So basically, I'm pregnant! I've been running my legal home based business since August last year, so still very much in its infancy. I'm only 6 weeks along but am suffering with awful tiredness and nausea. I'm struggling to keep up with inquiries and basically everything except the actual baking at the moment. I'm planning on finishing up a month before my due date and probably take a break for two to three months.

Now I'm sure things are going to get better once the sickness and nausea gets lost (fingers crossed they do!!) but what I'm really asking is.. What would you do? I'm struggling to keep up with everything except baking. Would you tempt fate and tell all to your customers, maybe as by way of explanation? Is it really any of their business? Should I even tell them at all? Just wait it out till things get better? Any success stories of pregnancy and small home based bakers would be greatly appreciated! x

AI would wait, and just say you haven't been feeling well, or have been having vertigo or something that is non virusy And non contagious! 6 weeks is very early to mention anything, and those people who had pregnancies where they weren't miserable the whole time will think you are a big whiner, and there will be plenty of snickering and eye rolling.

AWhen my wife was pregnant we temporarily shut down our business (she did the baking and decorating, I handled everything else on the side along with my full-time job) at around the 6 month mark by disabling the online contact form, putting a voice mail message on our business phone, and posting a note on the web site. We started back up a few months after our daughter was born with our employee handling most of the work, and we ended up selling her the business.

I don't regret the decision at all, since we are both able to focus on raising our daughter now. Once she starts school we may start a new business.

If you don't have another employee to rely on I recommend finding another reputable local bakery that can take over your orders as a contingency plan. I don't think you necessarily have to tell your existing customers unless they are booked for a date during the last month or two of your pregnancy, but you should definitely post on your web site which dates you will be unavailable.

If things are already overwhelming for you, you may want to stop taking new orders ASAP.

AOh, and I had my twins 9 weeks early, but went into labor 10 1/2 weeks early, so it would be a great idea to get someone who can take over your orders, if need be.

Come to think of it, I was hospitalized 3 times for dehydration and softening of the cervix because I stayed sick my entire pregnancy.

Thanks for your replies..much appreciated! Didn't think of that, annabakescakes, don't want to come across as a moany pants! I do have someone I can recommend customers to for when I am not able to take on orders, good tip...thank you. At the moment I'm not taking on any new orders for the next month. Just going to complete the ones I have. I'm hoping things will subside, will rethink things if they do not, will update availability info also, thank you for your great replies! x