Maternity leave question

[Ollibobs]

I have severe PGP/SPD and am 31 weeks pregnant.
I was planning on starting mat leave at 37.5 weeks, but today, I was told by the midwife that I should stop working at 34 weeks as she felt I wouldn't make it until 37.5 weeks due to the severity of the pain and problems walking etc.
I don't want to start mat leave early as I want as much time off with the baby rather than before. And financially, I would prefer to work longer so I have more pay before I go off.
But, can my employer force me to take mat leave at 34 weeks if I have been advised to stop working, or will I need to get signed off until 36 weeks when mat leave kicks in?

I'm sure if you are signed off sick any time in the final 11 weeks then your employer will force start your maternity leave . Do you not have any annual leave that you could use before ?

You can start your Statutory Maternity Leave any time from 11 weeks before the beginning of the week when your baby's due.
If you are off work because of your pregnancy within four weeks of the expected birth date, your employer can make you start your Statutory Maternity Leave then.

Just found online !

Check your company maternity policy, mine stated they could force mat leave if sickness was preg related and up to 4 weeks before due date. i work for a huge company tho, smaller companies often say 12 weeks

You can take pregnancy related sick leave until 36 weeks after that your mat leave will automatically start . Hth

They can only enforce it from 36 weeks , I've just been off since 27 and started mat leave this week at 36

Pregnancy related sick leave that leads into your mat leave is automatically counted as part of it, so I don't think you can avoid it.

It must depend on your contract then, I had statutory only and my mat leave was force started when I went off at 26 weeks.

Mat leave can be automatically started if you are signed off with maternity related sickness from 36 wks and not before.

What is your sickness policy though? Employers aren't obliged to pay above SSP for sick leave, so you could be worse off getting signed off rather than starting your mat leave earlier.

National rule AFAIK here

I work for the NHS, and have been off work with SPD since week 28, have checked with HR and they said thet they can only force mat leave from week36 not before, if your sick your sick, pregnancy related or not.

If you have annual leave that you were planning to take as a 'pre mat leave' arrangement, they can't make you lose your leave because you have accrued it, just like pay. What they can do though is make you start your mat leave once you reach 36 wks but then you get your annual leave at the end before you return to work. Its a silly system but its' also what would happen if for example, you delivered early and you were on annual leave before your mat leave.

Thank you everyone! Your replies are very much appreciated!
I have an appointment with the doctor next week for a note. Feels really odd changing plans at the last minute like this, but needs must I guess.
Thanks again!