Moan ahoy.... what would you do?

[F1rstT1meMummy]

Ok ? what would you ladies do.
I work as a researcher, normally am very busy but quite queit at the moment. Prepare for a moan...

I feel absolutely shattered, I now have really sore hips so MW is referring me to a physio. Throughout my pregnancy I have had reoccurring UTIs. I am 28 weeks and on my fourth, if not fifth (I think) course of anti-biotics so have had the odd day here and there off. Plus a bleed at 8 weeks and 19 weeks, which meant I had a day off here and there too. As well as gastroenturisuts which meant I had another two days off.... can you see a pattern of time off emerging!!

I now have yet another UTI, but feel really drained. My MW suggested I took a few weeks off sick but said if you take it after 30 weeks, you will be forced to start Maternity leave then. I thought it was four weeks before your due date. We cannot afford for me to start mat leave early as work offer no more than SMP.

So, I have some work to do for my dissertation on Thursday (which I have already had to re-arrange) and I have Friday as leave.
Do I go to the Dr and get signed off for a week on Friday ? will this affect my maternity leave? I am also worried about the amount of pregnancy related sickness I have had (we have to do time sheets so I can tell what I have had!).

I am so tired, but I am just sat here in work achieving absolutely nothing!

What can you girls suggest?!

Are you a self employed researcher? If not, I would suggest that you be honest with your employer, and explain that you don't want to start your leave this early (say your keen to get so much work done etc ... i.e. make it a positive for them if you don't go on leave yet). I know my firm policy is if you're sick 4 weeks before due date.

Sorry, I can't help with the sick leave info (don't live in the UK), but just wanted to say I feel for you. It sounds like you have really been through the mill lately. How sympathetic is your boss? Is there any way you could work from home? Maybe this would make things a bit less stressful. Re: the sore hips, I spend a lot of time in front of my computer and I was getting a dreadful pain in my left hip. Then I realised the chair was the problem. I changed to another one and the hip pain has completely gone.

Is there any way you could just take the rest of the afternoon off today? Just go home, put your feet up and have a cup of tea?

Take care xx

The law in the UK is an employer cannot force you to start your maternity leave for sickness-related reasons before 36 weeks. Any time taken off after that point due to pregnancy-related sickness issues can trigger maternity leave, but it is up to the employer's discretion (I believe!)

They can't fire you/make you redundant based on the amount of sick leave you've taken due to pregnancy, but they can still take it into account when it comes to other things unfortunately, including pay if relevant.

Sorry to hear you're feeling so rough. I worked until nearly 37 weeks in my first pregnancy and I still have no idea how I did it - I was a zombie for the last few months for sure and that was without the awful SPD! Got nothing done too!

wow sparklies 37 weeks - that is my plan but seriously reconsidering it!
Ringeir, thanks for your advice, I will have a swap around of chairs in the office and see if that helps.
I think I will see about getting signed off back end of next week or next week, I am just worried I have set up a meeting next week and I wont be there - I feel mega guilty!
Thanks for your help.

Can you push for home-working? Being a researcher is usually very compatible with this...

Sparklies is absolutely right, it's 36 weeks, must be a pregnancy related issue and is at employer's discretion.