New job... getting pregnant?

rbcrock · January 2012

I just accepted an offer for a new job yesterday (yay!), and it has opened up a lot of new doors for me and my husband. We were talking last night and the question arose -- how long should you be at a new job before getting pregnant? I know there's no actual RULE about this, but it seems like it would be unwise to immediately get pregnant and have to take maternity leave less than a year into a new job. Does anyone have personal experience with this?

saralynn7 · January 2012

I started a new job this past June and had been trying to get pregnant right around that time. Since it's been taking me quite awhile I'm obviously not pregnant while first beginning work but it was something I was pretty up front about. Luckily my supervisor is amazing and my coworkers have been very helpful and supportive. I would encourage everyone to be at work at least a year before taking maternity leave. At this point even if I were to become pregnant now I will have been at my job for a year so I guess I count our struggles as a blessing.

Dr.Loretta · January 2012

I'd give yourself 3-6 months in the new job so you're eligible for FMLA if it's available.

We started TTC 6 months after we got married, which was about 5 months after I started a new job. It turned out to be a moot point for me. We TTC'd for 3+ years, then went through a 10-month adoption process. And I planned to SAH after DD.

ETA: Unlike the pp, I did not tell work of my TTC plans. For one, it's none of their business (IMO). For another, it can cause tension if people know you're not planning on being there long-term or that you'll be taking significant time off

hocus · January 2012

I waited 3-4 months so I qualifed for FMLA when I gave birth. I've taken 2 leaves since being at my job (3.5 years) and I don't feel like it has had any negative impacts.

erbear · January 2012

You won't be eligible for FMLA until you've been there a year, so there's that.

Milsey32 · January 2012

Dr.Loretta:
I'd give yourself 3-6 months in the new job so you're eligible for FMLA if it's available.

Unlike the pp, I did not tell work of my TTC plans. For one, it's none of their business (IMO). For another, it can cause tension if people know you're not planning on being there long-term or that you'll be taking significant time off

I agree with both points. I would only tell my employer that I was TTC if I felt comfortable, but I wouldn't feel as though it was necessary.

athlete010688 · January 2012

Definitely wait until you are covered under FMLA for your maternity leave. If you take a maternity leave before a year of being at a new company, they don't have to hold your job.

Photo5kCupcakes · January 2012

I would wait a bit. At least to make sure you were covered by FMLA. At the most recent job I interviewed for he told me that they encouraged/didn't get in the way of family planning. That they were supportive of it. Would I tell them I was trying? Probably not.

backinpgh · January 2012

Also consider your insurance plan. Is there a deductible? If so it's ideal to plan (as best as you can) your pregnancy to occur all within a single calendar year so you don't have to exhaust two deductibles so quickly.

saralynn7 · January 2012

Just a quick follow up, the only reason I said anything to my supervisor was due to some Dr.'s appointments and we are pretty close. I'm a mental health therapist and I'm very lucky that my office is very open and supportive of everyone in the department. Any of my previous jobs I never would have told them anything but this particular job and agency I felt that it would be helpful for them to know as well as be a support system due to the nature of our work.

New job... getting pregnant?

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