Started work 3 weeks ago - just found out I'm 2 weeks pregnant

[Ducky19]

Hi, I've just taken 3 tests and I'm 1-2 weeks pregnant but I've only been in my new job for 3 weeks! It wasn't planned but I will keep the baby if it goes to term. I am however freaking out a bit at a. Telling the company I'm pregnant so soon into the role and b. That i won't be eligible for any maternity pay? Has anyone been in this situation? xx

Can't see how you can be 2 weeks pregnant. It's calculated from your last period so you'd have to be 4 wks

Maybe fudge the dates of your last period a bit at booking in??

You add 2 weeks onto the clear blue tests so your 3-4 weeks

Congratulations! These things happen and your employer will just have to accept it. You don't need to worry about telling them anything until 25 weeks. There's definitely no rush to share the news. You must be about 4 weeks if you have a positive.

I'm not sure about maternity pay and it depends on your companies policy. I thought as long as you were working for 6 months before you went on maternity leave you would qualify but this might not be correct.

First off, these things happen all the time. Maybe it wasn't the plan you had in your head, but life doesn't always play ball. Companies realise that too.

Dk what company you work for but have a look at their maternity leave policy. Often you have to be somewhere 6 months or something to qualify. But companies are different (and when it comes to the leave itself some don't really cover maternity pay at all and some you get almost your normal salary).

You have no obligation to tell them yet at all (and tbh it's a bit early to tell anyone/know what might happen). There's probably something in the policy about the min period of notice required for mat leave and who you have to tell.

You likely won't be entitled to maternity pay but you should be able to get maternity allowance.

Congratulations on your new job and your pregnancy!

I was in a very similar position; got pregnant just after starting a new job (although it sounds as if you conceived just before). I wasn't eligible for SMP (missed out by just a few days) but I have got Maternity Allowance, which is a similar amount anyway. (SMP is only higher for the first 6 weeks.) I think you will be the same; not eligible for SMP but you will get MA.

To people suggesting telling the midwife different dates, that won't work because maternity pay entitlement all depends on your due date which is worked out at the 12 week scan. The sonographer gives you a due date based on the size of the foetus, and they wouldn't change the date just so you can get SMP!

As for telling your employer - you might be pleasantly surprised. I was nervous but my boss was lovely about it. I waited until after the 12 week scan and the screening test result. Legally you can wait until about 24 weeks before telling them, if you want to wait until your probation is finished, but you do have the legal right not to be discriminated against during pregnancy, which only kicks in once you inform them!

Ha ha thanks for the heads up on the clearblue tests! Company policy is SMP until 2 years of service anyway so its not a huge difference between that and MA.

I'm pretty floored to be honest, but excited at the same time. We'd given up 'trying' to be honest, after 2 years of trying!