Planning for #2 and Seeking a New Job?

Hi, N.:

Why would you want to look for a new job while pregnant?

What benefit would this be to a prospective employer?

Just want to know.
D.

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Legally, FMLA leave is not available to you unless you've been employed at least a year. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to wait a year before getting pregnant... You could work 4-6 months and then get preggers. However, if your pregnancy has complications (and you have to go on bedrest or take leave earlier than expected), you may not have enough work months behind you to get a protected leave. This could also impact how much time you can take off post-delivery, not to mention whether you have any vacation time accummulated to use after delivery.

Lastly, some health plans don't kick in for a certain amount of time after you've been working, and may not cover any 'pre-existing conditions'. So it would be wise to know what your medical coverage is and what it will cover before you get preggers.

(I'll also mention that, for my first pregnancy, I didnt have any morning sickness. But I did for my #2... I was nauseated for 6-8 weeks! I was glad my boss knew that it's wasn't my typical work ethic when I was dragging so much and coming in late. If it was a new job, they wouldn't have known if that was my normal attitude towards my job...)

It all depends on the company. I found out a few weeks after taking my old job that I was pregnant. I was so worried with insurance and how my boss would react. He was fine as was the company and they covered.

I know you cannot be fired because you get pregnant - there are laws out there about that.

Good luck with both.

I have worked at the same company for the past 3+ years - but about a week after I found out my hubby and I were expecting our first child, I was offered a position with another department within the company. I was really nervous to accept it at first, because I was worried that my new boss/co-workers would be upset that I was the "new girl" and already was going to be out for weeks on maternity leave (even though it would be another 9 months before we had to even worry about that)... I ended up accepting the position and it was honestly the best choice I have made. My boss was so supportive and my co-workers all consider themselves to be "honorary aunts" to my son (our department only consists of 6 people).
I know that they can't discriminate against you based on being pregnant... and if you apply for the job before you're even pregnant {or are only a little way into the pregnancy}, then there wouldn't even be a need to bring up that in conversation on the interview, would there?
I think that the best thing you can do is to do what is going to make YOU happy.
GOOD LUCK if you do apply for the position - I hope you get it!

I got pregnant about one month after starting my first 9-5 job. We had not planned on having anymore, and thats why I went to work when my now 5 year old s 13 months...but we also havea 3.5 year old!! Love him to death! Anyways, I worked for a contractor so I had to save my leave for two weeks and then was able to use the maternity leave. It was a non-issue really. And I actually got another job offer while I was on maternity leave so I took that job and just did my two weeks at my other job when I went back. It all worked out okay!

One thing you need to think about is will you be at the new job long enough to have paid maternity leave if you were to get pregnant in the very near future.

It is very risky. And maybe if you really need a job you should hold off the baby making until you have been at your job for at least a year. Can't have your cake and eat it too in this situation.

Hi N.! I have a slightly different take then the other answers below. I was offered a new job for a company I was with for 9 years the same month I found out I was pregnant with my 1st. It was in sales- lot of stress. I told my boss that I was pregnant, and so really it was up to him if he still wanted me to take the job- as I would need to take some time off. I was still offered the job, and that year, with taking 4 months for the baby, and with their support- allowing the baby in the office, on sales appointment, etc. I was able to make over and above my quota. Even made the corporate trip to Cancun! however, as my son turned 1 I realized how much I was missing. So I made the decision to stay at home with him. I now work from home with an awesome company, and help other moms to do the same. And now, in addition to Dallas (now 2), I am the proud momma of Tristan (5 months). :) Best decision that I ever made!

Technically, they cannot ask you if you are pregnant and you don't have to tell them. But many companies do not offer maternity leave unless you have been with them for at least a year, since they are not legally required to. So you might not be able to take much time after the birth if you get pregnant within a year of getting the job, and you may have to use up your sick leave or vacation time. This is not true for all companies (but anyone who offers FMLA before a year is up goes above and beyond what American law requires). This is something serious to consider. Their insurance also may or may not cover the pregnancy, depending on your insurance plan. If you get the job you want, you may wish to delay getting pregnant for a couple of months to make sure that you'll have been with the company for at least a year before the baby comes. It's a tough decision. Good luck.

If you have decided that you really want the job NOW and cannot wait for a year or two until after your baby is born, then act accordingly. You're not pregnant. Interview as such. Deal with the chips as they fall. It will work out. I find that planning is often more headache than letting things be.
As for bettering yourself, a year or two won't matter, and if you feel it will as far as climbing the corporate ladder and gaining good referrals going forward, it's probably not a good idea to interrupt a brand new job with maternity leave and pregnancy issues if the job is the priority, when you could wait and interview with a 6 month old at home that no one needs to know about in the interview if it's a shark-like field. If it's a mommy friendly job, that's a whole different matter.
Personally, if I was actively trying to conceive immediately, and I could wait financially on the job, that's what I would do. I would feel guilty going for the job knowing I would need maternity leave right away, and I wouldn't want to feel pressured to hurry back to work out of guilt. If you have the luxury of doing one thing at a time, that's what I would do.

But again, you're not pregnant yet, so why wait. It's always a good idea to interview your heart out for a job, and wait to decide if you want it until it's offered instead of pre-worrying. Do that. Maybe by the time they offer you the job, you'll be pregnant, or not, and you'll know more clearly how you feel, or maybe they wont' even offer it to you. You still have time to think. Just proceed to get job and get baby and see what happens first.

I interviewed and was hired for a job when I was 5 months pregnant! It was within the same company I was already working, and was more or less a promotion. I worked for a daycare center though, and was promoted to Center Director. Legally potential employers can not descriminate because you are pregnant, but that doesn't mean that they can not find some other excuse to blame it on. You also have to consider if you will be feeling up to learning a new job while being newly pregnant, sick, and exhausted. You certainly do not want those factors to effect your performance as a new employee. You also have to consider benefits, if you are the benefit holder for the family you may have insurance issues switching companies and being expectant. Its not an easy call, on the other hand it could take you a little while to concieve anyway and by then you might be settled in. I wouldn't put any plans to better yourself on hold because you are ready to build your family. Good luck!

The first thing I would do would be to look into getting supplemental insurance which would help with the medical bills you may have from having a baby. Interview for a new job before you start showing. If you get hired at a new job and find yourself pregnant, their policies will apply for maternity leave based on how long you have worked for the company. Their insurance may not cover you for a preexisting condition even though it is pregnancy and this is where your supplemental insurance will kick in. You will not be given much time home with your new little one because you haven't invested much time into the company.

It is your choice. Best of luck with everything.