Will I get into trouble at work for taking time off with morning sickness?

[Honeybee22]

Hey, I'm a bit new to this! I'm ten weeks pregnant with my first baby and have had awful morning sickness since I was about 6 weeks, I work for the NHS in the laboratory and when I was at work I was extremely ill, I think it was a mixture of the smells in the labs and constantly being on my feet, I managed a fortnight of being at work feeling horrific and went off sick, I self certified for 7 days and then got a doctors note for fortnight, the doctor has just signed me off for another fortnight as I dont feel any better, I feel queasy all the time, I am getting migranes, feel dizzy and have fainted a few times. I've also just started my final year of my degree, so I'm very stressed, however not being at work is certainly helping. How long will the doctor continue to sign me off for whilst i'm feeling sick/stressed and not sleeping? Work have been quite funny with me when I have rang to say Ive been signed off again, will I get into any trouble for taking sick leave whilst pregnant? I'm very worried because I really need my job, but just dont feel ready to go back yet, I have so much on my plate. Has anybody else been signed off for long periods or know anything about it??

[moaningminniewhingesagain]

You cannot be disciplined for pregnancy related sickness, but normal sick pay stuff will apply. Make sure that it is documented as pregancy related absence.

They probably won't be over the moon but they will have to lump it frankly

Loads of women working for NHS get pregnant/ go on mat leave and they will deal with it fine, and the maternity pay is quite good. Congratulations on the pregnancy and I hope your symptoms settle soon.

[japhrimel]

As long as you've already told your manager that you are pregnant, you can't have pregnancy related sickness counted towards any sick leave totals or count against you in any way.

[angels1]

the doc will keep signing you off honeybee so long as you can't manage to work. I teach cooking (not so great with the food smells etc!) and was signed off at 4 weeks. Only started to go back this week (now 19 weeks) although did have summer hols in the middle. My GP was perfectly happy to continue signing me off indefinately until I felt up to it but I went to see her to ask her this week for a 'fit note' which says I can work but only a reduced timetable, so I'm back to work but very reduced hours (an hour or so a day) initially and see how I cope. It's all I can manage at the minute - I haven't managed a trip out of the house for longer than 2 hours in months but at least I can now get out of the house (after 3 months of barely being able to walk to the front door). Work are actually so far being exceptionally good about me (phew!) being off so much. I did ask my GP when she changed my sick note toa fit note what would happen if I struggled to cope back at work and she just said she'll sign me off again, so dont worry, just do what you can to get through this. I did find that eating little and often, doing as little as possible, sleeping when I could and avoiding any stress I could manage did really help me.