Starting maternity leave earlier than planned

[twolittleboysonetiredmum]

Hi
I am due to work up to 39+3 with this pregnancy but am 37 + 1 and really struggling. I'd like to start my maternity leave next week ideally but obviously can't give the necessary notice to my employer. Can I just take myself off sick to trigger maternity leave? (it triggers at 36 weeks if pregnancy related doesn't it?) Or do I need to get a GP to do it?
Thanks

As long as the sickness is pregnancy relate it kicks in mat leave from 36 weeks. You shouldn't need a drs note, but your employer can ask for one.

Depending on how understanding your employer is you could say your not coping so will be going off ext week (so they have a bit of notices?)

what I've read is if you get a sick note and it starts 4 weeks before your date to go on mat leave your pay kicks in from the first date of your note. That's what I read online somewhere

Yes just ring in sick and they'll automatically put you on maternity

Kicking in at 36 weeks is right, but some employers won't trigger it - they'll just treat it as sick. I am going to dr to get note.