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[failoutboy]

Someone I know is around 3 months pregnant and has been offered a postdoc job that will be starting in the early spring (January or February). Her baby is due in May, and her start date is flexible. That is, she doesn't mind starting in January/February and working up to the due date, or taking some time off and starting at the end of the summer -- whatever is least disruptive to the PI. She is thinking about disclosing the pregnancy so that she can have an open discussion with the PI about possible arrangements. When is the best time to do this? Should she accept, and then disclose the pregnancy and discuss the arrangements (e.g. start date), or is the start date usually written into the offer letter?

[sciencephd]

In terms of making the PI happy, disclosing is the only way to go.  If I were the PI, I would want the start date to be after the delivery and any maternity leave.  That arrangement is obviously going to be in the self-interest of most PIs given the parameters that you list.

But there are other considerations, including health insurance, unless she has insurance via another route.

[kedves]

Does she know with certainty that the postdoc cannot be yanked if she discloses the pregnancy?  (Yes, it's illegal; that's not what I mean.)

[macaroon]

In terms of making the PI happy, disclosing is the only way to go.  If I were the PI, I would want the start date to be after the delivery and any maternity leave.  That arrangement is obviously going to be in the self-interest of most PIs given the parameters that you list.

...  unless the PI wants her to be in the lab in the winter so that she can get some training. 
 

Does she know with certainty that the postdoc cannot be yanked if she discloses the pregnancy?  (Yes, it's illegal; that's not what I mean.)

If the pregnancy is a deal-breaker for her new PI, she should move on and find a different one.  The PI is going to be writing her recommendation letters.  Anyone who would revoke the opportunity surely won't write complementary letters if he or she feels "tricked" into taking on a pregnant postdoc. 

If she really is flexible about the start date, she should disclose the information.

[jackit]

She should definitely disclose if it may impact her beginning work date; the PI will feel misled if she doesn't.  As another forumite noted, she will need to have a generally positive relationship with her postdoctoral advisor to leave with a good recommendation.

[polly_mer]

She must disclose her pregnancy, but Macaroon is right about the possible reactions.

Some people will be accommodating and view the first couple of months as just getting up to speed anyway so being pregnant will not be a problem.

Others, like Sciencephd, will be reasonable and move the start date to summer so that she can focus on her baby without the hassles of starting a new job because that job requires hitting the ground running.

Some will be jerks for whom a new mother should not be working and she will be lucky to have dodged that bullet.

[wacautpa]

 I agree, she should definitely disclose.
I was unclear if she had a preference of start date, but she might consider being proactive and suggesting that those initial months be used to read up on the literature and write for grants.  It would help to justify an earlier start date and would re-emphasize that she is serious about her new position.