aibu to continue taking sick leave instead of going on maternity?

[sangfreude]

I just wondered what others thought- I was ok until 29 weeks and suddenly started having fainting episodes. They made me feel dreadful- completely wiped out and scared of them happening again. I decided to take some time off and went to the doctors who signed me off for a month. I'm two weeks in to that month, much more rested, but had another fainting episode yesterday. I was planning to go back to work on Monday for three weeks to finish up before going on mat leave at 35 weeks.

I am now feeling like I would really prefer not to go back on Monday but take the rest of the sick time until going back and finishing off.... I feel as though I should just start maternity early but finances are a factor, as well as not wanting to leave all my work up in the air - I'll get basic smp but nothing more so it will make a big difference. I should say I'm a temp, love where I work, been there a year and certainly don't want to piss them off.
Thoughts grate fully received but please be gentle, I'm a little hormonal and not really thinking straight!

Ah, ignore me. You can only be forced to take it as mat leave if you are within 4 weeks of your due date. If you are going to leave at 35 weeks anyway, this wouldn't apply to you
www.maternityaction.org.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/sicknessduringpregnancymaternityleave.pdf

YANBU - I was signed off sick between weeks 19-36. I felt no guilt at all. If you aren't for to be at work then take the sick leave you are entitled to.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and I hope you stay well for the remainder of it

I'm with flowery - will you be fully paid whilst on sick leave?

But no need to start maternity leave now.

I did this when pregnant with ds2 I as exhausted and went to the drs when they checked my blood pressure and di a urine test my blood pressure was raised and I had a urine infection I went on sick leave at 33 Weeks's two weeks before I was due to finish on annual leave prior to maternity leave I would say at your stage of pregnancy yanbu .

Check your company's maternity policy. Some companies stipulate that if you are too sick to continue at work then you must start ml (once past a certain point in pregnancy)

could you talk to your doctor about what s/he thinks is sensible in your current state of health?

But otherwise, I agree it's such a short time and could make such a big difference to how you go into the latter part of your pregnancy and birth. IME I stayed on at work much too long, getting more and more knackered, and then had an early birth and continued to be knackered (I'm only just waking up tbh ) - it seemed such a big deal at the time to get the last jobs done, keep clients happy etc, but with the benefit of hindsight I should have just gone home and snoozed!

Take care whatever you decide x

Mild - that's only if it's pregnancy related illness in the last 4 weeks before due date.

Thanks all fo your posts- much appreciated.
In response, I'm on full pay but I have to sign something saying I'm not doing any work so even doing the odd day doesn't seem possible.
Thanks all- I'm going to let them know I'll be back to finish up in a couple of weeks if I can. Thanks again

Now relax with feet up.

I had something very similar, fainting almost daily from the second trimester and also low blood sugars. I was signed off sick until the day my leave had been due to start. and my HR manager was great about this (It helped that she'd had severe sickness throughout a pregnancy!)
didn't feel any guilt as too blooming flaky to work and really didn't want to miss any time with my baby when he actually arrived. The only thing I did regret was that I never got to clear my desk and sort out filing etc which I really did want to do. As I didn't return to the job either I was sad not to officially say goodbye to everyone.

OP, take the time off sick. Trust me, your company will not thank you for coming in and making that extra effort, they will just take it for granted and forget about it.

During my first pregnancy I was signed off sick for two weeks just before I was due to start a paid holiday. I felt awful, guilty, and really scared that they would judge me for it. After my paid holiday (I just stayed at home) I went back for another two weeks before starting mat leave. I was feeling stressed and anxious during that time and would have much preferred to stay at home and rest but didn't out of a feeling of duty to the company. Haha, they didn't even congratulate me when my dc1 was born............

During my second pregnancy I had various serious complications and had no qualms being signed off for the duration of my pregnancy. I got paid stat sick pay and my manager behaved appallingly during that time........

Your duty is to yourself and your child. Stay at home and rest.

I've just been through this, OP. I was on holiday in week 26 when I became unwell. From week 27 to week 30, I was signed off sick. Then I spent two weeks working part time from home, to tie up some loose ends, and agreed with work that I would go on maternity leave from week 36, instead of (as planned) from the day before I was due. Originally I was planning to take three weeks of holiday before going on mat leave (thus essentially leaving work in week 37). I could have refused to take this as holiday and continued to work part time from home until week 37, or even continued to be signed off as I had enough sick pay to do this, but I felt like I was taking the piss a bit, so I agreed to take my holiday before going on leave as planned, essentially finishing work in week 33. It was relief to stop feeling guilty about being ill, and not to have to keep getting sick notes from my doctor... I could just concentrate on looking after myself instead of worrying about tasks at work going undone, as my cover then started early work early. I should add that my work didn't suggest this, it was my idea. They were very good about my absence and I wanted to work with them to get an outcome that felt fair. It won't affect the amount of leave I take, I'll just have to go back a little earlier than planned. I actually started in the role the week I found out I was pregnant (though had been with the company for 4 years), and I haven't been the best employee as a result - I had terrible morning sickness up to week 22, and they were very accommodating by letting me work from home when I felt too ill to drive in etc.

I actually ended up hospitalised for a different pregnancy-related illness this week, so I was glad I didn't have to faff about having to tell work and getting documentation.

Your GP has signed you off - therefore you are not well enough to be at work. You are protected (as far as I know) through the Equality Act.

You need to look after yourselves now and not worry about what's going on at work.

If your employer is going to treat you well when you return from mat leave, they will be fine about current sick leave, so relax and look after yourself.

If your employer is going to be crap just because you're going on mat leave, making extra efforts now won't help so you might as well screw them over and relax and look after yourself.

Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks so much for all your kind words and good advice

carminerose it sounds like you 've really been through the mill. Hope the remainder of your pregnancy is less stressful

Thanks, sangfreude! I'm hoping labour is a case of two pushes and a cough, to make up for it. Hope your fainting stops, and that your work are nice and understanding, whatever you decide to do.