I am writing a pregnancy book for women in the workforce, so I have been thinking a lot about pregnancy on the job. Although no set of recommendations will be perfect for all situations, consider the following guidelines when you are ready to tell work that you are expecting:

• Try to tell your boss before he or she finds out from someone else. Sometimes coworkers find out early -- your symptoms are obvious, or you can't resist sharing your good news. If you tell colleagues first, you'll need to decide if you are willing to risk your supervisor finding out indirectly, or prefer to tell earlier than you might otherwise have planned.
  
  
• Make an appointment to talk with your boss. Some mothers-to-be find it helpful to time this right after a completed project or a good performance review.
  
  
• Know the culture of your workplace -- will there be support or criticism? If possible, quietly do your homework so you know how others in your shoes have been received.
  
  
• Understand that pregnant employees are often seen as having prioritized their personal lives ahead of their work. Your team may need reassurance that you plan to continue to pull your load. Showing that you have thought about how your work will get done during pregnancy and while you are gone will reassure your supervisor and co-workers that you aren't abandoning them, and that you take your responsibilities seriously.
  
  
• Pregnancy is expensive for employers. At the very least, they will need to cover your job while you are out on leave. Understanding your employer's needs and concerns will help you to negotiate to get what you need. If you want to be seen as a team player, find out what you can do to help with the transitions.
  
  
• You don't need to talk about maternity leave the day you announce you are pregnant, but familiarize yourself with laws and the policies at your workplace and have an idea of what you want in case it comes up.
  
  
• When you approach this conversation, be upbeat and positive, since this is your good news.

Remember not to take a neutral or negative response personally -- your boss's initial response may be based on how your absence will affect the workplace and not on what having a baby means to you. You have the right to procreate, no matter how irreplaceable you may seem. If no one had babies, where would they find workers for the future?