Self-employed - how long before you were back at work?

[Bellabelloo]

I am pregnant with my much longer for first child. I had cancer 5 years ago and was told that the chemo had left me infertile, so I threw myself into a new career and set up my own business. It is still early days and has been really hard work, but is doing well and I really enjoy it. I am now pregnant! Hurrah! And am wondering realistically how much I will be able to do and how soon after the baby arrives? I'm so lucky to be in this position, but also know that if I take my foot off the pedal my business will suffer. But maybe I will be so in love with my baby and overcome with mumsiness that my business won't matter as much anymore. Would love to hear your experiences! Thanks! X

I'm in a similar position - pregnant with my first child but my business was my first baby in a way! Congrats on your pregnancy, looking forward to any responses you receive. I'm hoping to start working again from 3 months (part time - maybe 2 hours a day and build from there). Ive found that other self employed people I've spoken to have been really encouraging and say it's completely possible. I've no experience yet but I'm hoping that where there is a will there is a way.

From about 6 weeks for 2 hours a day maybe. No childcare at the time so it was difficult. I took a break between 3-6 months then my son started nursery 2 half days a week at 6 months old. Much better as it was proper amount of time to get stuff done

Thanks everyone and HSK for sharing your experience.

Mistletoe, when are you due? I am the same, my business has been my 'baby'. I am panicking about how I am going to juggle everything!

Tinklypoo, hope it all works out.

I know we don't get statutory maternity pay if we are self-employed, but apparently there is something else we can apply for. Do you know what that is?

I looked it up yesterday. There's a pack you can download or get from the jon centre. You fill it in and return it to the jon centre at 26 weeks (coming up fast tinkly!!) and then they let you know your entitlement from there. You can stop work up to 13 weeks before baby is due

Just realised I didn't answer the original op. I'm hoping to be able to do a few evenings a week from pretty early on but am trying to think through how to work around only being allowed 10 days work when mine is more spread out - due to school hours the kids can only be taught for a few hours in the evenings but I have kids to get through their exams so can't just quit on them!

Haha, I think we need to apply in about 4 or 5 weeks time and can stop from about 6 or 7 weeks time

I did the maths the other day - 37 weeks is only about 16 weeks away!

Thanks DC, will pick up a pack!

Sorry Bella, Tinkly and I have hijacked your thread! We're both due within a day or so of eachother!

I'm not surprised you're finding it tough tinkly! Your in a very physical job and it's been very hot this summer! I'm leaving the nesting to DH - he's doing a lot of building work on the house at the moment!

I did my first day back at 8 weeks. Another day back at 10 weeks. After that, it was the odd day here and there, by 4 months I was doing about 2 - 3 days a week and went back full time at 5.5 months.

In some ways it was great because it gave me a day a week of being back in the adult world, and it was great to ease back into work slowly rather than being completely off for 6 months and then thrown back in 5 days a week. But if money had been out of the equation I'd have taken longer, or at the very least stuck at 1 day a week for longer.

I'm due mid-December. Dec/Jan/Feb/March are my busiest months so I have really terrible timing!! Oh well. Really reassuring to hear others are in the same boat.

Like Laura, I'd take longer if money wasn't an issue but I can't pay my share of the mortgage on stat mat pay .

I was cooking breakfasts about 10 days after my section with DS, DH was doing most of the running around, cleaning etc, but I did the books and breakfasts

But not recommended!