Pregnancy shouldn’t matter in the work place—but it does.  Learn how best to come clean about your pregnancy and make the best of your situation.

Finding out you’re pregnant is always a big deal. While letting everyone know the good news may seem urgent, when it comes to the work place, careful consideration about how and when to break the news is necessary.

Do your homework

Before any big announcements,  find out your rights as an employee and your office’s policies about pregnancy and maternity leave.

Many women choose to keep their impending motherhood under wraps until it’s impossible to hide a growing belly. Although It is often perfectly fine to keep on working until you’re about to pop, if you work in a potentially hazardous environment or your work is suffering because of your symptoms, it may be a better idea  to have a frank discussion with your boss earlier – at least 15 weeks before your due date.

You may also want to confer with a few trustworthy co-workers who have already been down this road. What were their maternity leave arrangements like? How did the boss react when they broke the news? Who in management was helpful? 

Don’t overlook assistance from your human resources representatives.  Their advice could be invaluable, since they have counseled other pregnant women in the past.  And because your job doesn’t directly impact theirs, you can count on them for objectivity.

If you’re suffering from regular bouts of nausea, calling in sick frequently, or just generally fatigued, letting your boss and coworkers know about your pregnancy may help them be more sympathetic and understanding. But not everyone has an understanding boss and a family-friendly workplace, so throw out any ideas to text, call, or email the good news to your boss. This is news that is best delivered formally and face-to-face. That said, timing is everything.

Break it

As long as you’re positive that your employer will behave in a professional manner, nothing should stop you from making the announcement as early as possible. It helps if your boss is a mother herself and can help make your pregnancy less stressful.

Be honest if you are concerned about keeping your job. Whether your boss reassures your position or confirms your fears, at least you will know how he feels, and you can take the necessary steps to ensure that you have employment and security for you and your baby.

 If you work in a potentially hazardous environment, you need to halve the talk urgently – for your baby’s sake and your own.  That way, your boss can reduce your responsibilities, rework your schedule or make whatever necessary changes in a timely fashion.  Your office will appreciate knowing earlier more than they would if you sprung it on them at the last minute.

Bosses also appreciate it when you come to the table with your own suggestions, such as naming who would be best to handle the responsibility in your absence and how to help ease the transition. This demonstrates that you have really thought things through.

Hold it!

Unfortunately, some employers are less than enlightened about pregnancy in the workplace and take the unfair attitude of grumbling about what a hassle it will be for them. If you have this kind of boss, wait to tell him until your pregnancy is 14 to 20 weeks along. This allows you to argue later that you obviously can do your job while carrying a child.

Better yet, time your announcement to coincide with the completion of a project or another milestone. This way, you’ll send a strong message: I’m almost half way through my pregnancy, and my productivity hasn’t suffered. Finally, you may want to wait to tell your boss until after a salary or performance review to make sure your pregnancy doesn’t sway any decisions.

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