Being self-employed & maternity leave

[expectingwriter]

Hi there, I'm due in October and have been self-employed for the last two years. Am trying to be positive about trying to balance work with new baby when it comes and am also trying to look into what the regulations are for maternity allowance etc. But am feeling a little despondent about, well, feeling like there's not that much support out there for mums who are self-employed... Just wondered if anyone had any cheering advice on how to make it work?!

There's not much support, no. You'll be entitled to Maternity Allowance which is only around £530 a month for 39 weeks (or there abouts). And working from home is hard too! DS is over 10 months and when I need to work DH has to look after him. Being that he is also SE and often has to work in the evenings himself at home it's difficult. Plus getting ad hoc childcare is very hard too unless you have family that can help nearby. That said I'm also quite glad I don't have the pressure to 'go back to work' as a lot of my friends are facing now. Also it was less of a culture shock for me when suddenly at hone with a baby as i was used to filling my own time at home already. I still love the freedom of being SE and wouldn't change that at all. Good luck with it all! It's a fun ride :)