Pregnant and thinking about applying for new job

[PEDSVA]

Is it considered ok to apply for a new position if you are newly pregnant (less than 4 mos)? When is it appropriate to disclose the information ?

[towntalker]

this should be discussed at first interview, really not something they are allowed to bring up but it would be professional for you to inform them if you intend to return to work after baby arrives

i know that many women intend to return to work and then find that they really can't go back due to lack of childcare or because they feel that extra bonding is needed but if you know going in that you will be a shorttimer let them know

[NurseCard, ADN]

Well, you definately want to disclose this information, at least, to HR right away so that you can get information about insurance benefits, what you'll do about health insurance during the time that you are off, whether you'll be able to return to work after having the baby (FMLA law usually only applies after you've been employed at a place for one year). So it's an important thing to disclose right away once you've been offered a job/hired.

However, I don't know that I would disclose it during an interview, unless you are planning to only work for a short time and then take a very long (say, more than two months) maternity leave, or even quit alltogether when baby comes.

[Dental Hygienist]

I'm not a nurse yet....but as a dental hygienist I always recommend to colleagues that they NOT disclose their pregnancy until employment is secured....in a small dental office it is surely job-seeker's suicide to disclose a pregnancy during an interview....the RDH might even get fired after several years of employment once she discloses her pregnancy.

Maybe it is different in a hosptial environment, but I KNOW it is illegal for them to ask about pregnancy or plans for pregnancy and there is no requirement of you to disclose it...If I were you I'd wait until I was showing or until a potentially dangerous situation arose (whichever came first)....again I'm speaking from dental perspective, maybe in a hospital pregnancy isn't such a risky thing to admit that you are pregnant.

[PEDSVA]

Thanks for all the advice! This is my 3rd pregnancy and currently I will HAVE to go back to work. Day care isn't an issue, Thank God for MIL. After looking for this specific position and not finding it prior to becoming pregnant, I decided to just look again after the baby was born while on maternity leave. Of course while browsing through a nursing magazine the other day I came across the position. Life is something. I guess if I were offered a position upon accepting it I would disclose the info. and that I did plan on returning to work. If anyone one else has any tid bits to offer I'm listening. :innerconf