Tania used to be self-employed, but is now enjoying life as a stay at home mom to two great children. Her blog Trying To Conceive covers topics like how to get pregnant, pregnancy, and infertility. If you are hoping for a baby, the free free Ovulation Calendar on her site will help you determine when you are most fertile.

Being pregnant and self-employed can pose some unique challenges. Sometimes, you feel like you are looking after two babies  – your business and the little one growing inside. I was a freelance journalist, and self-employed, while I was trying to get pregnant and throughout my first pregnancy. Writing interesting articles was tough during those times of first-trimester fatigue, and trying to get my clients to pay up while walking around with a huge belly was no fun either. How do you survive being pregnant and self-employed?

Time to yourself

For busy self-employed women, it can sometimes be hard to remember what “time to yourself” means! Going to prenatal classes, setting some time aside for meditation, or simply reading a good book at home can be extremely valuable though. You can, of course, get through your pregnancy without feeling relaxed. But it will be no fun. You deserve doing something you enjoy – just for you – at least twice a week.

Get in some help

Many self-employed women are essentially a courageous one-man band. You might not be able to delegate any aspects of your work to others, but you can probably hire someone to cook for you or clean your house. These are tasks that need doing but can add a lot of stress when you are already juggling too much work. You can also ask your partner to spring in and take care of a lot of the house work, if he is not already contributing his fair share.

Plan ahead

What will you do when your baby arrives? The sooner you devise a definite plan, the less stressful your pregnancy will be. In many countries, it is possible to obtain paid maternity leave through the government, or other kinds of monetary support. You may be able to hire a replacement a few weeks before you give birth, or you may not. Whatever your situation, knowing in advance will give you the chance to plan. Knowing your business is safe and sound when you go into labor is a big benefit!