Mum-to-be Sarah Hughes – owner of Buxton-based Sarah Hughes Decor – shares some keen insights into the challenges of managing the physical demands of painting and decorating with the upkeep of a business while being pregnant.

Being a self-employed decorator comes with a certain freedom. When you’re both pregnant and running a busy decorating business, that freedom quickly becomes a juggling act.

This has been one of the most rewarding and challenging chapters I’ve ever faced, and I wanted to share a bit of what it’s really been like working through pregnancy in the trade.

Surprise at the doorstep

One thing I’ve had to get used to is the surprise when I turn up to give a quote and I’m visibly pregnant. I get the same look almost every time—raised eyebrows, followed by a polite smile, then the questions: “Are you still working?” or “Will you be doing the decorating job yourself?”

They’re not daft queries. For years, I’ve built my decorating business by being hands-on. I’ve been the one up the ladder, sanding, cutting in, loading the van.

But the reality now is different. I’m stepping back from the physical side and focusing on quoting, overseeing jobs, managing the team and running the business.

I explain to customers that I’ve got a trusted team of decorators who’ll be doing the work, and that I’m still very much involved in making sure everything runs smoothly.

Some people take it on board straight away. Others don’t. A few have decided not to go ahead with us, which has been tough. It feels unfair, especially when I know the standard won’t drop just because I’m not holding the brush.

Changing pace

I’m used to long physical days, but during pregnancy I’ve had to really slow down. I can’t manage back-to-back jobs like I used to. Just getting through a few site visits, paperwork and a bit of admin is tiring, and I’ve had to listen to my body whether I like it or not.

This has meant relying more and more on my team. They’ve been brilliant, but it’s still a mental shift—trusting others to do work I’d usually have done myself.

Jobs sometimes take a little longer as I step back, but I’d rather they take a day more and be done properly than risk burnout or cutting corners.

Preparing for maternity leave (kind of)

I can’t take traditional maternity leave. There’s no safety net, and the business still needs to operate. I have customers waiting and subcontractors to pay.

I’ve brought in a virtual assistant to help with admin—scheduling jobs, handling customer enquiries, chasing quotes – which has helped me stay on top of things as life gets more hectic.

The pressure of preparing for time off while still trying to grow the business has pushed me to bring in more subcontractors.

It’s a big step and not one I expected to take so quickly, but with everything changing at once, I’ve had to get comfortable with making bold decisions and adapting.

Behind the Scenes

It’s not all clean paint lines and baby prep.

There’s been moments of real anxiety—worrying about income, wondering if I’m doing the right thing, trying to keep my head above water while everything shifts around me.

I reached out to Chanelle (@theladypaintdecor), who had her baby recently while running her own decorating business, and she was open about how tough it was.

She also reminded me that support is out there if you know where to look. Like many of us, she had to dig around to find out what she was entitled to.

That’s the problem—self-employed mums are often left to figure it out alone.

Chanelle said clients were shocked to see her working so far along, and while some were hesitant, others waited for her to return. She squeezed in 10 paid KIT (Keeping In Touch) days during leave to keep things going and managed to have five months off supported by government funded Maternity Allowance before returning to work.

It’s far from a perfect system, but knowing someone else has done it makes it feel that bit more manageable.

Looking Ahead

I don’t know exactly how things will go once the baby arrives. I’m hoping to take a short break but keep one hand on the wheel.

I’ve got people I trust in place, the admin support to stay organised, and a team who know the standard I expect.

This time has made me step into a new role—less decorator, more business owner. It’s forced me to grow, to plan smarter, and to accept that I can’t do everything myself. And that’s okay.

Final Thoughts

Working while pregnant in the trades isn’t glamorous. It’s tiring, unpredictable and sometimes thankless. But it’s also made me more determined than ever to build something that lasts beyond just me.

If you’re another tradeswoman going through something similar—whether you’re pregnant, planning for maternity, or just trying to make it all work—know that it’s okay to slow down, ask for help and still be proud of what you’re building.

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