If you think your boss will react negatively to your news, wait until the highest-risk period for miscarriage has passed before sharing your news. (Of course, if you are suffering from severe morning sickness or other pregnancy-related complications, you may have to spill the beans a little sooner than you had hoped in order to explain why you are late coming in each morning or why you have been taking so much time off for medical appointments.)
Don't be afraid to postpone your announcement if your boss is having a particularly bad day. If she is in a foul mood or is scrambling to meet an important deadline, hold off on sharing your news until she's in a more receptive frame of mind.
Last but not least, be prepared for a less-than-enthusiastic reaction. While your boss may be genuinely happy for you, she may be concerned about what your pregnancy may mean to her and the company, particularly if this is her first experience of dealing with a pregnant employee. Still, don't let her concerns about how your pregnancy is going to impact the company's bottom line make you feel guilty. No one has the right to rain on your parade during this wondrous time in your life.
Ann Douglas is the author of The Mother of All Pregnancy Books, The Mother of All Baby Books, and numerous other books about pregnancy and parenting. You can contact Ann via her website at www.having-a-baby.com.
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