I have worked full time for a small company ( 7 employees including myself) since Oct. 2005. I have recently gone part-time, and have also become pregnant. (one did not have to do with the other :) )
I'm now about 11 wk along and rounding out a bit, I'm going to have to tell them soon. However, I'm nervous that they will "find a way" to help me out the door. Should I be nervous? Am I protected at all? Most information talks about companies with 15 or more employees?
thanks!

I have no idea whether you should be nervous or not; I don't know your employer. However, although Federal law requires 15 employees before it is illegal for you to be fired because of your pregnancy, Ohio law only requires four. So with seven employees you are protected under state law even if not Federal.

Keep in mind this only means you cannot be fired BECAUSE you are pregnant. It does not protect you from being fired for other, legitimate reasons.

thanks!

How do you think I should handle telling them, when I know that I am not coming back after I have the baby. Should I tell them right away or should I wait until the end?

How you should tell them depends on your relationship with your employer and how you believe they will take the news. We can't tell you what you should do as we do not know your employer. Some may say "no problem" and permit you to work until the day you deliver. Others may decide that knowing you plan to leave in a few months presents a hardship and may accept your resignation immediately.

So, what you are saying is, If I tell them I don't plan on coming back. They can except that as me terminating my employmentand at any time let me go. Even if I would plan on working up until I deliver? And this would put them in the clear...(not letting me go unjustly)

Yes, it would. Regardless of the circumstances, once an employee has indicate their plans to leave their employment, the employer has no legal obligation to allow the employee to work out the notice period. They are free to accept the resignation immediately, even if the employee has every intention of continuing to work for several weeks or even months. In many states the employee would be able to collect unemployment; however, it is not considered a termination, rather, a resignation. And no, it's not "letting you go unjustly". You've indicated that you don't plan to return. Why should they continue your employment after that? What guarantee do they have that your work will not indicate a "short termer's attitude"?

There is no guarantee that they will accept your resignation immediately, but there is nothing to prevent them from doing so. I would be prepared for the possibility that it may happen, however, you know your employer better than we do and are in a better position to judge how likely their response.

thanks everyone for your help!!
:D

I don't generally approve of either employers or employees deliberately misleading each other. But where you are only 11 weeks along, you might want to just let them know you are pregnant but not go into whether you plan to return or not just yet. After all, 29 weeks from now you may change your mind for one reason or another.