Starting new job 15 weeks pregnant
Hi everyone! I was feeling stuck and invalidated for some time at my previous job and was looking to make a move. In May, a recruiter reached out for a great leadership position at a global brand, which implied a huge growth opportunity for me. I began the process, and in July, found out I was pregnant. During my call with them a couple of weeks ago, in which they made an offer, I disclosed my pregnancy (before even telling my family!) as I thought it was fair for them to know this before I started and accepted a more formal offer. They reacted really well and continued with the offer.
I live abroad and maternity leave here is 6 months by law, paid by the government, regardless of how long you've been at a company, so I will qualify for the same paid leave as in my previous job. I decided to accept the offer as it's an incredible opportunity, but can't shake some anxieties:
- The feeling that I fooled them during the process, putting them kind of against the wall regarding the offer
- That I will be not at my fullest / 100% during these months given my pregnancy
- That 6 months isn't enough to prove myself and that I'll "abandon" them mid-project
- A growing belly somehow taking away some of my legitimacy as a leader (it really shouldn't but I feel like there's still bias in this sense)
- That I'm not going to be focusing on the pregnancy, on my partner, and during this special time (taking a baby moon / trip together before baby comes, shopping for baby stuff) my focus should be that..
Any words of reassurance or anyone who has gone through something similar?