The Second Trimester in Pregnancy and The Work PlaceDuring the second trimester, the cat is well and truly out of the bag. During the first trimester, your pregnancy might have been a special secret shared by only you and your partner. Unfortunately, the physical signs of the second trimester mean that you will be beginning to bulge around your belly, so you will want to start sharing your news with friends, family and work colleagues. Explaining your pregnancy to your place of work is very important. During the second trimester you will require a number of routine check ups and scans, so you must give your place of work plenty of notice in order that they can plan for your absence. Legally, no place of work can punish you for taking time off for being pregnant, if you feel that you are being treated poorly or unfairly because of you are pregnant, it is very important to seek advice about the guidelines. We've received a lot of correspondence from women in their second trimester asking for advice on how to handle their work place. This is because they are extremely worried about the possible ramifications of becoming pregnant. Fortunately, often these concerns are without merit, however there have been some much publicized stories in the press recently about companies treating their pregnant staff poorly. As soon as you enter the second trimester, you're passed the critical first twelve week period. So it is often best to share your news with friends and family before telling your place of work. Once you are confident you have told all those you want to share the news with, arrange a formal meeting with your manager and explain to them that your are pregnant. They will ask you about your pregnancy due date and any forthcoming appointments. During the second trimester, your place of work may start to pressure you into confirming your maternity leave. It's important that this is completely down to you, your company are legally bound to support your maternity leave, so you should not feel as though you are letting anyone down. In most cases, the company will pay you a minimum amount during your period of leave, this amount is support by the government. Many women decide that they would like to take one final break or holiday during the second trimester. If you have spoken to your doctor and they see no reason not too, it is often a great way of relaxing with your family before the hard work begins ar the end of the second trimester. Clearly, the emphasis is on taking a break, so please do not consider an alpine adventure holiday or pony trekking. Most women will describe the second trimester as the most enjoyable. It really is a time for sharing your excitement and good news with those around you. Yet at the same time, the increasing size of your belly means that there is something tangible to hold and touch. The second trimester is when you really begin to bond with your bump and start to day dream about times ahead. Read more of our articles on the second trimester Second Trimester - Enjoy Being Pregnant Read about the other trimesters |