I don't really know what I'm asking here, but two things are happening today:
1) I'm ovulating
2) I'm likely going to get a job offer
Please send stories of starting a new job while pregnant, or announcing you're pregnant shortly afterward? A friend who knows I'm about to get this offer just told me to hold off on TTC for a few months..... and I'm turning 38 soon so just don't feel like that's a reasonable expectation.
Thoughts?
50 votes
nectarine / 2797 posts
Are you in the US? If you are eligible for FMLA at the new position, you must be there 12 months before giving birth, so that might be a reason to wait.
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
@mamabolt: Yes, in the US. But this employer is very family-friendly, and I'm sort of an internal hire (although I don't have actual time clocked at the company, they know me), so I don't think they would just say SORRY NO MATERNITY LEAVE FOR YOU if I give birth in less than a year. FMLA says they legally have to after a year, but doesn't say they can't before a year. If that makes sense 
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
I think this is hard. If you got pregnant now, you wouldn't be eligible for FMLA, which would make me nervous. But depending on the size of the company, maybe you aren't eligible anyway. I guess it will all depend on what you think the company will do - will they allow you to take your maternity leave and save your job if you go out on leave only 9 months into it?
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
@Adira: Yes, I think so. They basically changed the scope of the position specifically so they could hire me for it.
pear / 1593 posts
I am of the mindset that my personal life takes priority over work, so I wouldn't give a month up over it.
And I think it's fairly rare to be denied maternity leave over FMLA eligibility if you work in a professional non-entry level job. But maybe I just have worked for good companies.
ETA: one company I worked for hired a lady at 8 months pregnant and then she was on maternity leave a few weeks into the job - if you are the right person for the job, you are!
cantaloupe / 6869 posts
I started my new job at 14 weeks pregnant. I'm infinitely happier in this job than at my old one. I did have to sacrifice a longer maternity leave (6 weeks instead of 12) but honestly, it was worth it to be so much happier everyday at work. If the new offer is in line with what you want for the future and you think it's a good fit for you, I would not hold off on TTC.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@JoJoGirl: If you think they'd honor your maternity leave and stuff, then go for it!! 
nectarine / 2797 posts
@JoJoGirl: Yeah, it's so tough to figure out! Are you aware of the company maternity leave policies at all? I've heard stories of companies who are totally cool with working with employees to have leave regardless of tenure so if you have a good view of the overall company vibe, I say go for it.
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
I wouldn't wait as long as you can afford to take leave without pay.
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
@mamabolt: Funny - they announced at a town hall meeting yesterday that they're improving the maternity leave policy, and the new one will be announced during open enrollment next week. So I think now it's just STD (6 weeks at 60% pay).
pear / 1672 posts
Take the job and continue to TTC. I know women who have taken new jobs early in pregnancies and had to go out on mat leave 6 months into a new job. I think people realize that life happens.
watermelon / 14467 posts
@JoJoGirl: Congrats!!! I wouldn't wait to TTC. My company doesn't offer FMLA, but a girl who worked here less than 12 months was able to get 12 weeks of unpaid leave.
coconut / 8279 posts
@JoJoGirl: Go for it! Life happens & they love you already. Wishing you the best of everything! 
cantaloupe / 6669 posts
@JoJoGirl: Congrats!
I wouldn't put your life on hold. You never know what will happen anyway.
cherry / 154 posts
I would check with the companies specific maternity leave benefits. Even though most people are saying 'no FMLA unless you're there for 12 months', you may not need to use FMLA if your company already has parental benefits in place outside of the FMLA law (short term disability might be one of them). I'm pregnant now and will have been at my job for only 10 months before having to take maternity leave, and I will still get 12 weeks off (paid too actually--really lucky) just because of the companies own parental benefits that they have in place. Check into it! Congrats on your offer!
grapefruit / 4800 posts
I'd look carefully at what others experiences at the company were. I changed jobs when I was newly pregnant and it was a horrible experience. Horrible is an understatement. How they were in the interview was very different as an employee. But they were new so I couldn't check things out but with their behavior it would have been easier to have realistic expectations if they'd had other employees to talk to. I would def research and talk to people a bit then just take them at their word.
pomegranate / 3565 posts
I didn't wait! I'm 3 months into a new job and 7 weeks pregnant. I haven't told them yet and honestly yes a little nervous. But I wasn't going to wait TTC because of work. You don't know how long it will take anyway! I do think I'll only get to have an 8 week maternity leave (c section) but if the job is better in the long run, I think it's worth it.
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
Thanks, everyone!
If I do get a BFP in 10 days from now, I'll feel a little awkward.. but hopefully this won't totally derail my career 
grapefruit / 4321 posts
I would hold off. In the grand scheme of life waiting a couple months is not going to make a big difference. But I think it's a BIG assumption to make that your new company would accomodate giving you full maternity leave benefits if you aren't technically eligible for them. I wouldn't want to take a maternity leave until after having been with a company for a full year anyway, just to make sure I've really had time to make an impact as a strong employee and show my committment to the position before I'm gone for an extended leave.
cherry / 154 posts
@JoJoGirl: The good news is, at least you're not starting WHILE you're already pregnant and not telling them or something. Its perfectly okay to tell them at the 3 month mark (or whenever you feel comfortable) that you fell pregnant right around the same time you accepted the job offer and obviously didn't know until later on. It is awkward but most people are understanding I think.
persimmon / 1188 posts
Congratulations on the job! And good luck with TTC! As we all know, it can take time so I think you should start trying and see what happens.
I haven't seen anyone (in the US) take maternity leave at my current company but the last company was flexible about people with less than a year, or who wanted to take extended leave. I think most companies wouldn't lose an employee over a matter of weeks worked before maternity leave.
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
@leighleigh: Thanks - that is my thought. i already work for this company as a contractor and I think these hiring folks knew I was pregnant over the summer and lost it (I was far enough along that I looked pregnant), so I honestly don't think it'll be a HUGE SHOCK if I announce in the near future. And I'm close enough with the hiring manager that I would tell her about the loss too since it happened this past August right before the interview process started. Timing was just all around awkward.
apricot / 347 posts
I have wondered about this too. We are hoping for a 
this month, but I was considering a job change next year. Since I am a teacher, that would almost definitely be in late summer (interviews can start as early as spring though). I think it all just depends! Congrats on your new job!
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