How difficult will working with a newborn be?

[lostandconfused2]

I have no option but to work when I've had my baby in April, only a VERY small amount per week. I am a freelance writer and due to being off sick a lot through my pregnancy (I have a chronic illness and have had bad morning sickness) my maternity pay has gone down to about £250 a week, being 90% of my earnings on three days work a week. My rent alone is £950 and that's not covering bills and even with my partner's income it won't be enough to live on.

I have another job where I write three articles which take me around 25 minutes each to write, and I get £735 per week for that.

I cannot take the maternity and work at the same time I have been told by my other employer, so it's one or the other.

I have managed to save £1,500 so far for when baby is born so that I will have spare money for rent/bills etc. And I will have saved another £2,000 before he is born so I should have around 3 months rent ready to go. I'm trying to be as prepared as possible.

I guess my question is do you think this is doable? I know every newborn is different - but it's just a couple of hours each week, and it's pretty easy work, not too indepth or researchy - mainly personal and opion columns. It was an unplanned pregnancy as I was told I couldn't have children due to my chronic illness, just as a heads up to why I'm not super prepared.

Thank you!

If you have someone who can watch baby, it’s Probably no big deal. Mine screamed whenever I wasn’t touching her, so I ended up working in bed with the laptop on a pile of pillows and with her sleeping on my lap. It wasn’t ideal, but we managed because it was just a small workload.

I just wanted to thank you all for your messages about me doing the 3 x 25 minutes work with a newborn. I wasn't aware of KIP days and you guys brought them up and offered me links, and I managed to speak to my employer about it today and it has been confirmed I will get both maternity pay and I'll be able to take those 10 KIP days which will cover me for 10 weeks of my side job (1 day a week).

A huge weight off my shoulders and I can now start relaxing!

Thank you all!

Sorry OP, but it wouldn't have been remotely doable for me (difficult birth, long hospital stay, breastfeeding problems). It might be ok for you if you have supportive family near by, a partner at home and a baby who sleeps for good stretches and if it wasn't a tough delivery - but don't pressure yourself if you avoid it, you could end up with PND.

*if you can avoid it, that should say

Your going to do 6 articles one week, and none the week after, aren't you? Stretch the KIT days to 20 weeks.

I think you should be fine to do a little bit of flexible work at home after the first week or two, unless something goes wrong.

I started working again on my Phd thesis after about 4 weeks. Not full time obviously, but a bit here and there.

”Your going to do 6 articles one week, and none the week after, aren't you? Stretch the KIT days to 20 weeks.”

KIT days with the OP’s employed job are nothing to do with the freelance writing second job she’s actually asking about.

For the gazillionth time, a person on maternity leave from one job can do AS MUCH FREELANCE SELF EMPLOYED WORK AS THEY CHOOSE FOR ANOTHER COMPANY, and it is absolutely nothing to do with the employed job.

In addition a person on maternity leave from an employed job can do up to 10 days work for that employer and receive pay without losing SMP.

OP you can do this very easily!

Flowery - yes indeed!
OP - you can work freelance as you did before. If all you're getting from your other employer is statutory maternity pay then they do not have a say in the matter and cannot withhold your mat pay! Just do freelance and get your SMP.
If you want to do KIT days then it's with the relevant employer (the one paying you SMP) and yes it's quite handy to earn more money if you want. You can also go onto shared parental leave technically (even if you're not 'sharing) and get 20 SPLIT days instead. But again doesn't change the fact that you can continue your freelance gig anyway.