I need to be geared up as I was mistreated before and after maternity leave with my first. I took 10 months and came back part-time and have been for over a year. Financially, I wasn't in a position to come back full-time but with 2-year-old funding in Sept, I can do an extra day. I made some arrangements with work to review a promotion I am working towards after Christmas and this would be my basis to come back full-time (37 hours p/w).
Anyway, I've just discovered I'm pregnant and my head is just spinning. My workplace as a whole isn't very parent orientated with many women getting hired because they have no child responsibilities or children are grown. Most of the superiors have decided not to have children for their career which IS their own choice I'm not judging however, I have been subject to judgment.
On return from my last maternity, I was convinced I was "one and done" as I had a traumatic birth and PND but naturally that has changed. Although I didn't expect to get pregnant right away, I'm now panicking about the treatment I will get once I inform them (which I don't plan on doing until 25 weeks, fingers crossed we make it this far).
My first pregnancy I acted so strangely with work and made out it was such a mistake/hindrance when in reality I was happy/anxious/nervous/excited about being pregnant. I also had some complications towards the end which meant I had to take MAT leave two weeks earlier than originally decided.. This was really frowned upon in my work and I felt like I was doing something really wrong.
I need someone to gear me up with knowledge, rights and info so I have the confidence this pregnancy with work to just let them know it's my own right to have a baby or two and I'm not doing it to piss them off... lol sorry if this seems like a ramble. My head is exploding right now! I don't want to be seen as some baby machine who isn't serious about a career. It's just my time in life to have my family!!