I started a new job on 2/12/2013 and just discovered I'm pregnant

[isabelkr]

I started a new job on 2/12/2013, I'm in the process of relocating and just discovered this weekend I'm 8 weeks pregnant. I'm 43, I don't have any children and this was completely unplanned.

I have a 12 month probationary period on my contract and wonder what I should do as clearly the timing couldn't be worse. My partner is unemployed so I'm wondering wow safe is my job if I plan to take the minimum time off and come back to work after I've had the baby.

Any advice would be most welcome as I'm extremely worried about this situation.

I did exactly the same, started a job on Monday, found out I was pregnant on Wednesday. I had a six month probationary period and was shitting a brick. At first I planned to keep the pregnancy secret for the six months but that became impossible.
Luckily, pregnant women have lots of rights (so they should) and of course they can't terminate your contract just because you are up the duff. In fact if they try to terminate your contract for any minor or whimsical reason it could be argued that they are doing so because you are pregnant and singling you out.
I think you would have to fuck up catastrophically before they have a leg to stand on to be honest.
Are you part of a union? If not, join this second!

Your probationary period is completely irrelevant. Probationary periods mean nothing in law except usually notice period increases at this time. You don't have any more employment rights the day after you pass probation than the day before.

You have the same rights to take maternity leave as anyone else, including returning to your job.

Depending on whether you'll have 26 weeks services at 15 weeks before your due date, you may not get SMP, but would probably be entitled to Maternity Allowance instead, which is very similar.

If your employers terminate your employment for anything other than an extremely solid completely-unrelated-to-pregnancy reason, they will be very silly, and are likely to be vulnerable.

In terms of your protection as a pregnant woman, the only thing that is affected by length of service is your entitlement to maternity pay. Rights to maternity leave and protection from being treated less favourably kick in on day one.