anyone who has been through something similar. I am a mum to a 22-month-old and started a new job 3 months ago. I am really enjoying the role so far. I haven’t had any negative feedback, so I can only assume things are going well.
I have a 6-month probation period which ends in December, and I do feel optimistic about it. However, I want to grow my family, and given my age, I feel like time is against me. I had a miscarriage before having my current baby, and it took me a long time to conceive again, which adds to my worry.
I am really nervous about trying to conceive (TTC) while still in my probation period. Like I said, I haven't been told there are any performance issues at all, but it's a nervousness I just can't shake. I’m scared of what might happen if I get pregnant before my probation is officially over and whether I could lose my job.

At the same time, I'm afraid that if I let time go
by, I will deeply regret not trying earlier.
For context, the company I work for offers company-paid maternity leave as a day-one benefit, which is amazing. But I just can't help feeling anxious.
Has anyone else navigated TTC or early pregnancy during a contractual probation period? I'd appreciate any advice or shared experiences.

You only have 3 months left of the probation period, so even if you got pregnant today, you would not need to notify your employer before after the probation period.
So start ttc, good luck to you.

Is your concern that first trimester illness would make you unable to work? I would imagine that most people would only inform work at 12 weeks (or later) anyway, which even if you conceived straight away would already take you to December and out of the probation period.

I personally wouldn’t, especially as it’s only a couple of months away.
It absolutely shouldn’t be an issue but the pregnant and screwed forum exists for a reason.

I'm not sure about timing here but- say you were to conceive tomorrow- would there be any need to share that before your probation finishes? I mean when do people typically tell others? I didn't inform family until I was about 14 weeks.

Where I work paid leave is a Day 1 right also. My contract is coming to an end, I've just accepted another role in the company. I have to work a 3 month notice period before switching. What no one knows yet is I'm 8 weeks pregnant and will be starting new job at hopefully 22 weeks pregnant if this pregnancy continues.

Do I expect them to be ecstatic? No. But it was many months of trying and a miscarriage before this one. My first is almost 3. I'm not putting my life on hold for a job 🤷‍♀️

I haven’t been in exactly the same situation but similar in that I had to choose between TTC (with age against me) and job stability. I chose TTC because I would’ve hated to look back and think I delayed something so important for stability in a job that you can never truly guarantee anyway. There will always be job opportunities (providing the economy doesn’t go to total hell!) but conception chances absolutely have a finite time-frame.

If it helps. I got pregnant after trying for years and had resigned from my job a few days before I found out as was stressed and wanted to change career. Anyway the job I was in was in London. It worked out fine as I was able to temp throughout my pregnancy and then went on Mat leave a bit early. It was a bit stressful keep finding jobs but don’t beat yourself up like I did. Good luck!

Hi, would also love this advice as got pregnant just before starting a new job and am still in my 3-month probation.

I am leaning towards disclosing around 8 weeks as I’ll get time off for appointments and they’ll cease to involve me in long-term project planning beyond May 2027 that I won’t be able to do (which is what’s currently happening). They would be a bit screwed resource-wise if I waited until Jan 2027 to tell them as I’m legally entitled to do. I feel waiting until after my probation implies I don’t trust them to act honourably and may impact my future there long term. It’s a smallish charity.

If they decide to let me go then so be it, I wouldn’t want to work for someone who’d fire an employee for being pregnant.

happy to be told I’m naive though

Technically even after your probation ends they could still end your employment and find some reason to do it lawfully if they wanted to as you don’t have two years of service. So no I wouldn’t wait. Have you read your maternity policy about payment? Potentially I would decide on that depending if they offer enhanced pay after a certain amount of time working there.

This changes to 6 months from January 2027

Yes I got really sick in my first trimester with my first pregnancy so I am worried about that but it's also more so of the possibility of being told my probation is being extended or I haven't passed and therefore am left without a job. I guess there is a chance I could lose my job regardless of the probation or not.
You're entitled to maternity pay for day 1 where I work so I'd get company paid maternity and statutory once that runs out.

I agree, I hadn't thought of it like this. Even after probation they could decide to make the role redundant for example or anything to lawfully get rid of me. I'm probably just over thinking it

Speaking as an employer (small business), it's a bit of a pain in the arse for your new employer. They will have spent 6 months training you then you're only going to be working for a few months at best then off again. I would work at least 6 months past your probation before even trying if you're likely to be off sick a lot.

It's not possible to predict the sickness and I also don't think I should wait either just because it could be inconvenient for my employer.

I agree

I agree, it's hard to plan for pregnancy, it might happen first month or might take longer.
Employment and pregnancy are separate matters, just start ttc and see how it goes.

As you have said, you might be made redundant for no fault of your own at any time.

How old are you, OP?

I am 39, will be 40 in May and would like to have my baby next year if things work out for me.

I shouldn't feel this way but I feel anxious and nervous about how my employer would react and being treated differently but more so not having a job but like alot of you have said that could happen regardless

Yes, it is better not to delay TTC, because you wouldn't know how many good eggs you have left, and if you wait you might miss the cycle with the good egg.

Re employment - all you can do is to work hard and do a good job for your employer.

Thank you. I appreciate the advice :)

You only have to tell work at 25 weeks, you are already 3 months into your probation period so even if you tried now and got pregnant right away you'll only be 12 weeks pregnant when you get to the end of your probation period. There's no need to wait. I applied for a job and by the time I had the interview I'd found out I was pregnant the week before (planned, we decided we didn't want to wait due to age - I was 36 and also the widening the age gap with our other children). Due to the nature of the job it took over 3 months for checks etc to go through so by the time I started I was 4 months pregnant. I waited until 25 weeks to tell my boss who was lovely about it, I was scared to share my news! I still work there 6 years on, I wasn't discriminated against, I did lose both enhanced mat pay and statutory mat pay though being pregnant when I started but we decided we would rather that than run out of time.

With an enhanced mat pay package from day 1 it's a no brainer, start trying as soon as you are ready.

I had to tell a new employer I’d had a miscarriage whilst still on probation . It was a bit awkward but they were really great about it (but appreciate every employer is different!) I’d ask for lots of feedback before you tell them (get it written down) which will demonstrate that if they start to change their tune after you tell them about your pregnancy then it’s discrimination