Had shocking news, need advice on maternity pay.

[Wiggy29]

Since my first smear eight years ago I've always had problems with mild abnormalities. I found out the other day (at what I thought was a routine colcoscopy) that if I want any more children (I have one), I need to have them now. I've been told that a lagre part of my cervix needs to be removed asap, making it very difficult to conceive and virtually impossible to carry a baby full term (to the point where it was be a serious risk to the baby).

We're totally shell shocked. I'm waiting for results which will come in about three weeks to decide if I need to have this done immediately (I'm hoping not and the doctor thought this was less likely), but he said regardless, I need to have any more children I want asap as I need to have the treatment as soon possible. He said this would mean I need to have any children we want in the next two years.

We do want more children and, assuming that the results allow, we will start trying straight away. I'm aware there is a ticking clock though. I'm sure there's lots of things on here about ways to speed along/ help conception but what I want to know is this: how long do you have to go back to work before you can get maternity pay again? We really wanted two children but we would have to start trying for another almost immediately after the first was born as after two lines they said I would have to have treatment (and that's a best case scenario). I've come off the pill and I'm waiting until I have the results but if they allow, we'll be trying straight away.

Any advice would be really gratefully received, my head is all over the place at the moment. Thanks.

It depends on whether your company offers enhanced terms with their own t and c above that you would receive from the Government. As a minimum, SMP is initially based upon 90% of your average pay during specific weeks so if you are still on ml at this point this may be relatively little in which case you'd just get the basic amount , just over £128 pw atm, or Maternity Allowance if for any reason you don't qualify for SMP any longer. See www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018741 .Your employer may offer a scheme beyond this but you may have to be back in position working for a specific time in between to qualify again or to not have to repay the discretionary amount from the first ML. hth

Thank you for the advice.I'm a teacher so I would normally get more than SMP, not who I would ask to find out how long I would need to go back to work for in between?

12 weeks! And holiday time counts!

Hope your results are stacked in your favour.

Pottering Along- thank you so much! I'm just hoping and praying they are positive, at the moment three weeks feels like a really long time.x

I'd just get on with it. The government are always changing the goalposts (your school could be an academy by next year - and able to set its own T&Cs), so rather than second guess all that stuff, just get on with your personal life. That side of things will always work out, one way or another. Good luck.

I know it's hard but you may not feel up to conceiving two children so quickly or you may have twins! It's hard not to want to plan but the main thing is that your health is sorted. Good luck with it all xxx

Yes, it's hard to know. I guess in such uncertain times I just want some form of 'plan', to try and create some sort of stability. Obviously my first obligation is to be healthy and around for the son we already have. At the same time, I'd hate to regret the child I never had.x

Just think that the stress off ttc twice in a short time span may well have it's toll on your health. Best plan may just be to stop using contraception from when you're given the all clear & go from there.

Easier to answer as you are a teacher I think.

Essentially you don't have to go back to work at all in between periods of mat leave. You 'could' fall pregnant again immediately and so take 9 months off with child 1 and then immediately take another 9 months off and still be entitled to the full mat pay deal (it all counts in terms of continuous service).

I understand that you would than have to do 2 lots of the 13 weeks needed to not repay your occupational mat pay consecutively once you eventually return.

The only real issue would be how much money you would get - the bit where they work out the (eg.) 90% of what you earn in X week. Again, I think you may be ok here as it is related to your pay point as we earn the same all year round. This is the bit that might need confirming.

Good luck with it all!

I have no idea at all sorry. I just wanted to say that I hope it all works out well for you and you get the baby/ies you would like x

Call your council/LEA and ask to speak to Human Resources for clarification
&/or
Speak to your union.
Good luck and don't forget the folic acid.
sending twin vibes your way!

Hi, I have some medical advice rather than financial.... there is something you can do to (relatively) safely have children after having radical cervical surgery. It is called a TransAbdominal Cerclage (or TAC). It was originally designed for women with little or no cervix, and it has amazing results. It is not well known in the UK as for some crazy reason the NHS do not fund them until you have lost 2 babies to late miscarriage / premature birth and neonatal death.

The TAC can be placed pre-pregnancy or during pregnancy, usually around 12 weeks (it can't be placed after about 16 weeks). A tape band is sewn around the very top of your cervix and holds it closed. Because it is positioned at the top of your cervix it does not allow funnelling from the inside out, which is often what happens with the usual type of cervical stitch (transvaginal cerclage often known as macdonald or shirodakar stitches). It is tied fairly tightly, lose enough to allow you to menstruate and conceive but tight enough to hold the weight of a pregnancy - even multiples. The main downside is that all deliveries must be by caesarean section if you have one. Also, placing the stitch is an open surgical procedure so you need a general anaesthetic and if you are pregnant at the time there is about a 2% miscarriage risk. (you can have it done laprascopically but the success rates are lower as its harder to tie it properly).

I'm a big advocate for these because I had cervical surgery in 2007 after a dodgy smear, and then in 2009 I had my first pregnancy where I started to dilate at 23 weeks. A rescue TVC stitch was placed but I ended up delivering my son at just 24 weeks and 1 day, with the stitch in place so I tore out a portion of my cervix giving birth. We were incredibly blessed that he survived, despite having a few ongoing developmental problems. I am now pregnant with number 2, and had a TAC at 12 weeks doen privately (I did not have time to fight the NHS for funding because I was already pregnant before I heard about them). I am 34 weeks at the moment and am so happy that i've been able to have a normal pregnancy, including looking after my toddler and going to work (TACs usually allow this unless you start having early contractions, with a TVC you're often on bed rest from 12 weeks until delivery). When I have my Csection in about 4 weeks, the TAC will stay in place and be ready for any future additions to our family (hmmm, need to persuade the DH first though)

If you want to find out more feel free to message me, or there is an amazing group of women on a Yahoo group called Abbyloopers, if you google it you'll find it. The group has lots of information about the TAC including a database of doctors who perform the surgery, mostly in the US but some in the UK and worldwide too. If you speak to the doctor who is doing your cervical surgery they may be able to refer you on the NHS, at least you'll have time to investigate it. If not, it would cost something like £7,500 to have it placed privately in London and you might find someone cheaper elsewhere. Over 90% of women with a TAC getting past their first trimester will carry the baby to term, and something like 99% will carry the baby to a safe gestation - there are exact statistics on the site.

Good luck and I hope you are successful in completing your family despite your smear results.

Just to update,I got my results. Changes are moderate,I was really upset at first but have had a long chat and been told that it's fine to try for a child,that even if it was left for about ten years,only 5% of changes become cancerous. So, we've been given all clear to try for a baby& will be checked every three months for further changes.I am a very happy lady tonight! Thank you all for taking time to offer advice and support.xxx

great news Wiggy, congrats and hope you succeed TTC soon! xxx

Glad you have more time to get cracking with another baby. Good luck!

Just to add I had a couple of bits of my cervix taken out in 2004 then 2005 and got pregnant ok. My cervix was so scarred (stenosis) it wouldn't actually dilate (we realised this 12hrs into labour) so I had an EMCS then 2yrs later with dd I had a planned cs. Then a year later a hysterectomy and no more colposcopies ever!

Another update, found out yesterday we're expecting. I'm thrilled!

Congratulations!!