Not sure whether to disclose my pregnancy to new employer - freelance

[PollyIndia]

Hi mumsnetters
I am 13 weeks pregnant so only have 6 months (gulp) to earn money to pay for my maternity leave as MA won't cover my mortgage and as I was away travelling, I won't be getting any other pay. I have been offered a freelance agreement with a startup where they would pay me a retainer each month for 7 days work and this would be enough to cover my mortgage, bills and spending money so if I could carry on doing it once I had the baby, then it would really take away my money worries post baby being born. Any other work that comes up between now and then would just be incremental savings which I will definitely need.
I am not sure whether to tell the guy I am pg. I will be carrying on working for him for the 7 days - well, from month 2 I suppose - and the reason he is paying me a retainer is because he needs me to commit to his business as he will want investment at the end of the year and it's all about PR for the investors - saying I have so and so person who will head up this bit, so and so heading up that bit.
Does anyone have any experience of telling an employer they are pg and getting a negative reaction? I know the law is on our side, but practically, there are always ways around that. I would prefer to be honest but equally as a freelancer, I am getting nothing from him in terms of benefits etc.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks

I told my boss at 12 weeks last time, what a mistake. Two weeks later they announced a restructuring and I was made redundant. Sought legal advice, but couldn't prove it was pregnancy related so nothing could be done (this was before the last law change). I had one friend whose freelance contract was not renewed just after she went public with her pregnancy, even though the work would have been completed by the ime she was 30 weeks, and another who worked through an agancy who stopped being offered shifts!

My advice, if you don't have to tell them, then don't.

I think legally it is 24 weeks? Just check your legal standpoint and stick to that, ie, as late as you can.

If you are freelance maybe there are different rules...