When To Inform Work About Your Pregnancy
Being pregnant is an exciting time in your life, but you may be wondering how and when to tell your employer and coworkers. Carefully planning your pregnancy announcement can help you make a smooth transition to maternity leave when the time comes.
In this article, we list some steps and tips to help you decide when and how to tell your employer that you’re pregnant.
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I Had Sex Two Weeks Ago But My Doctor Says That Im Four Weeks Pregnant How
88 things nobody tells you about being pregnantIf you have a standard 28-day period, you will likely ovulate around day 14 and are most fertile around days 12, 13 and 14when you had sex to conceive. It takes about nine days after ovulation for implantation to occur, which brings you to around day 23. It takes a few days for your pregnancy hormone levels to be detectable by a pregnancy test, bringing you to around day 28. How far along you are in your pregnancy isnt calculated from conception or implantation but from the first day of your last normal period. If you had your period four weeks ago, then ovulated and had sex two weeks ago to become pregnant, youre currently four weeks pregnant.
Take Care Of Your Body
Its also important so you can make good choices for your body to support your pregnancy and give your baby a healthy start in life. If you discover you are pregnant, you should follow the guidelines below.
Start prenatal vitamins
Prenatal vitamins include an extra amount of folic acid, which is important for the development of your babys brain and nervous system. Ask your doctor what type of prenatal vitamins they recommend.
Avoid alcohol and certain medications
Avoid alcohol and certain medications if you are pregnant. Alcohol significantly affects fetal brain development. Some medications can also cause birth defects. Read more about medications in pregnancy.
Avoid smoking and drugs
Avoid recreational drugs, smoking, vaping, and marijuana when pregnant. These can also cause developmental issues and birth defects in babies. Smoking harms lung development and restricts blood flow to the placenta.
Eat right and exercise
When you let your provider know youre pregnant, you will get helpful information about a healthy diet and exercise during pregnancy. Youll receive a list of foods, activities, and environmental exposures to avoid. Youll receive information about avoiding work-related exposures, too . Your provider will see if you are up-to-date on vaccinations or if there are any other recommended vaccinations you should receive.
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Why Do I Calculate From The First Day Of My Last Period Not Conception
Before we understood the physiology of ovulationand that women dont ovulate until a couple of weeks after their period, so they really cant get pregnant until that timethe only thing that primitive physicians and midwives knew was that from the first day of the last period, it was about 280 days before a woman gave birth, says Scurfield. All of the research and medical literature have been based on that formula being used.
Youre Visiting The Bathroom Significantly More Often
Do you find yourself urinating more often during the day or waking up in the middle of the night to take care of a full bladder? This could be a sign youâre pregnant. Because your body makes significantly more blood during pregnancy, your kidneys are filtering more liquids â resulting in a greater number of potty breaks. Though youâll be doing plenty of urinating, pregnancy actually increases your chances of constipation, meaning that going #2 may be a little more difficult.
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Get The Pets Involved
Just like bringing in your kids, get your pet involved if you have one . Get your pets matching clothing that says theyre expecting a younger sister or brother or a new hooman. This is a great and cute way to tell your parents youre pregnant, especially if youre known to be furparents turning into hooman parents.
When Can I Take A Home Pregnancy Test
Although you may start to feel early pregnancy symptoms before your period, most women have to wait for an average of two weeks from the time they ovulate for a positive home pregnancy test result. Home pregnancy tests measure levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine.
This placenta-produced hormone makes its way into your urine almost immediately after an embryo begins implanting in your uterus, between six to 12 days after fertilization. You can start using most home pregnancy tests as soon as hCG can be detected in your urine and hCG levels usually arent high enough to be picked up by a home pregnancy test until your periods expected.
Cant wait until then? Some HPTs promise 60 to 75 percent accuracy four to five days before you expect your period. Wait until your period and the rate jumps to 90 percent wait another week and the results are 99 percent accurate.
Know that false negatives are much more common than false positives, so if the time for your period comes and goes without your monthly flow, check in with your health care provider. Either way, youll want to get a blood test to confirm your pregnancy status.
No matter what symptoms you’re having, the only way to know for sure that you’re pregnant is to make an appointment with your OB/GYN.
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Creative Ways To Make A Pregnancy Announcement To Parents And Grandparents
A creative way to announce to your parents that youre having a baby is to wrap up a gift or surprise for them to open.
