Be smart about this topic when interviewing. This news should never hurt your candidacy or relationship with your new company. But it could, if this topic gets handled the wrong way.

First off, ask yourself this....WHY would an employer need to know this? The only really bona fide need they would have for this information is for planning purposes down the road when you take maternity leave. Remember this and make sure that the news of your pregnancy is never used to judge your qualifications for a position.

If you are expecting, you are certainly not obligated to bring this up in the first 5 minutes of the interview. However, you should bring this up at the appropriate point. A good rule of thumb is to discuss this at the end of the second interview or sooner if the employer brings it up first (this all depends on whether or not it is obvious that you are pregnant).

Waiting until the second interview will allow the initial focus to stay on you and your background (where the focus belongs!), not your pregnancy. If you have been invited back, you can introduce this information with the leverage of knowing that they have already established a strong interest in you.

Although it is your choice to do so, it's not recommended to wait until after an offer is made. It can be seen as calculating and may seem like you waited because you didn't trust that the company would treat you fairly in this situation. That being said, if you do have a concern that you will not be treated fairly, you may want to wait until the offer stage (but then again why would you want to work for a company like this?).

When covering this news, the key is to make a few things clear...

1) Both you and the employer agree you are a match..."I'm thrilled to be considered for this position and am also glad to hear that you think I'd make a good match".

2) The dates..."As we get further into this interview process, I do want to make sure that you know I am currently expecting and am due on XX/XX."

3) Your intentions towards your career..."I want you to know that I will work right up until delivery and will be right back in action immediately following my maternity leave. I will also do whatever I can to help make that a smooth transition for everyone involved. I am very serious about pursuing my career here and have the fullest of intentions to continue working after delivering."

Be introducing this news after the interest level is established and by being upfront and honest about your commitment to your career, you should be able to navigate around any stigmas or wrong perceptions that could work against you during the hiring process.