Pregnancy & self employment??

[princess barbie]

Hi Geeks!

Was wondering if any of you can help me?

Me & hubby are thinking of trying for a secong child now, the problem is I'm a bit scared!!:o I've built up a good client base now & i keep thinking i will lose that if i have a baby!!

What did you do, how much time after did you take off & are you entitled to maternity pay while been self employed??

Thanks xx

 

[bombini]

Have you been paying your National Insurance or are you exempt ? If you have been paying then you will be entitled to about £120 per week (approx)

It all depends how long you are going to work up until, how long you are having off and when you are coming back. As you already have one child I guess you will know what you are capable of.

I made a plan for my pregnancy and it kind of worked out but there were a lot of problems along the way ! I developed really bad SPD towards the end which i think was down to me working full time and putting way to much pressure on my back. My baby didn't start sleeping through until 10 1/2 months and was up 3/4 times per night until then so you can imagine how hard it was for me.

I would also advise not to put yourself out to much for clients that demand a lot from you. The ones that put pressure on me to return to work early were the ones that didn't come back !!

In all honesty I would rather just get a part time job in a spa now and then I haven't got to worry about fitting clients in and having to constantly repeat I can't do that day/time at least its the receptionist that has to sort all that out !

Good Luck with your pregnancy x

 

[princess barbie]

Thank you for your reply!

I had a nightmare pregnancy with my first, towards the end I was in & out of hospital with high blood pressure so I know I will have to slow down alot in the last weeks!!!

I think I will have to take every day as it comes!!

 

[jotommo]

i'm having the same thing now, i am due in jan, and am worried about my clients (or was)
i am absolutly booked up to my eye balls at the min which is great but after 2 years of trying for this baby i am just not willing to break my back for anyone, simple as that.
i am a hairdresser/semi lash tech and i just cant possibly carry the massage table round after say 6 months, so i am setting up at home, i will probably do hairdressing mobile right up til i finish as i did with my first preg, all being well.
i have decided that unfortunatly i will have to say goodbye to the pain in the bum's that non stop make my life hell (the cancellers, being late, general moaners)
as for sat maternity pay you get approx £125 per week for up to 39 week, which is great but not realistic as far as keeping your customers goes, they just won't wait round that long.

i am thinking of getting a child minder when the baby arrives and working 3-4 days a week, on my terms as i have a little boy as well at school
best of luck with everything xx

 

[Roxi]

Hi I am currently 21 weeks and am hoping to work until 38 weeks, but part time from 36.I will be having 3 months off then going back 3 days, then full time at 6 months. However, I am extremely lucky that my husband is a stay at home dad so childcare isn't an issue. I believe maternity allowance is £123 a week.

 

[Zo Zo]

I believe clients will come back when you return to work. I have had new clients come to me and tell me their usual therapist is on maternity leave and I totally expect them to be loyal to that therapist and return to her when she returns to work.

I think it's a good idea to make sure your clients know when you return to work. They will want to see you and catch up on everything.

With regard to maternity pay, yes, I think it is £123 pw however, that is only good if you are planning on taking all those weeks off. You can work, I believe, 10 days during your maternity leave, normally one day a week for ten weeks before returning to work. (Keeping in touch days.) But for some it might be better to go back to work sooner and earn proper money rather than £123 pw.