Has anyone told work yet?

I'm 10 weeks today and had to tell my manager last week due to sickness and the extreme fatigue I have been experiencing! I am also concerned about it being detrimental to my career and worried about missing out on opportunities etc but feeling poorly won! It is a weight off my mind though as I was nervous about telling them so you may find it helps 😊. Just here to say, the first trimester has also REALLY got me down and you're not alone 💗

I told mine at about 8 weeks, due to nausea and sickness as well as having to travel to London!

I was so worried about it, but I didn’t need to be my manager was super supportive!

I explained that I didn’t want it to ruin my career etc and she understood and was probably more excited then me!

I only told early because it was affecting the way I worked, constantly having to run to the toilet etc!

Good luck! ❤️

I have told work (really early on) and I am really glad I did. They have been really supportive and I’ve been honest about my symptoms and they have been understanding. I think we need to break the taboo that we can’t tell anyone before 12 weeks - the first trimester is when we need so much support! legally they can’t allow it to be detrimental to your career - from an equality perspective, they are not allowed to discriminate against you due to pregnancy.

@Harriet I'm a student but same thing. Told my uni quite early as I wanted to continue to finish the year, and the support has been amazing, and I can talk to them about anything, and they are so understanding and helpful.

Me telling work means I’ll probably lose my job I’ve only been there 2 months🫣 hoping to stay there until may😂

I told HR, my manager, and the colleagues I work closest with at 8 weeks because the nausea and fatigue was starting to affect my capacity.
They were really supportive and asked if I needed any workplace adjustments to support me.
It’s meant I’ve not had to hide how I’m feeling and have decreased my stress levels.

Remember, it’s discrimination if they start to treat you negatively because you’re pregnant, and document everything if you’re concerned :)

My work was over the moon for me I told them at 6 weeks because I was going into a higher role and thought best to not lead them on and they was fine with it. End of the day it’s your life choice nobody else’s your work life and personal life are two different things. I’m 18 and a manager on a major construction site for the government and I felt it was right to tell them. Xxxx

Hey, I told my employer at 7/8 weeks as I was suffering with sickness and generally quite unwell. They were really supportive and excited! X

I’m waiting until my 12 week scan which is 2 days before my work Xmas party, so good to tell them before needing to dodge drinks!

But I have avoided it before then, as I am incredibly worried about their reaction, as I am only a few weeks into a promotion.

My new role is also only a 12 months comment to prove that the business needs this role… But I’m not going to be in the role for the full 12 months to help prove the business case.

That’s mostly why I am worried to tell them. Especially as the person who came runner-up for the promotion, got put in my old role to backfill me. So I have a feeling she will also be annoyed 🙈

It’s so sad that career concerns need to be a factor! Kinda jealous that my husband has been able to openly share the nice news at his work and they all talk about it excitedly in his office, and have even been sending well wishes for scans etc which is so sweet!

I’m in a similar position where I’m on secondment atm, & also need to prove to the business to keep me in this role.

& yeah, it sucks we need to think 5 steps ahead when sharing news like this x

Thanks everyone for your positive responses! It does make it seem less scary & yeah, maybe I am building it too much in my head. But it did make me feel better reading about your stories x

It’s terribly sad that in 2023 pregnant women are still worried about telling work 😞 but remember, in the UK we are protected by the Equality Act and your employer CANNOT discriminate against you in relation to pregnancy as you can sue them! Are you part of a union? If not, I would suggest signing up to one, just for that extra protection and support SHOULD you need it.

Also remember that work have to make reasonable adjustments and do a risk assessment upon you informing them that you are pregnant.

I told my work as soon as I found out due to previous losses and now being diagnosed with HG and they have been fantastic.

I’m having to tell my manager today at 8+3 due to being off sick today, don’t want it to look bad on my record and telling them I’m pregnant gives me protection x

omg how annoying is it!!?

I really want to keep the promo at the end of the 12 months, but I’ll have only been in the role for 8 months 😭 so I’m working my ass off now to prove the role is worth having and that I’m the right person to have in it! But then I also want the year off for maternity 🙈 so understandably I think they’ll find someone else.

It definitely adds that extra layer of worry telling them. But so hard if you haven’t been feeling well ❤️

I am kinda looking forward to them knowing and not feeling like I’m lying when they’re talking about projects for next summer 😬 🙄

I am currently on probation I changed jobs and found out I was pregnant. I told my employer at 9 weeks as I needed to go home due to sickness and dizziness. I have been signed off by doctors since. The law should protect you.

I was so worried about telling work, and I’d set out plans to only tell them after Christmas.
I’ve had awful sickness and had to be signed off which forced my hand to tell them, but it’s been great!
They now have more of a duty of care and given more options to manage workload and flex hours. It was so daunting (I work in finance in the auto industry so all my colleagues are men!) but it feels like a weight off my shoulders that they understand why I’m not staying late as before.

I told work at about 5 weeks as I had to go to hospital. They've been really great and I'm glad I told them 😊