Worried about being replaced on maternity leave

[Wrigleys123]

I work for a very small company and I am the only one who can do my current role, I am 16 weeks pregnant and yet to tell them but working up to it. I am so worried that they will replace me with someone else and then reduce my hours, or get rid of me all together (they did this to a previous colleague when she came back from maternity leave due to covid and lack of work)

I really rely on this job as I'm the main breadwinner, I have been thinking about telling them I could come back after 8 weeks as my husband is a stay at home parent, and this is a work from home job anyway so I feel I could do it no problem (have managed to work while daughter at home all year and whilst I've been sick and pregnant). Does this sound like a good idea? My head is such a mess and I'm up most nights worrying about this!

Thanks for reading

I would love to say you’re mad and of course you’re employer will be fine. But unfortunately you know best. If you need this job then do what you need. It’s bloody barbaric and every part of me hates it. But you’re baby will be fine, and that’s the main thing. You need to move to an employer that gives a shit

Thanks Lolly, I think I will suggest this to them and see what they say. But I'm also worried that they will think I'm mad! Oh well the world isn't exactly a normal place at the moment is it.