aww
congrats!
I fell pregnant 7 months after starting childminding (roughly) I had two under 5s plus my son, and had just taken on three schoolies.
I told parents at 12 weeks, when we told everyone. It had been a struggle not to tell them before, as I suffered major all day sickness but struggled on! I told them it was their choice what to do, and that I planned to take two weeks off after the birth and then return to work - I knew that the under 5s were going to school, so it would just be the schoolies, and while that means long days in the holidays, two hours a day the rest of the time isn't too stressful.
I planned to take the two weeks off exactly after my due date, and if I needed more (eg if the baby was late) it would be unpaid. Both sets of parents could be flexible/find cover if it came early. As it was, I started my two weeks then had an extra week unpaid, then returned. It was a little bit stressful but everythings fine now, at 8 months!
Not everyones as nuts as me - if you are already childminding (I think if you will have been minding for 20 something weeks before having the baby??) and have paid NI at £2.10 a week, you can get around £110 a week statutory maternity pay for six months (possibly nine now) there is always the chance if you have worked that time, but not paid NI, they'll let you bulk pay it so you still get maternity pay - that's what they did for my friend. I asked for my unpaid to be covered by Maternity and it was.
I didn't want to lose my mindees, which is why I returned so soon. Any more questions, just ask!