During a casual team Zoom, someone asked if I’d be taking maternity leave soon. I said, “Nope, I’m not having kids—I got an IUD years ago and never looked back.”Cue the awkward chuckles… followed by the usual: “You’ll change your mind,” “You’ll regret it when you’re older.”

I brushed it off. Thought that was the end of it.But the following Monday, HR messaged me for a “quick chat.” Apparently, someone on the call reported that I’d been “oversharing personal procedures” and making the team “uncomfortable.”Really?

Meanwhile, other coworkers casually discuss morning sickness, gender reveals, and labor stories—but I mention birth control and suddenly it’s unprofessional?No formal warning, but everything shifted. One coworker stopped inviting me to team lunches. Another muted me in group chats. It’s like I broke some unspoken “mom-code.”I just smile and nod. Because being child-free and honest? Apparently, that’s an HR red flag.