There was NO hiding my pregnancy from about 12 weeks, lol! So I had to tell my managers and I'm 18 weeks now. They're worried about that no one will be able to take my place when I go on maternity leave, so they're trying to talk me into working right up until my due date and coming RIGHT back to work - like I really care! I will have more important things to deal with! The only reason they're looking down on me is because I'm not married, single and only 19.

But if your boss doesn't think you can do your job and treats you differently, there are a few laws against that (I can't remember the names, lol)!

I actually told my boss very very early. I'm hired by the semester and he was making the spring semester schedule out. I had to tell him so he could help me decide whether to teach spring or not. I am teaching, my final is Apr 28, my due date is Apr 30!

They may be older, but they probably have kids, so they remember.

I told my boss right away, as soon as we saw a heartbeat. I think he is in his late 50's, early 60's. He knew already that we were doing infertility tests, so he kind of had an idea the news might come at some point. I was nervous anyway because I'm technically only a temp, even though I've been there for a little over a year. But, I just made it very clear up front that I fully intended to come back to work full time, and during my pregnancy I did my best to show that I was still fully capable of doing my job. I work in an office, so I didn't have any work restrictions like no lifting or anything. I'm working up til 2 days before my due date, but that was my choice because of finances. I was just very open with him, asking how flexible I could be with my leave date, and made sure that he knew about all my appointments in advance. I think at this point he's more nervous about me going into labor at work than he is worried about my leave of absence. I think that is where his age is coming in... thinking women are fragile...

I think the best thing you can do is be up front with them and if you do intend to go back to work after baby is born, then make that very clear. The longer you wait, the less time they have to plan for your maternity leave, and the less time you have to figure out a plan B for employment if necessary.

Best of luck to you!

I told work around 12 weeks, but there is a range of ages - from 20's to 60's. I was nervous though as (1) I work for a major bank, so obviously a terrible time and (2) everyone knows my hubby graduates dental school in June, a month before baby is due, and I'm concerned they'll think I just plan to quit. But the conversation went REALLY well. He didn't ask anything about my plans for leave/returning to work - said we have plenty of time to work that out, and now just focus on being healthy. WOW - it could not have gone better. My advice - share your happy news and be prepared for questions, but if you aren't comfortable with anything, ask if you can plan another meeting to discuss further.

I told my work and they were fine with it- but they did let me know that they would have to hire a temp to take my place while I couldn't work. I was put on bedrest for a few days and they hired my temp to replace me already- putting me out of work earlier than I would have liked and it's way too late to find a new job now.

If you're worried about them firing you over it, probably tell them sooner rather than later and that way you have a little bit of time to find maybe a temp job or something if necessary. Definitely if they do fire you over it, file a complaint against them with the department and labor industries- they can't do that, it's very illegal and discriminating, and they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it!

I think the best advice I can give is to be as upfront with them as possible about what your plans are before the baby is born, how long you are planning on taking off, and when you plan on returning. If there are lots of older women working with you, maybe some of them have kids and had to do the maternity/pregnant thing themselves 30 years ago so they might be able to relate. Best of luck to you!

My partner told her bosses when she was 13 weeks pregnant. I think they were relieved -- when she told them she had to talk to them I think they thought she was quitting! She works mostly with older people, she is the youngest at her work of 30 employees. There are a few men not much older than her whose wives have had babies in the last few years, but of course that's a totally different ball game. The last woman on maternity leave at her work was about 4 years ago. They have been really supportive and great, considering. They don't have to follow FMLA but they are giving her 3 months' maternity leave anyway, and have been really considerate about doctor appointments, etc. She says she thinks she's been mommy-tracked a bit but not in any really meaningful way -- she's just not being involved in projects that she won't be around for. They're not hiring a temp, part of her prep work is identifying and training people to take over different aspects of her work. I'm sorry your work may not be so good about it. Is there any way you can get a sense of how things might go? Talk to some of the older women, who you can trust to keep a secret for the time being. Maybe work super-hard before you tell them and then they'll see, you've been pregnant this whole time and doing great!

I told my boss right away. In my company, for some reason it is men and older women. Even though the company is over thirty years old and has had over 200 employees, I was the first one pregnant. I worried a little that they wouldn't accomodate me. I felt sure though that they would realize that firing me would really look like discrimination since it seems like they don't normally even hire women of childbearing age.

i was around 12 weeks when i told my job and i was scared to death because i had only been working there a month when i found out.

O.K so I did it. I went in there and handed her the letter and she looked at me like I was quitting, but I told her to read it. She seemed somewhat surprised. She was relatively quiet about it, but at least I am still working- at least for now. I won't be surprised if the situation changes but I do feel better that it is now out in the open. Thanks for the advise ladies!!!!