I have been looking for a new job since January and have finally been offered my dream job, which is hugely exciting. I have not yet accepted because I am waiting for the contract. However, I have just found out that I am in the very early stages of pregnancy.

I am on a three-month notice period, which I hope I will be able to shorten, but this of course can't be guaranteed. If I have to work out my long notice period, I will only be at the new job for around four months before I go on maternity leave.

How do I tackle this with my future employer? I don't want to anger them before I've even started. Should I be upfront and say that I can't take the job for the reasons listed above and hope that they still want to offer it to me?

Equally, is it really a good idea for me to start something new at this point in my life, even if I have every intention of going back to work after the baby is born?