Pregnant after maternity leave

[MrsJ17]

So I went back to work after maternity leave on 11th May, I already knew that I was pregnant but decided not to mention anything to work until I had been back a few more weeks.
I am going for my 20 week scan next week and planning on telling work after that..

Any ideas on how to tell them? This was my idea...

I had kidney stones 2 years ago which resulted in me staying in hospital for a week and had a stent inserted. I have been under consultant ever since as the stones have not passed. I am going for a consultant appointment on Friday about this and I was going to make out to work that they made me do a pregnancy test as a precaution and they discovered I was pregnant so are sending me for a scan the following week..

Is this a good idea or not? Bearing in mind I'll be 21 weeks when I have my scan next week. HELPPPP!!!

Can't you just tell them the truth?

You don't have to lie, just tell them you are pregnant. That's all they need to know. They can't punish you for it.

Well it depends on the company size.If it's a small company then YABU to expect them to hold your job open for another year and employ a temp. If it's a huge company then maybe they can afford it.

Just tell the truth. You don’t have to explain or lie about anything. You haven’t done anything wrong.

I work as a teaching assistant .. in just scared of what my colleagues will think .. the head teacher is lovely and will be fine about it hopefully. Just don't know how to word it to her

I did something very similar, went back pregnant but didn't tell until I'd been back a while so was about 18 weeks iirc. I didn't lie, I said it had taken us a while to get our heads around and we wanted to have sorted our feelings out before we had to deal with other people's, and apologised for inconvenience it would cause with staffing.

They were lovely, I told my manager I had some bad news and once I'd spilled the beans she took a deep breath and then said 'all babies are good news'. I knew it was a pain for them but they were good enough to try and niigata share that with me.

I think you are too far on for it to sound believable. You’ve had a baby before and would be familiar with the movements etc that come usually before 20 weeks.
I’m dreading telling work I’m pregnant with my second too, but you know what I haven’t done anything wrong and I’m always a reliable employee.
If you’re going to have two dc youre going to have two. What difference does it make if they are close together or further apart? You will take two maternity leaves regardless.
It’s not illegal. Just own your decision, you have decided to have another baby to complete your family (if that’s the case and it will be your last). End of.
Good luck!

Tell the truth no one likes a liar and you might get caught out

I don't think you should lie. Just be upfront. "I'm pregnant again, I know it's not the most convenient timing and I've been dreading telling you...." pause, wait for reaction. "I just wanted to get my full scan before telling you, so I'm 20 weeks now and will need to finish in x month"
I have 2 friends who were in the same boat- only had 3 months back before finishing up on leave again (although they did ring to let bosses know long before that, while still on leave). In both cases their bosses were very understanding - they both work in big companies and they just kept their replacement on. I know that's not feasible in smaller places

I found out I was pregnant a month ago. Thought I was possibly 8-12 weeks, turns out I was further along but didn't feel pregnant until I did the test

I have been pregnant before so it does happen

@tilly That's an appalling attitude. Companies (whatever size) have to keep a job open until the end of maternity leave (type of job dependant on how long the leave is). Smaller companies receive (iirc) 103% of SMP back from the government.

OP, you have done nothing wrong and shouldn't feel the need to lie. As a PP has said, if you're going to have two children (a fairly normal life event), you're going to have two and it doesn't really make much difference if they are close or slightly further apart in age.

Don't lie, you're a grown up (presumably), you're allowed to be pregnant!

FWIW I got pregnant about three weeks after returning from maternity leave. I didn't tell anyone til 16 weeks but nobody batted an eyelid. My manager just congratulated me and that was it. I then took another years maternity leave and have now returned. Occasionally colleagues joke about me having two out of the past three years off work but they mean no harm and I laugh it off.

I went back after maternity leave already 25 weeks pregnant. Wasn't a problem, you are massively over thinking it.

I told them at around 17 weeks though so they could plan to keep my maternity leave cover arrangements in place rather than going through the process of recruiting all over again.