How To Tell Your Boss You're Pregnant - BabyCenter

You're pregnant – and probably eager to share the news with family and friends! 

But what about work? Is it wise to tell your employer you're pregnant early on? What's the best timing, and how should you go about it? Here's what to know.

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Key Takeaways

• The best time to tell your boss that you're pregnant depends on a number of things, but most women wait until right after the first trimester.
• Tell your boss face-to-face, if you can, and tell them before you tell other co-workers.
• Your employer or prospective employer can't legally discriminate against you because of pregnancy.
• Talk with your employer about the company's maternity leave policies, as well as how your tasks might be covered in your absence.

When to tell your boss you're pregnant

There's no right or wrong time to tell your boss you're pregnant, but most women wait until shortly after their first trimester – once miscarriage is less likely – and before their pregnancy has started to noticeably show. 

Ultimately, the decision is yours based on your own comfort level and your relationship with your boss. 

Not sure when you'll feel ready to share the news? Track your pregnancy week by week and log your symptoms in the BabyCenter appOpens a new window so you can plan your announcement with confidence.

There's no rule or law that states exactly when you have to tell your employer you're pregnant, but letting your boss know within a reasonable window of time will give you both longer to work on a plan for your maternity leave. 

It'll also give you time to discuss what you'll do if something unforeseen happens during your pregnancy, like if you need to scale back on work, for example, or adjust your job duties or stop working sooner than you expected. 

Other factors about when to tell your boss you're pregnant that may come into play include:

Are you having a lot of pregnancy symptoms? 

If you're suffering from morning sickness, you're calling in sick more often than usual, or you're just generally fatigued, you might want to tell your boss earlier in your pregnancy. 

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Letting others know what's going on can help them be more patient and understanding and potentially make you feel less stressed during pregnancy.

BabyCenter Community member sklittlebeane says, "I told my boss WAY earlier than I initially planned (at only 6 weeks!) because I have chronic, debilitating migraines that I anticipated were only going to get worse as I navigated all the hormones flooding my body. I felt like it would be easier to go forward with transparency about why I was suddenly so sick and may have to miss work more often than I already do!"

On the other hand, BabyCenter Community member Terrified2025 says, "I waited until the second trimester to tell mine during my first pregnancy, and I'm going to wait until at least then this time around (I've had three losses in between). My job is easier to obtain coverage, so I'm not worried about them finding someone to cover me. I work from home most of the time so am able to deal with symptoms and not have it affect my work."

Do you have a physically demanding job, or do you work around harmful chemicals? 

If so, you'll want to tell your employer you're pregnant early so you can discuss changing your job responsibilities in a safe and timely manner. Working while pregnant in physically strenuous roles or around harmful chemicals can lead to pregnancy complications. 

Your ob-gyn or midwife can help you come up with potential solutions based on your pregnancy and risk levels. (They'll provide a note if it's needed, too.)

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BabyCenter Community member Rebeccalo12 is a chemist and says employers "legally have to carry out a risk assessment on your role and put in place provisions to ensure you are safe." 

(According to the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionOpens a new window, employers must assess workplace risks for all employees. In addition, they "must take particular account of risks to new and expectant mothers.")

How do you think the news will be received? 

This depends on your workplace's culture, whether your colleagues' past pregnancies have influenced the office environment positively or negatively, and your own relationship with your boss. 

You might feel more comfortable and confident waiting a little longer or timing your announcement to coincide with the end of a project or performance review.

It's normal and okay to feel nervous that your boss may treat you differently because you're pregnant, but it's important to know that you can still do your job (and excel at it, too!) as an expecting mom. 

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Pregnant women continue to have successful careers after announcing their pregnancies, and in many situations, their bosses and employers are supportive.

What to know before you tell your boss you're pregnant

Here are a few important things to know (and do) before you tell your boss you're pregnant.

Understand your workplace rights. In addition to laws that vary by state, there are federal laws that protect you during pregnancy, including:

• The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (Title VII), which prohibits pregnancy discrimination in hiring, firing, pay, promotions, and benefits. It may help going in to know that your employer can't fire you because of your pregnancy.
• The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which means an employer must provide reasonable accommodations for your pregnancy, such as more bathroom breaks if needed or a place to sit if your healthcare provider says you shouldn't be standing for long periods.
• The American Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on a disability related to pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes or hyperemesis gravidarum.
• The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which covers your need to pump breast milk in the workplace. Your employer needs to provide time and private space (beyond a bathroom) for you to express milk for up to a year after your baby is born.
• The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which (if you meet eligibility requirements) guarantees you 12 weeks of unpaid, protected time off for childbirth and bonding with your baby.

