(that wonderful husband of mine offered to wash the dishes, so I guess I'll continue
)
My employers were less than pleased about my hg, and I ended up getting fired over the whole thing, had to get a lawyer and thankfully we ended up okay financially, but I do feel like I've been digging my career out of a hole ever since. I'm not sure there would have been any way to prepare them so they wouldn't have taken it so poorly, but my only suggestion is that this is your life, not theirs and if the timing is right for you, just make sure you are prepared for the consequences!
Before you get pg, research your federal and state laws regarding disability leave and family leave. Does the FMLA apply to you? find out and keep in mind the details of the law.
The federal disability laws require that pregnancy disability leave be handled the same as any other disability, so find out if your company has any policies on this, or ask around to see what they have done for others in the past. If they didn't fire the guy that was out for his knee surgery, they can't fire you either.
Some state laws go MUCH further (search for "disability leave" and your state to find websites with this information). In CA, you basically can't fire someone for being out of work due to disability, and this includes pregnancy related disability. Also, the burden of proof is on the employer. You do not have to prove that they fired you because of hg, they have to prove that they didn't. Also find out what the statute of limitations is for this kind of a lawsuit. In CA you have one year, so if you are fired during pg you can wait until you are feeling better to do something about it.
It will be much easier to research this information when you are preparing and still feeling good, than when you have to take a break every 10 mins to stick your head in a toilet. Consider asking for names of a good employment lawyer, just so you have them around in case you have a question.
Once you get pg, make sure you record dates, and witnesses for any conversations, comments regarding your illness, just in case you need them for later. Never let your employer convince you to resign instead of being fired (at least without talking to a lawyer) they will do this trick if they know it would be illegal for them to actually fire you. When you have a contract, not renewing you contract is the same as firing you (this is what my employer tried - they told me they weren't renewing my contract and so they were going to keep paying me until the end of it and I could stay home with my baby and get paid - sounds great, only because of a quirk with my profession and contract, that actually turned out to be cheaper for them than if they just fired me)
I guess my experience with employers is that they are tricky and evil. I know not all of them are, but it is best to be prepared.
More ideas anyone?