Beyonce Pregnant: VMA 2011 Announcement Steals Spotlight From Professional Mothers
R&B singer Beyonce shocked the world when she revealed her pregnancy during her performance at the MTV Video Music Awards on August 28.
While countless fans have been ecstatic about her news, many women who are also currently expecting are finding that Beyonce's soon-to-be bundle of joy is taking away from their own baby news.
Many expectant mothers who are also professional women have a lot harder time revealing their pregnancy than the Queen of R&B. For them there is a lot more to consider than simply teasing the crowd at an award show in an extravagant dress and rubbing their bellies after a show-stopping performance.
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Catelyn Read, 27, a public relations assistant in Telluride, Colorado announced her pregnancy to her workplace just a few days before Beyonce, and the situation was not quite as easy-going.
Despite being happy for Beyonce as a fan and excited that they are both three months a long, Read noted to Forbes that she also felt jealous that Beyonce was able to revel in her pregnancy with ease while she had a host of other factors to consider other than simply being pregnant.
“I agonized for over a month over telling my boss I was having a baby,” Read told Forbes. “It’s just not fair that she gets to be all ‘I’m having a baby! Love me!’ when I had to be all ‘Is my company big enough for the Family Medical Leave Act?’”
Career coach and Sirius radio host Maggie Mistal detailed to Forbes that since Beyonce is essentially an entrepreneur as well as a brand in herself, her pregnancy serves as an optimal expansion of that brand.
Most women however cannot brand themselves or their unborn children in the way that Beyonce does, and find that they must prepare for navigating their workplace while expecting.
Mistal suggests that pregnant women should actually brand themselves in the workplace, as diligent workers who are just as capable of doing their job as they were when not pregnant.
On top of waiting to ride out the delicate first trimester when miscarriage is most common as well as to rule out any serious complications, Baby Center details that waiting until 14 to 20 weeks of pregnancy gives enough time for bosses and colleagues to see that being with child has not impeded work performance.
Pregnant professionals should also be aware of the various laws that are set in place to protect them from discrimination. The Family and Medical Leave Act for example entitles up to 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave per year for reasons such as the birth and care of a child.
However, expectant mothers must also be aware that the act only applies to companies that have 50 or more employees and if they have been working for their company for at least 12 months.
They should also be aware of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which protects women from being demoted, laid off or fired due to being pregnant.
Mistal details that upon revealing a pregnancy it benefits women to prepare a proposal for transitioning themselves and aiding their colleagues into their leave, explaining how their position can be most efficiently executed in their absence.
“It’s natural for them to think of themselves first when they hear you’ll be taking time off. Their first instinct is ‘oh no, more work,’’” she said. “Be considerate of this. Make the transition smooth and they’ll be much more inclined to celebrate instead of complain.”