Here are some ideas for fun pregnancy announcements to your parents and future grandparents, that can be used on other friends and family, as well. Most of these items are right from Amazon or Etsy so they can be at your door within a couple of days!
If youre looking for digital social media pregnancy announcement ideas, take a look at my awesome ideas for classy pregnancy announcements, funny pregnancy announcements, fall pregnancy announcements, and flat lay pregnancy announcements. Youre bound to find some fun and creative ways to tell the world that youre expecting here!
Early Pregnancy Symptoms Vs Pms: Whats The Difference
Most early pregnancy symptoms before your period are strikingly similar to the side effects of PMS. However, youll only notice changes in your areolas if youre pregnant. A consistently elevated BBT and creamy vaginal discharge post-ovulation are also both relatively reliable signs of conception, but theyre certainly not foolproof.
Otherwise, the only way to know if other early pregnancy symptoms are due to a baby or PMS is to hold out until you can take a pregnancy test.
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Give Yourself A Quick Health Check With Our Tools And Calculators
There may be some lifestyle changes that you can make to improve your health and the health of your growing baby. For example, it is important to limit caffeine as much as possible during pregnancy. Use our caffeine calculator to find out your daily caffeine intake.
Your BMI is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is in a healthy range. Your BMI calculation will be based on your weight before pregnancy.
If you have a high BMI, there may be some extra things you can do to help support your health during pregnancy. Find out your BMI using our calculator.
We Know You’re Wondering: Is It Possible To Be Pregnant And Still Have A Period
Nope, experts say. Some people may experience bleeding or spotting, but those are different bleeding patterns from the cyclical menses your body experiences in absence of a pregnancy.
Dr. Michele Hakakha, an OB-GYN and author of Expecting 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Pregnancy, told Parents that people definitely can experience vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, but that “when they bleed, they are not having a ‘period.'” That’s because your body needs to reserve the uterine lining as nourishment for the growing pregnancy.
Although bleeding during pregnancy doesn’t always mean cause for concern, it can indicate something more serious like a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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Let A Sibling Spill The Beans
Make a T-shirt for your firstborn that bears the message, Im going to be a big sister . Use iron-on letters or puffy paint, or just buy a shirt with the words already printed lots of stores sell them. Have your child wear her tee to your next family gathering and watch the fun begin as people read the big news. A fine alternative: Skip the shirt and have your tot whisper this secret to the partygoers Pssst! Im going to be a big sibling!
When Should Expecting Fathers Or Partners Tell Their Work About The Pregnancy
If an expecting father is planning to take time away from their job, they should probably tell their work as soon as possible. Additional time can help the team prepare for their absence. Making the announcement early on is also helpful if the partner is planning to attend doctor’s appointments during normal work hours.
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Food Aversions And Sensitivity To Smell
Sensitivity to certain smells is a common symptom for pregnant women. You may also find that your tastes have changed for certain types of food.
Any of the above signs can mean youre pregnant, but there are women who conceive and experience none of them. Likewise, you can experience all ten and not be pregnant. The best way to confirm pregnancy is to schedule an appointment with a provider, preferably your gynecologist.
If you notice a few of the early pregnancy symptoms above and think you may be pregnant, wait one or two days after your missed period and take a pregnancy test. If the test is negative, wait a few more days and take another, just in case the first was a false negative. If the test is positive, schedule an appointment with your OB/GYN.
At Baptist Health, were committed to helping women through every stage of their health journeys. If youre trying to conceive or thinking about getting pregnant, read through our preconception to-do list, or if you have an upcoming OB/GYN appointment, learn how you can get the most out of your visit.
How Can I Ensure The Most Accurate Due Date Possible
Start tracking your periods before you get pregnant so that you can easily tell how far along you are. You can use a calendar or period tracker app, such as Period Calendar, Flo and Clue, all of which are free on iPhone and Android.
Then, if you get pregnantwhether its planned or a surpriseyoull know the start of your last period and can accurately assess how far along you are. At that point, you can sign up for Todays Parents free week-by-week pregnancy newsletter to learn about your babys development, how youll be feeling and what to expect.
Free pregnancy apps like The Bump, What to Expect and Pregnancy Tracker include pregnancy calendar calculatorsto estimate your due date, as well as functions to help track the size of your baby, anticipate pregnancy symptoms and plan for doctors appointments and other key dates .
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Blood Test From The Doctor
For the most accurate way to know if you’re pregnant, head to your doctor’s office to get a blood test. Blood tests are more sensitive than urine tests, since less hCG needs to be present to get a positive result.
