Taking maternity leave early?

[NurseMama]

Has anyone had to take maternity leave early, either by necessity or choice? I've been off work with SPD for two weeks (am 23 weeks now) and don't really see my manager being able to redeploy me to an area in the hospital with light duties anytime soon.

My commute to work is 45 mins door to door and involves quite a bit of walking. I'm limping and almost in tears from the pain by the time I arrive at work, let alone at the end of the 12.5 hour shifts ahead. I've been having physiotheraphy and hydrotherapy weekly, and while it hasn't significantly helped, it does seem to be preventing the SPD from getting worse.

I was really hoping to make it to 34 weeks at least, but I think I'm out of luck. What are your experiences with having to take lots of time off sick and then go on mat leave early? Did it negatively affect your standing at work?

[Anditstartsagain]

I did for spd. I'm sure some colleagues gossiped but no one ever said anything and the managers were good. They could clearly see I couldn't manage and would rather have me off and arrange cover than have me in and out leaving them short staffed.

[TinyPawz]

I was signed off work sick at 29 weeks for bed rest and the hospitalised from 32weeks. I returned to my own job after maternity leave without any issues.

[ButtMuncher]

I took maternity leave at 31 weeks. We were commuting an hour there and an hour back and I was in hospital for reduced movement every other day. It was last summer which was stifling hot and despite asking repeatedly for fans etc nothing was ever done and our office was like a sauna.

Best decision I ever made.

[Mumoftwoyoungkids]

The thing about maternity leave is that a year is a long time. By the time you get back people will have left, there will have been 26 other dramas and everyone will have forgotten anyway.

[NurseMama]

So my manager just said that it's not possible for me to take maternity leave before 36 weeks. Is there a new policy or something? I thought it was 29 weeks by choice and 26 weeks if you're sick after 24 weeks.

[Lemondrop99]

That doesn't sound right. You can trigger your maternity leave up to 11 weeks before the baby is born.

They can only force you to start your maternity leave from 36 weeks, if you're off with pregnancy related illness. But you can choose to take it earlier.

Maybe you should get signed off sick until 36 weeks?

[AndWhat]

If you're NHS you can be signed off sick up to 36 weeks then your may leave kicks in.

[AndWhat]

Mat leave even!

[Aliveinwanderland]

I would get signed off sick rather than take your mat pay early.

[Fleurchamp]

I thought you could leave voluntarily at 29 weeks but your employer could make you go at 36 weeks if you have been off sick?

Would your gp sign you off sick? Do you have any annual leave to take?

I just think, the sooner you start mat leave, the sooner you will need to go back - I don't know what your plans are but leaving now would mean going back by the time your baby is 8 months at the most.

[Applesandpears23]

Get signed off sick.

[NurseMama]

Thanks for all of your replies. I'd definitely rather be signed off sick until 36 weeks! My GP seems pretty amenable so fingers crossed. My plan is to return to work part time after mat leave and not do nights anymore, which my manager has approved (yay!).