MATB1 Form - when do I get it?

[daisyhun]

Hi

I was just wondering if anyone knows when I will get my MATB1 form to hand to my employer? I thought I would get it at my 20 week scan but I didn't and the hospital knew nothing about it... (they didn't even know what a MATB1 was).

I am now 22 weeks and not due to see the midwife again until I am 25 weeks but I need to hand it to my employer before I am 25 weeks (ie by 15th week before expected week of confinement).

Very annoyingly whenever I have tried to call my midwife's mobile about this (or about any other worries I have had during my pregnancy) the mobile is switched off with no option to leave a message. I am really frustrated about this - when I tried to call my doctor about it they said ring the delivery unit at the hospital and they directed me back to the midwife. ARRGH! So much for her saying "just call me if you have any worries or questions at all...."

Any info would be much appreciated!

Daisy

I had to remind my MW. Speak to your employer and explain you are having trouble ocntact MW and would they mind if the form was a little late?
Mine was about a week late I think.

This sounds very similar to my experience. My MW was absolutely useless. I ended up going to my GP and he did the form for me.

Try just making an appointment with your GP and ask then and there - don't mention it to the receptionist otherwise they will probably just fob you off and tell you to go elsewhere!

I'm 37 wks and handed my form in last week (midwife kept 'forgetting' to do it)- I'm sure you can just tell work that unfortunately you midwife can't fit you in until 'x' date and can they wait. I'm pretty sure the law is just that you have to inform your employer of your intent to take maternity leave and give provisional dates in writing before the 15th week before baby is due - this can be done in a letter/email. If your employers are quibbling about 'proof' I'd offer them a photocopy of your 12/20 week scan report until you can give them your MATB1 but since you can only have the MATB1 from as early as 24 wks theremust be be a tiny bitof give in the system. Here's a link to the govenment infor on your rights/obligations link

I got mine from my mw at around 24 weeks. I finished work at 28 ish weeks so couldn't afford to not have it asap..!!

Thanks all - will go to GP I think and ask them about it. I can't believe how hard it is to contact the midwife!!

My MW forgot and so I asked my GP, whose form said that it couldn't be given until 26 weeks....good luck!

My midwife was the same, rubbish about it so I went to my GP and he wrote it there and then

you can get them from 20 weeks (it even says that on the MATB1 form). I had to remind my midwife and got it slightly late. I called and she made one out for me and I had to go down to the clinic to collect it. Not much use if you cant get hold of the midwife though!! (Can you not just turn up at one of the midwife clinic sessions and ask them to do it for you there and then - it would only take a couple of minutes)

I was told 20 weeks, but the GP had such old forms that they wouldn't hand out until 26 weeks (I didn't believe it until I read the form myself!)