Most women don’t undergo a blood test if their at-home test was positive, but Dr. Perez explains that it can help evaluate for a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy . Therefore she recommends scheduling an appointment once you get a positive pregnancy test.
Light Spotting And Cramping
Light spotting, also known as implantation bleeding, can occur when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining. This can happen about 10 to 14 days after conception, around the same time that you are supposed to have your period. Light spotting may also be accompanied by cramping, which can feel similar to menstrual cramps.
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Blood Tests To Determine Pregnancy
Another way to take a pregnancy test is by having your blood tested for human chorionic gonadotropin , which is a hormone that is produced by the body during pregnancy. This test is called a beta-hCG test or quantitative hCG blood test. An hCG blood test for pregnancy is more common if you have not had a period and dont know when your last period was, or if you have been using hormonal birth control.
What’s The Soonest You Can Find Out If You’re Pregnant
The only way to know for sure that you’re pregnant is through a positive pregnancy test. The earliest home pregnancy test is accurate up to six days before the day of your missed period for 76% of women who take the test .1
So, the soonest you might be able to find out for sure that you’re pregnant is by testing with a First Response home pregnancy test no earlier than six days before the day of your missed period.
So if you’re expecting your period on a Saturday, you would be able to test the Monday before .
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Can Pregnancy Symptoms Start Before Implantation
To ensure successful implantation progesterone rises when the ovum fertilizes, so sensitive women may notice very mild pregnancy symptoms before implantation that feels much like pre-menstrual symptoms.
But it has to be said that this is uncommon.
It usually takes a few weeks for progesterone and hCG levels to get high enough to start experiencing symptoms.
We hope weve answered all your questions about finding out how soon you can tell if youre pregnant. If you have any more let us know and well do our utmost to answer them.
Key Indicators Of A Possible Pregnancy
Many women experience one or more pregnancy symptoms during a normal menstrual cycle, so you shouldnât panic if youâre a little nauseous, tired, or experiencing cramping. If youâve noticed several of the indicators below over the last few weeks, however, itâs worth a closer look. These signs often signal a pregnancy, but only an official pregnancy test or doctorâs visit will be able to tell you for sure.
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Record Your Babys Heartbeat
If you have the chance to get your Ob Gyne to record your babys heartbeat this will be great! Have your parents listen to this new song youre raving about, and watch them scrunch their faces in confusion. This would be the best time to tell them that, Thats no new rave song, thats your grandchilds heartbeat!
Telling Your Boss Youre Pregnant
When telling your boss youre pregnant, its important to keep in mind that one of their first thoughts will be how to cover your workload while youre gone or how to replace you if you dont intend to return.
While the culture in each workplace varies widely, its best to communicate your pregnancy to your boss in person initially, then follow it up with an email documenting your conversation.
Before telling your boss youre pregnant, its ideal if youve given thought to the following and can communicate your plans clearly:
- Whether you intend to return to work after your baby is born.
- An approximation of your maternity leave dates.
- A list of tasks you intend to do to help prepare for your maternity leave coverage.
If you announce your pregnancy to your boss over email, consider using the following template. You may also use this template to summarize your follow-up email if you shared your pregnancy news in person.
Email Template
Dear < SUPERVISOR NAME> :
I wanted to notify you that I am currently pregnant with a due date of < DUE DATE> . While I am thrilled about this addition to our family, I also recognize that a maternity leave will impact the office. I wanted to share this information with you early to allow for adequate time to prepare.
I plan to work until as close to my due date as possible and then return to work after a three-month maternity leave. In the meantime, I am committed to doing as much as I can to prepare for my absence.
Sincerely,
< NAME>
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Pregnancy Testing For An Early And Accurate Result
A pregnancy test measures levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in your blood or urine. hCG starts to be produced after implantation in the walls of the uterus.
Implantation can occur as early as 7 days after conception.
The placenta begins to develop and produces increasing amounts of hCG.
There are no dierences between ethnicities with regard to urinary hCG increase. However, levels of serum hCG in early pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology have been seen to be slightly lower in women with a higher pre-pregnancy body mass index.
If you need early detection of pregnancy, a blood pregnancy test done at the doctors oice can detect low levels of hCG and measure the actual quantity of hCG in the body.
A blood pregnancy test can be accurate six to eight days after ovulation. A urine test is usually accurate about 14-21 days after ovulation.
