As a self employed person expecting a baby you likely won't have access to Statutory Maternity Pay. However there is another type of payment that may be available: Maternity Allowance.
You can find up to date information on eligibility and how to apply here: https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance
You can use the maternity entitlement calculator to work out how much you could get.
Be aware that a Maternity Allowance claim may impact other benefit payments you are receiving. The Gov.uk website says the following: 'When you claim Maternity Allowance, some of your other benefit payments may change, but your total benefit payments will usually either go up or stay the same.'
Maternity allowance is paid every 2 or 4 weeks straight in to your nominated bank account.
Overview
Maternity Allowance is a payment you can get when you take time off to have a baby.
You could get it if you:
are employed but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)
are self-employed
have recently stopped working
take part in unpaid work for the business of your spouse or civil partner
You can get Maternity Allowance for up to 39 weeks.
You can claim Maternity Allowance as soon as you’ve been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start up to 11 weeks before your baby is due.
Eligibility
You can get Maternity Allowance for up to 39 weeks if in the 66 weeks before your baby’s due, you’ve been either:
employed and earning (or classed as earning) £30 a week or more in at least 13 weeks - the weeks do not have to be together
registered as self-employed for at least 26 weeks
You may still qualify if you’ve recently stopped working. It does not matter if you had different jobs or periods of unemployment.
You can use the maternity entitlement calculator to check your eligibility.
For further information please see: https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance