When I had my first baby, I thought taking maternity leave meant stepping away from my business entirely — and that scared me.
All the ladies in my life: my cousins, my friends, my own mom…
All took “maternity leave” from their job.
They stopped everything they were doing, got locked out from office servers, and used a combination of PTO, sick time, and unpaid parental leave time.
When I had my second, I realized something different: maternity leave for when you own your own business just isn’t the same.
If you’re a self-employed mom-to-be, you’re not just preparing to have a baby. You’re preparing your business to stand on its own two feet — for a few weeks, or maybe for the first time ever. And that’s powerful (a little scary) work.
After helping hundreds of entrepreneurs plan successful leaves and taking my own, here are the three must-haves I’ve learned make all the difference if you’re planning time off to bond with your baby.
1. Transparency — and a Central Source of Truth
Transparency isn’t just about honesty with your team or clients. It’s about clarity.
When you’re the hub of every decision, task, or login, the business depends on your brain. And when your brain (and body) are growing a baby, that’s not a sustainable system.
Before your leave, create a centralized home for your business — one place where your team or support person can find:
- Passwords and logins
- SOPs (standard operating procedures)
- Links to client dashboards or assets
- Contact information for key partners or vendors
When everything has a “home,” the question “Where is X?” no longer lands on your phone while you’re on the way to your anatomy scan. Your team can move forward confidently — and you can rest knowing your business doesn’t crumble without you.
This isn’t just organization; it’s peace of mind.
2. Project and Task Management That Actually Works
You don’t need to micromanage from your hospital bed — but you do need a system that keeps your team in rhythm while you’re gone.
A strong project management setup means:
- Every task is assigned, with clear ownership
- Deadlines are realistic and visible
- Weekly priorities are clear (and no new ones are added mid-leave)
- The team knows how to communicate progress and blockers
If you already use a tool like Asana, ClickUp, or Trello — amazing. But remember: tools don’t manage projects. People do. Use your final pre-leave weeks to walk your team through ownership, communication cadence, and what to do when something changes.
Here’s the mindset shift:
Instead of asking, “What do I need to get done before I go?”
Ask, “What does the business need to keep moving while I’m gone?”
3. Clear, Simple Data (So You Don’t Have to Guess)
If you’ve ever said, “I’ll just check in to make sure things are okay,” and ended up down a Slack rabbit hole at 11pm– this one’s for you.
Set up a handful of measurable indicators that show you — at a glance — how things are running while you’re out. I call these measurables (yes, I know it’s not a “real” word).
Start with just a few:
- Weekly revenue or cash collected
- Client satisfaction or delivery completion rate
- Response times or ticket volume
- Lead flow (new inquiries or opt-ins)
Make these visible in one simple dashboard or Slack summary each week. Your team lead or executive assistant can send a 3-line update:
“Here’s what’s green, here’s what’s yellow, here’s what we’re fixing.”
No spreadsheets, no panic. Just enough data to stay informed without getting sucked back in.
Here’s What I Know
You don’t have to choose between being a present mom and being a successful founder.
You just need systems that let you step away — and trust that your business will hold.
When you set up these three essentials — clarity, structure, and measurables — you give yourself the freedom to experience the season of motherhood you’ve been working for.
Because your business can thrive while you rest.
And that’s the real goal.
Warmly,
Aly