Knowing your workplace rights when you're talking to your boss may make you feel more confident about requesting accommodations that you're legally entitled to.

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Review your company's policies so you're aware of any paid family leave or other benefits you're entitled to. You don't need to be an expert – and you'll have time to ask your HR department questions before your maternity leave – but it's nice to have an idea of what benefits you have.

Start by researching how much paid leave you have available, if any. Some companies offer paid family leave, but it's also governed by state and federal family leave and disability laws, which differ somewhat depending on where you live and how big the company is that you work for. 

Among other things, you'll want to try to find out how long you have to work at your company to be eligible for maternity leave and how much notice you need to give when you want your leave to start.

If you're considering taking unpaid leave, think about how long you can reasonably afford to go without a paycheck. Then figure out how much time you think you'll want to take and start making a plan, including crafting some potential solutions for how your work can be handled while you're away. 

You don't need to have a concrete plan ready to present to your boss when you tell them you're pregnant, but it'll be nice to have some general answers in case they ask questions.

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Tips for telling your boss you're pregnant

Tell your boss you're pregnant face-to-face. Whether it's an in-person meeting or on a video call if you're working remotely, this gives you a chance to break the news directly, is the clearest way to communicate, and gives you a chance to see your boss' reaction directly.

Plan to tell your boss before you tell other co-workers, to avoid any chance of your boss hearing about your news through the grapevine. They'll likely appreciate and respect hearing the news directly from you.

You don't have to have your entire maternity leave plan figured out the second you break the news, but your boss will appreciate hearing that you've given it some thought, and that you're willing to help create a plan for how your duties will be covered while you're away. 

Later, you can set up separate meetings with your boss and HR to discuss maternity leave logistics, including how much time you're planning to take and when you're planning to start your leave. Once you iron out the plan, put it in writing.

If you know that you won't be coming back after maternity leave, the ethical thing to do is to let your boss know, even though it may mean forfeiting your paid or unpaid leave benefits. 

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That said, if there's any chance you'll return to work, it's smart to leave this option open. It can be hard to predict how you'll feel once you have a baby (and a few months after that) and what your needs as a family will be in terms of time and income.

Be professional and confident. Though it's natural to be nervous about how your boss or coworkers will react, try not to feel guilty about your pregnancy announcement. Let your boss know you're happy about this news, and that you value your relationship with your company.

What if your boss isn't supportive of your pregnancy announcement?

Even though you're legally protected against unfair treatment because you're pregnant, the unfortunate truth is that your boss or colleagues may not seem supportive of your news. They may worry that you won't be coming back, that your work will suffer because you're pregnant, or that your responsibilities will fall to them.

If your work isn't supportive of your pregnancy, try to respond professionally, positively, and firmly, and let your boss know that you're committed to ensuring a smooth transition for all involved. 

If things don't get better, reach out to your human resources department, your company's designated HR specialist, or your company's corporate offices, who should take all reports of discrimination seriously – and discretely, if you wish to remain anonymous.

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If you think you've been demoted, laid off, or fired after announcing your pregnancy, you may consider reaching out to an employment attorney, or you can file a discrimination report through the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionOpens a new window.

What to tell employers if you're interviewing while pregnant

Discussing your pregnancy during a job interview is up to you. Know though that it's discriminatory – and potentially a legal risk – for employers to ask you whether you're pregnant.

If you're visibly showing when you're interviewing while pregnant, it's a good idea to bring up the topic after focusing on your skills, experience, and enthusiasm for the position. 

Afterward, you can incorporate your post-baby plans into the conversation without making them the primary focus of the interview. State your plans in a professional manner and be prepared to answer questions about the logistics of your maternity leave and your intentions to return to work.

If you aren't showing yet, you'll have to decide whether you want to say anything. Just like telling your boss you're pregnant, there are no rules that say you have to tell a prospective employer.

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You may worry that you'll lose your chance for the job if you disclose your pregnancy – it's a valid concern. While the Pregnancy Discrimination Act prevents employers from making hiring decisions based on pregnancy, it could be hard to prove that's why they decided against you. 

On the other hand, if pregnancy is a deal-breaker for your potential new boss, that may reflect a work environment that's not family-friendly, and that job may not be the best fit for you anyway.

You're entitled to wait until after you've accepted a job offer to share your news, but you may feel less anxious sharing the news up front. The decision is up to you.