Make sure that your employer hears about your pregnancy from you, and not around the water cooler, first. Accompany the news with your tentative schedule for maternity leave so your manager can plan accordingly.

If this is your first child, it can be hard to fully assess the new career direction you're taking. But there are probably some basic decisions you can make with a degree of certainty. For example, late shifts and double-overtime may be out of the picture for you now.

You should also ask questions to determine whether your company is even worth sticking with through your pregnancy and beyond. Comment in the spaces below to see how your company stacks up in the family-friendly category.

Flexibility: Does the company have written policies on options like flex-time, job-sharing, and telecommuting?

Lactation facilities: Are there appropriate, comfortable areas dedicated to breastfeeding or breast milk pumping? If not, is your employer willing to provide an appropriate, private space?

Paid paternity leave: Are dads given time off for a new baby with pay, or at least without prejudice? If a policy is in place, is it used successfully?

On-site child care or child care assistance: If your workplace doesn't have on-site or sponsored child care, does it offer enrollment in a tax-free flexible spending account that allows you to save up to $5,000 tax free to pay child care expenses?

Time-saving perks: These may run the gamut from on-site dry cleaning and retail services to employee concierge services that can run small errands for you.

Value placed on education: Corporate-sponsored scholarships for children of employees, tuition assistance, and mentorship programs with local schools are a few ways a company may express the value of education.