Starting a Business during pregnancy

[twitch]

I have had a dream of opening a cafe of my own for about 5 years, I have some really great, original ideas and the experience and business sense to make it work. Finally we are in a financial position to make it happen. The only problem, which isn't really a problem as it hasn't happened, is what if I fall pg during the initial stage of setting it up when all the really hard work and long hours needs to be done? Cafe's are hard work, and setting one up is going to take up so much time and energy. I just know that as soon as I focus all my attention on the cafe, we'll get pg. DH says he'll help but he works full time as well. I just don't want to risk anything going wrong with either the baby or the business. I suppose my question is can I have both? Has anyone else had a really stressful job or business and managed to balance everything out? I am really worried about everything happening at the same time and losing the baby through stress or our house if I have to quit the business. I just don't know if I should put the business on hold and wait until we've got our babies, or go ahead with the business now. Our lives have been on hold for a year already waiting to fall pg.

[Princess_Alisa]

Hi Cantwait,

My husband and I have been running our own business for 5 years. When I was pregnant I worked in the office up until 2 weeks before delivery, and since then I have been working from home.

In the first months after DD was born, I could not work at all, I was too tired and had my hands more than full with getting used to be a mum. From 2 - 5 months it was pretty good, because she slept a lot during the day and very regulary, so I could get work done. And now she is 8 months old and I am really struggeling because the day sleeps are getting so much shorter and she needs so much more attention. So I work in the evening as well, once she has started her night sleep. I am doing our accounts and administration, so it does not have to be done at a particular time in the day, which is good. I could not commit to anything else like that.

Some people I know give their babies to child care, because they run their own business and need (and want) to work. This is not an option for me, because for me the most important thing is my DD and that she is with me. I would rather pay a bookkeeper to make my work than paying her less attention or giving her into daycare.

So I guess it is just a matter of how you plan things. If you plan to open a caffee and work most of the time yourself in it, it will be hard on you and on your baby. But if you plan having people work for you and you are there to pull the strings here and there I don't see a problem why it should not work out. Good planning and sticking to a routine will help you a lot!!

YOU CAN IF YOU THINK YOU CAN :thumbsup: !

All the best and good luck!

[twitch]

Thanks Princess Alisa, I know I'll need to really stick to a plan if I do get pg when I'm starting up this cafe. Once it's up and running I would really prefer to only work a few days a week, but this is at least 6 months away, and I am so worried about the hard work, long hours, being on my feet all day and what effect it will have on my baby. My mum will be working with me so hopefully I can rely on her and DH to help if I do get to that point. Thanks heaps for your response too. I've got some big decisions to make I think!