To go on maternity leave now?

[ChickenDippers123]

I’m 28+5 and can officially start maternity at 29 weeks. Was going to wait until 32, but I am exhausted all of the time as have low iron, and infusions aren’t working, and I also have gestational diabetes. My job takes a lot of concentration and I have constant brain fog from this fatigue and my quality of work isn’t good. I can afford it, but I just feel like I’m being really lazy and should try to push through? But every time I think about going back to work I’m getting so anxious because all I can do right now is sleep. Would IBU to take maternity this early or should I wait it out? I don’t plan on going back for a while.

Can you reduce your hours? Thats what ive done

If you don't feel well enough to be at work due to pregnancy related illnesses, get signed off. Don't start your maternity leave early

Is there any compromise? Eg get your doctor to sign you a fit note to say you can work x hours so you can avoid rush hour, is there anywhere you can rest while you're there (eg my office has a sick bay type room to sleep in, mainly used for hangovers!)

If you plan to go back to work after it means 12 weeks less time on maternity with your baby and that time to return comes round quicker than you think. So for example if you only plan on taken the 9 months paid then that means childcare from 6 months for the baby which is fine but comes with a new exhaustion of Working, potentially not sleeping and juggling childcare.

Only you know your body but how does your annual leave work, if jan to December you could take your 28 days from 33 so just need to get through one more month, if April to April you could use 3 weeks straight away and save maternity ‘from birth’

I’d not give up 12 weeks the other side, maybe use annual leave to shorten hours.