How to Tell Your Boss You're Pregnant

Spreading the news at the workplace is a major benchmark in a working woman's pregnancy odyssey.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Tell close friends first, but only if you know they can keep the news under wraps until you're ready to go completely public.
2. Talk to other women in your office who have gotten pregnant: How was their news received? How supportive was the company? Do they have any strategic advice?
3. Anticipate your boss's and co-workers' concerns or questions.
4. Wait, if possible, until there's a low-tension, low-stress time around the office. But tell before it's obvious that your belly growth is not just from doughnuts.
5. Hold off on spreading the news even longer if you don't expect a positive response. After the fourth month, your risk of miscarriage is much lower and you've already shown you can do your job while pregnant.
6. Wait to discuss the details of your future until after your boss and co-workers have had a chance to adjust to the news.

Tips & Warnings

• Tell your news matter-of-factly; there's no need to be apologetic.
• If you want more leave than is customary at your company, put together a plan so your boss has a clear idea of how things will work while you're away.
• Avoid promising something you might not be able to deliver. Many moms find that they want more time at home than they originally thought. Aim for a semiflexible plan if possible.