Nervous to let work know I'm pregnant again

[Nmw09]

I've been back at work 6 months and I'm pregnant again.

We tentatively earmarked January to try as our son turns 2 in September and would mean passing the '2 under 2' window.

In reality I thought it would take at least until May so I'm as a surprised as anyone. Many of my friends have experienced loss too so I think wanted to get ahead, my hormone levels are super high so seems all is well.

I am going on an annual kick off overseas trip in March, I will be 13 weeks, likely showing and not drinking. I am a self conscious person anyway and I'm concerned people will think I've barely been back to work after taking 10 months out to have my son (Sept 22-July 23),

Then in March 24 and I've got a bump again.

To make it worse I went for my managers old role before Christmas and I was told I didn't get it but last week told they've decided to give it to me. I've accepted and feel it's a huge mess. To add insult to injury a girl in my team handed in her notice today.

So I've got to hire my backfill, her backfill, learn my new job (which is huge), tell them pregnant and go through pregnancy travelling and building a new strategy for an enormous region and ramping people up.

I'm feeling overwhelmed

What can they do though? You've done nothing wrong.

You are within your rights to do exactly what you are doing -pursue your career alongside growing your family. Congratulations.

I know I'm within my rights. That my employer cannot do anything. Cannot discriminate.

Doesn't mean I don't worry what it looks like, taking a role and 7 months later going on maternity leave. Being back to work for 6 months and falling pregnant is way sooner than I would have planned, I'm as shocked as anyone so can't imagine what others will think.

I went back to work in September after baby number 2 and didn’t know I was pregnant with baby number 3.

I was quite embarrassed about telling work, and caveats every conversation with ‘ it was a surprise’ however I realized I’m actually not embarrassed of my beautiful little bump and if people think any differently to me that’s up to them but I’m the one who gets to enjoy another baby and a lovely edition to our family!

its a lot to get your head around, and the overwhelm is absolutely real but people’s opinions are really secondary to the joy you will get! I think the weight of other peoples opinions can be part of the overwhelm so once you’ve come to terms with telling people then that’s half the battle!

congrats op!

Don't worry OP. I went back in September last year, after a year of maternity leave, 17 weeks pregnant.

I really worried what people would think but in reality people didn't bat an eyelid and were pleased for me. If anything, I have been told it is much more efficient this way around.

Please don't worry like I did!

I am lying here with my second baby, who is now one day old and I can honestly say I wish I hadn't worried like I did!

You're fine. This happened where I worked every one was happy. Let them know when you're ready

It's fine. Employers take the long view and understand that pregnancies and maternity leaves are really short in the grand scheme of your time working.
I am similar - on mat leave April 22-April 23, back at work, offered a promotion May 23, told them yes but I'm trying for second baby, they weren't fussed, accepted promotion June 23 and told them I was now pregnant, off again on mat leave Dec 23.
See it as a good thing you're getting the maternity leaves done and dusted in a few short years!
Congratulations on your pregnancy and getting the manager's role.

Congratulations. You've done nothing wrong and have nothing to feel guilty about.

No one really cares.

There was a list at a former place of work - those just married TTC, those who will be trying for second baby and so on.

Boss was a total bitch too- but realistic about pregnancies and employing married women if child bearing age the probability is that they will have children.

Try to reframe your thinking.

Good luck with it all

OP honestly don't worry. People will write rude and idiotic comments on here but I agree with a PP that in the grand scheme of things no one really cares that much.
Just make a joke out of it and say you're getting it all out the way so you can be done and get back to work etc etc just whatever helps the conversation!

Helpful comments thanks. I did see another thread on here about a similar question of how long were people back at work before going on maternity leave again.

I was surprised so many people said their employers were delighted for them. Of course they were on the surface. They don't have a choice! Doesn't mean people don't talk.

I was on maternity leave and met up with a few people from my office who were gossiping about a colleague who was back 7 months and fell pregnant. Saying it was taking the mick, she's been back 5 min,

I also had the head person in the region who I fully align to now in my role tell me once that some women 'don't do the right thing' and don't come back for even a year. Then named someone who did do the right thing, she was back 1 year 9 months as she only took 8 months and had a 2.5 year age gap.

Maybe these comments are why it sticks with me and partially because when I heard them I kind of agreed with them :/

Maybe

In your case it the ethos and culture of the workplace. You have aligned your values.

Maybe you can change the rhetoric? Challenge this "piss taking" Comments?

I really do think they belong in 1980s now.

Have a few phrase to hand. Don't defend and "surprise" is an easy way to get out of it, can you come up with better comeback?

A better come back.., maybe if they gave me the job the first time instead of saying no, interviewing other candidates in the meantime I wouldn't have pushed the green 'let's try' button :D