When do you tell clients you're pregnant and when did you take maternity leave?

[ZuleikaD]

The title says it all, really. I don't think I want to work in my ninth month but generally (this is DC3) I'm still pretty capable up to 8 months so I was planning to work till then.

I'd say as late on as you can manage - when do you think you'll start to show? Oh and what is the notice period in your contracts?

I think you have to assume that parents will start looking for other provision pretty much as soon as you tell them your news, so you can only rely on them staying with you for your notice period IYSWIM. As even if you tell them you'll work to 8 mths they'll be worrying that you'll need time off for appts, what happens if you're ill? need bedrest? etc etc. Its (possibly) very unfair, but probably true as they'll just want to have continuity guaranteed.

Yes, I pretty much thought that. My contract is six weeks' notice on either side - and of course if I was them then I'd start looking for an alternative immediately as well.

I told them at 20 weeks when I started to show. This was also dc3 and I was due on 5th sept so I worked up to the end of summer hols (not quite) and had the clause that they had to have a mob on them at all tones and be able to collect or send someone within 30mins if I went into labour. It worked really well and all transitions went smoothly as it was the end of the academic year.

our childminder (last one) told us when she was 8wks but was obvious to me (prob due to my job) couple wks before that.

She took my little one and other mindee to midwife appointments with her they were few and far between, scan appointments she managed to get on day when she only had one mindee and her mum was pretty flexible. (was one day where she had an appointment and said could we drop off at 11/12 instead of 07.30 and I said no but as she wasnt available we would take the day off - I hate half days that way round at work!!).

Anyway she was going to take 6wks off and I said we couldnt cover that really start of finacial year (new annual leave yr didnt want to use all our entitlement up so early) and we used nursery one day a week and didnt want him there for 4 days, she then offered to only take 4 wks and then have him some ad-hoc days in those 4 wks which just wasnt going to work really so she was due 1st week april and we gave notice in the Jan and finished mid feb I think husband and I then used some annual leave for few wks taking 2 days a week and increased nursery to 2 days and found a new childminder for 2 days and were able to settle him in in that time.

Guess what I am saying people wont necessarily leave as soon as you tell them.