Pregnancy related illness and maternity leave

[LilBB]

Im 20 weeks and really struggling. I have hyperemesis (mostly under control with tablets), SPD (in constant pain and worse at work due to commute and uncomfortable seat). I've also had several UTIs.

I have considered going to the GP and getting signed off. Possibly until maternity leave at 36 weeks. I thought if you were off sick your mat leave automatically started at 36 weeks. However looking at the company maternity policy it says if you are absent with pregnancy related illness after the beginning of the 4th week before EDD then you will be classed as on maternity leave from the day after the 1st day of illness. Am I reading this wrong or are they saying maternity leave would start as soon as I had been signed off?

Anyone any advice or experience of illness and maternity leave?

I was asking a similar question yesterday and from what I can gather, you can't be forced to start ML before 36 weeks.

HTH

Sounds like the policy is badly worded, and is assuming the illness hasn't started until after 36 weeks.

Agree with MrsH.

As an aside, make sure when you fill in your sickness forms for work that it's clear your illness is pg-related, so it can't count against you for redundancy purposes.

If your EDD is 40 weeks then 4 weeks before is 36 weeks.

Direct gov website says illness after 36 wks due to pregnancy can mean the company starts your may leave.

Sounds rubbish, poor you.
Could you work from home part / all of the time? That's what I did with my SPD.

I asked about working from home but told if I'm too ill to work then it doesn't matter if I'm home or at work. I think it may have something to do with the cost of setting up home working. They pay a certain amount for the dongles that let us log on to the network and the budget holder for my department is very very tight.