Telling my boss...

JCRSMD17

Hello ladies,

 I am new to the Bump and am now 7w3d into my first pregnancy. I could use some advice from the working moms about telling my boss about my pregnancy. As backstory, I am in a very demanding and male dominated area of the medical field. DH and I planned this pregnancy to fall during 2 "light" years in my work schedule so as not to negatively impact my career.  However I am at a loss as to when to tell my boss. DH and I aren't telling anyone about our pregnancy until 20 weeks (after level 2 US) but should I tell my boss sooner so he can plan for my OB appointments and maternity leave? I will be returning to work full time after maternity leave.

 

I guess I just wanted to know how other working moms handled telling the boss. 

stdldb29

Check your handbook. I told my boss at 28 weeks. I'm not taking any maternity leave, so it was a bit different. With my previous boss, I told her that we were TTC, so she knew right away. If you take leave, you probably have guidelines of when they have to be notified in advance.

kzibble3149

I agree with PP, you need to check and see if there are any guidelines you have to follow. I am in a similar work environment, and stressed out a little at the thought of having that conversation with my boss. But I let him know after my first OB visit. I went ahead and scheduled the next several visits so that I could give all of those to him when I let him know. He appreciated the heads up, and it made it much easier when planning doctor visits and ultrasounds. If you aren't planning to tell anyone until 20 wks I would just make sure to let him know that as well. I didn't think of this with mine, and he announced it to everyone in a meeting the next morning. :-   Good luck!

Mrs_Lady

if you are having a normal pregnancy you could wait until later or 12 weeks risk factorsa go down a bit.

I told at 20 weeks or so 

Fianschneid

Wait until at least the end of your first trimester, until you are starting to show, if you can.

No matter when you tell him, go in with a plan. Itemize how much time you will take off, how your work will be covered, etc. I even brought proof of daycare to show that I had every intention of returning. That will help set his mind at ease.

wychets

I told my job at 27wks but I started at 26 wks lol so that made a difference, like the PP said I scheduled my OB appts as far out as I could and I would just email my Supervisor every few weeks with my updated OB appt schedule letting him know what days and times I would be leaving. GL and congrats on your pregnancy!

1026pumpkin

Ditto PPs to see if you have any written policies that need to be followed first.  If not, is it feasible to work around your doctor's appointments without involving your supervisor or provide him with a list of your appointments and just let him know that you have doctor's appointments those days without providing the reason? (It's illegal for him to ask). I would wait until after your US, and then go in with a plan for when you'll need to be out for appts, when you're going out on leave and when you're returning, and whether you'll need any special accommodations (i.e. diff't hours or pumping room) when you get back.

Good luck! 

jennyelf

I told at 20 weeks (after 2nd ultrasound). If you're having a healthy pregnancy, you probably are only having one appointment a month in the beginning so it's pretty easy to just say you have a dr appointment and no one should be too suspicious.