Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Third Trimester Pregnant

Question:
I can't wait to tell them at work because I feel so awful and am tired, etc. I want to explain why I'm being so weird. So is it when I'm 13 weeks that its safer? At that time I'm really only 11 weeks pregnant though. What do you think?

Answer:
I think the third trimester is over when you give birth! I'm assuming that's a typo (welcome to the joys of placenta brain!) and that you're asking when the first trimester is over. While the risk of miscarriage decreases, there's no magic date at which you're safe, so as far as breaking the news to your employer, your readiness is more important than the calendar. If you feel you need time off or a change of hours or longer lunch breaks so you can nap -- or if you just want to share your good news -- tell 'em now. They're more likely to be understanding if they know you're pregnant than if they have to wonder why you're behaving oddly. LOL, the *third* trimester is over when the baby is born. The 1st trimester ends at the beginning of the 14th week, according to various pregnancy websites. LOL! I think you meant to entitle your post When does the first trimester end? not the third! (The third ends when you give birth!) Seriously, though, when you're 13 weeks pregnant, you're 13 weeks pregnant, not 11 weeks pregnant. The first trimester (and all subsequent ones) are calculated using conception plus 2 weeks. So just ignore the fact that you know the baby wasn't there when until you were 2 weeks pregnant when calculating this stuff. Depending on whom you consult, the second trimester starts in either week 13 or week 14. (I usually say first trimester is 1-13, second is 14-26, and third is 27-birth, but lots of people say the second trimester starts in week 13.) Either way, as I understand it, miscarriage risk drops substantially after you complete week 12. So if that's what you're concerned about, I'd say you could tell in week 13 without being too concerned. I guess mostly what I'm concerned about it miscarriage risk, because once I tell my employer sooo many people will know and god forbid something bad happened I'd rather have my privacy. Sounds like week 13 is a good time, and I'll just assume their understanding is retroactive as they figure out why I don't work late anymore, etc. Totally understandable. One friend of mine wouldn't tell anyone until she was four months pregnant because she thought announcing it earlier would somehow jinx the pregnancy; another friend thinks not announcing it is assuming something bad will happen. Your own sanity is what matters! I would've waited until the 2nd trimester myself, I think, but morning sickness hit me early this time, so I had to tell my boss when I was around 4 weeks, and once the friends who already knew found out the boss knew, it wasn't long before everyone knew. (Ack, what an awful sentence that was!)