Help when to take Mat leave

[MrsLianeB]

I am a staff nurse in a busy specialist hospital and am due to finish at 35 but at 30 weeks I am now finding it really difficult to do my job.

Is 30 weeks too early to take mat leave? I have suffered with sciatica really badly for the last 12 weeks and struggle walking up and down the ward. I keep on having to reassure myself and write lists due to forgetfulness and what with this hot weather I am constantly sweating!

I am only going to get my 5 weeks hols and 39 weeks mat leave and would have rather had more time with the baby though.

I don't think it's too early, and your health is more important than reaching a certain number of weeks. I wonder if you could speak to your boss about lessening the physical activity required of you, or whether that's just not possible. Just wondering if you could negotiate 2-3 part time or less active weeks, so you don't need to keep going in the way you are now but retain a couple more weeks leave?

Really sorry to hear you've been in such pain

Xx

You can only take may leave from 32 weeks. Before that you gave to use holidays or get signed off for medical reasons. ( this does not affect sick leave if pregnacy related I think. Likr quezy said. Have you thought about talking to occupational health/ boss about your working conditions/ taking on lighter duties.

Sorry to diagree with earlier posts but this is taken from the GOV.UK site:

"Usually, the earliest leave can start is 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth.

Leave will also start:

the day after the birth if the baby is early
automatically if you?ve been off work for a pregnancy-related illness in the 4 weeks before the due date"

So 40 weeks minus 11 weeks = 29 weeks as the minimum start for Mat Leave. Or if you want to delay it and be signed off by your GP you get an extra 4 weeks before the company can enforce it (as long as baby does not arrive sooner).

Basically you can ask your employer to start you early with little or no notice or you can go to the GP and get signed off. Don't put your body under any extra stress, do what you need to do - you are entitled to the leave. HTH

Talk to your gp. I'm a teacher in a big school and was planning to take my maternity leave as late as possible but have really bad pgp and was struggling to do my job - so my doctor signed me off at 32 weeks until my maternity leave kicks in at 36. Honestly it's such a relief. If you are really struggling and in pain working is not going to do you any good and your doctor should help you.

I left at 30 and I was in a sit down managerial job. I couldn't do it anymore! Just look after yourself

I left work at 30 weeks and I was based in an office. My commute was 2 hours by car, train then London underground and I had SPD. Baby came 2 weeks early as well.