I Was Laid Off Right After I Found Out I Was Pregnant

One night in November 2023, I took a pregnancy test. When a faint second pink line appeared, it almost seemed too good to be true. Here it was, this long-imagined reality sitting right before me. My husband and I had waited to try for a baby until things felt as “right” as they could: we owned a house, had jobs with benefits, and our life was just about as stable as ever. While we knew there would be plenty of unforeseen challenges to tackle, we couldn’t wait to start our next chapter.

Just a week later, I sat down for another day of work as an editor for a crafting and lifestyle website. I loved my job — my boss and I were a small but mighty team of two, working from home to produce stories about everything from DIY Halloween costumes to small-town sourdough bakeries. I’d anticipated telling my boss about the pregnancy shortly, as my schedule would be loaded with appointments in the coming weeks.

When I opened my inbox, my heart sank. There it was: the dreaded email everyone at our company had heard whispers of during past layoffs (after which we were always assured there would be no further cuts, of course). It was an invitation to a Zoom meeting, simply titled “Check-In.” The attendees were me, our department supervisor, and an HR representative. It hit me: I was really about to lose my job while pregnant.

I was scared about job-hunting while pregnant

The meeting itself was short and cold. Afterward, I immediately took a call from my boss, who had also been laid off and was reeling from shock. We lamented and vented and did all the things friends do when they’re thrust into a scary situation. I felt grief at the abrupt loss of a position I genuinely enjoyed and the relationships I’d formed. Above all else, I was scared.

How was I supposed to hunt for new jobs in the throes of morning sickness? Would anyone hire a pregnant woman who would inevitably need maternity leave in a matter of months, let alone offer paid leave before the one-year employment mark? Legal protections for pregnant workers were no comfort to me — I felt untethered and deeply uncertain.

In the midst of my panic and despair, my husband offered a radical idea: perhaps I should take a nap. As a nap enthusiast, this sounded good to me. I stepped away from the buzzing group chat with my fellow laid-off folks and crawled into bed on a weekday afternoon. It felt… perfect.

As my pregnancy and my unemployment progressed, food aversions and nausea kicked in. Amid my symptoms, I received a generous severance package that took some of the pressure off. I was still devastated and embarrassed about being laid off, but I began to wonder how well I would have performed at work during the first weeks of my pregnancy. (Nobody wants to see their coworker throw up during an all-hands meeting.)

I started focusing on my own needs

Soon, something incredible happened: I started tending to my own needs. I’ve always been motivated by external achievements like school and work, but when my career disappeared, I was left to focus on something I’d almost certainly been neglecting: myself.

Once I gave myself permission to rest — really rest — the angst of being laid off eased. Losing my job forced me to focus on nothing more than garnering the energy I’d need for a long 40 weeks of growing a human being.

I was incredibly privileged, of course, to have a gainfully employed spouse who supported me in taking a breather for a few months. So many people are left without support systems in the wake of mass layoffs, and the trauma of losing a job is real.

Soon, I felt capable of re-entering the workforce

By the time I entered my second trimester, my mind was clearer, and the effects of necessitated rest had recharged my battery enough to start job-hunting, ultimately resulting in a flexible contract writing job. Pregnancy had drained me of so much energy, but those few months of long naps, lazy afternoons, and calming walks without the constraints of a 9-5 allowed me to re-enter the workforce with a fresh perspective.

Don’t get me wrong: I was not and will never be grateful for losing my job. I’ll always carry anger and frustration toward large companies that seem indifferent to discarding employees like they’re cogs in a machine, and the initial fear of being jobless while pregnant is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. My experience is my own, and every pregnant person facing job loss should navigate the situation in whichever way feels best.

But in a strange way, the sudden loss of structure offered the gift of time and presence as I faced impending parenthood. I look back fondly on those quiet winter days, when I’d curl up with my beloved pregnancy pillow and a copy of “What To Expect When You’re Expecting.” Just me, my growing belly, and plenty of time — not a single Zoom meeting on the calendar.