Telling people you’re pregnant

Telling your friends and family about your pregnancy

You might have noticed that lots of couples wait until the three month mark before sharing their pregnancy news. The risk of miscarriage goes down from this point in the pregnancy.

If you do have a miscarriage though, you’re likely to need close family and friends’ support. For this reason you could think about telling just a few people early on.

Confiding in a select few might also help if you’re struggling with exhaustion, sickness or anxiety in the first trimester. They might be able to help out or just be there to listen.

When should you tell your boss that you’re pregnant?

You don't have to tell your employer about your pregnancy until 15 weeks before the beginning of the week the baby is due (around 25 weeks). It’s usually a good idea to let them know sooner though, so they can support you and make any adjustments you might need.

Your employer is required to give you time off for antenatal appointments. If they know about your pregnancy it will be easier for you to make arrangements.

If you work in a job that might be unsafe in pregnancy, you should tell your manager early on. Once you tell your employer about your pregnancy and put it in writing, they need to do a risk assessment. They will need to make sure the kind of work you do, the amount you are expected to do and the place you work in are not harmful to you or your baby.

If you are suffering from morning sickness you might also want to let them know so that they can support you if you’re feeling nauseous or throwing up.

Find out more about work and pregnancy.