WORKING MOMS

What maternity leave? Freelance photographer mothers, who often return to jobs weeks after giving birth, share their reality

- ALEXANDRA DONALDSON

Pregnancy can open up a world of unknowns, but expecting parents in salaried positions can depend on some things: Up to 18 months of maternity leave! Time off for dads! The right to come back to the same role at the same salary. And financial benefits, though it's not a lot, unless your company tops it up.

That means that when it comes to maternity leave in Canada, the conversation is largely positive. But in practice, it's more complicated especially for freelancers, many of whom don't qualify for or receive any benefits at all.

So, what does mat leave look like when you're a freelancer? It just doesn't happen. "I was already working a month after I had my son," said freelance photographer Jorian Charlton, mom of Soleil, 5, and Kade, 2. "My husband and I are both self-employed and neither one of us has benefits - I felt like I couldn't take any time."

After speaking to four Toronto freelance photographers who are in their early motherhood era, it's clear that Canada's mat-leave policy doesn't offer a lot of support for this group. All of them took jobs in the first month or so after giving birth, citing financial concerns and the competitive nature of their work.

There is an EI program available for parental leave when freelancing or self-employed, but the program doesn't make sense for everyone, and one photographer's accountant even advised her against it. You need to register well before you become pregnant, so many don't even get the opportunity to consider it.

That means the happy anticipation of parenthood is often coupled with major concerns about job security and money. "I was irrationally terrified I would never work again," said photographer Jenna Marie Wakani, who has two children, Lou, 7, and Oscar, 4. "I took on even more work than usual in a panic."