To qualify for EI mat leave, you have to pay into it for a full year. They look at your last year's income, after expenses, and you receive roughly 55% of that.

I am currently pregnant with #4, due in late July/early August. We planned it for the summer, and luckily it worked out that way, because I am not planning on closing, just using my 2-3 weeks vacation time. My husband has 3 weeks vacation and will take a few days on either end of my time off to help, and a few days when baby is born, obviously. My mom will probably come out when baby is a week or 2 old to stay and help for 10ish days as well. After looking at just how little I would bring in a month on EI (and the fact that we wanted a specific time frame and didn't want our kids too far apart) it just wasn't worth it to take an actual mat leave. Also, once you use the EI benefits, you have to continue to pay into the program for as long as you are self-employed; you can't opt back out.

With Bill 10 coming in, I have to term 2 kids. They were all told I am expecting, and they all want to stay. They know how hard it is going to be to find new spots, and I've had my clients for 2 years and a 1 year, respectively. I was worried some may leave, but no one did. The family that I have to term (my most difficult dckids) understand, as it's the law and there's nothing I can do about it, but are disappointed. I am keeping them until the end of the school year, as one is B/A school, and they've already confirmed they are staying until the end.

With the laws changing, I don't think it would be impossible to find kids, even while pregnant. I would be open with any new clients, obviously, and I think the most important thing is to lay out a clear plan as to how you're approaching it - backup in place for doctor's appointments, etc. The more confident and prepared you are, the easier they are going to feel about it.

Good luck!