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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Have you been signed off work for Pregnancy related reasons and if so, what were the reasons?

25 replies

MummySara · 08/05/2017 13:15

Hi All,

I am 22weeks pregnant with Fraternal Twins, and I am struggling now. I am not the type of person that rings or runs to the Drs with all my pains, I just grin and bare it until it goes away, but nothing is going away and just getting worse.
I am finding walking really painful. I can not sleep on my left hand side as it gets really sore really quickly. I Struggle to flip when sleeping. I had pubic pain at 9weeks but the midwife dismissed it, as I was told I was too early to be referred for physio. I have now been referred but I have been waiting 7weeks for an appointment. I am thinking of getting signed off, but we are short staffed and I feel bad and have been avoiding it. I work full time and work 1hour and 20mins door to door. Most of that time I am in a cramped train with little or no fresh air! which sets off my dizzy spells.

Can you please share your reasons for being signed off, when and how long for?

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Writerwannabe83 · 08/05/2017 13:22

When pregnant with DS I was signed off at 20 weeks because I was having palpitations, erratic heart rhythms and had to be started on beta blockers. I was signed off for the remainder of my pregnancy.

I'm currently pregnant with DC2 and was signed off between 9-13 weeks pregnant due to horrendous sickness.

I returned at 14 weeks and was on reduced hours and duties due to having similar problems with my heart rates and breathlessness that I had with DS1. I'm a nurse and I was taken off all clinical duties, had my hours reduced to 22.5 and was told I would have to stay like this until I went on maternity.

I have worsening anaemia and due to me really struggling my Cardiologist signed me off again last week (when I was just over 23 weeks pregnant) for three weeks whilst we try and address my anaemia.

I felt exhausted just reading your post OP and in your position I would definitely be asking for a sick note because it sounds like you need a break!

OnNaturesCourse · 08/05/2017 13:25

Just been signed off with HG and a UTI. 10+6 and off for a week.

Absolutely cacking my pants about work. My sickness is through the roof.

OnNaturesCourse · 08/05/2017 13:25

Writer... Does your sickness effect your mat pay?

Lemondrop09 · 08/05/2017 13:28

Nature, you're signed off with a pregnancy related illness. Your work can't touch you and will be on very shaky grounds if they try! (P.s. The HG thread on here is great if you want to join us)

I was signed off for 6 weeks with HG, and probably should have been off a lot longer. I went back but have to work from home as can't handle the commute, and have had several intermittent sick days off over the last month.

MummyS, do what you've got to do to look after yourself and your twins. That's the most important things.

Writerwannabe83 · 08/05/2017 13:30

Writer... Does your sickness effect your mat pay?

Unfortunately so.

Sick pay in the NHS is worked out based on your average earnings over a certain 8 week period (or may be 6 week period) and unfortunately I was off sick during most of this period so my pay was significantly reduced during that time (I was coming out with £400 less a month), therefore my Maternity payments will be reduced too. It's really crap, it worries me but I know there's nothing I can do about it.

My maternity payments haven't been calculated yet but I'm starting to mentally prepare myself for them....

NerrSnerr · 08/05/2017 13:46

I was signed off at about 10 weeks for the rest of pregnancy with sickness. Luckily I don't do shifts etc so didn't affect maternity pay.

mummabubs · 08/05/2017 14:08

@Writerwannabe83 I'd get that checked if I were you... I'm an NHS employee who's had a fair few sick days due to sickness (pregnancy-related) and been told multiple times- and seen it in policies- that pregnancy-related sickness does not count as a sick day under the sickness policy, so if your pay is calculated based on sick days these should not count. I'm a full time employee, if you are too then the same rules should apply?

mummabubs · 08/05/2017 14:15

Ahhh, sorry- just seen you've said you do 22.5 hrs a week now. Unless it's bank work though I'd have still thought you'd be safe- my mat pay isn't being calculated based on any previous sick days, just based on yearly salary??

ellesbellesxxx · 08/05/2017 14:18

I got signed off at 24 weeks.. also pregnant with twins!
For me.. it was exhaustion and backache, struggled to drive. Gp was v sympathetic and said babies come first.. felt so much better for resting!

gluteustothemaximus · 08/05/2017 14:19

Signed off at 20 weeks with DC1, HG and daily migraines became unbearable.

Yes, I lost out maternity pay wise.

Nearly lost my baby though, started bleeding with the stress of worry about leaving work/losing money.

Your health and babies come first. Good luck OP x

Chrisinthemorning · 08/05/2017 14:19

I was signed off because I had placenta praevia and kept having bleeds. I finished at 26 weeks and did very little and he was born at 36 weeks.
Door luck with your pregnancy

Chrisinthemorning · 08/05/2017 14:20

Good not door!

littlepooch · 08/05/2017 14:21

I was signed off in both my pregnancies due to HG. I'm now back at work but working from home most of the time as I'm still so sick.

Writerwannabe83 · 08/05/2017 14:21

I was simply told that the Mat Pay is calculated on the average pay over a set 8 week period and as I was off sick quite a lot over that time it meant I wasn't getting paid for any weekend work or unsociable hours.

Because I wasn't doing any unsociable hours/shifts my pay was about £400 down each month and therefore would have bought my average earnings down.

Primaryteach87 · 08/05/2017 14:23

I was signed off for six weeks (3 lots of two weeks back to back) Predominantly this was for sickness but also due to the sickness I was fainting. I left my job (unrelated, we moved area) at 5 months and probably would have been signed off or gone on early maternity leave if I hadn't left at around 7 months as couldn't walk! Work were v supportive.

UnbornMortificado · 08/05/2017 14:28

I was signed off at 14 weeks. I had had two previous late losses including a neonatal death and needed a cervical stitch,
my consultant wanted me signed
off. I'm a home carer so it was hard going with some lifting.

I wasn't there long enough for SMP so I've just effectively taken a career break instead luckily DH works so we were financially ok.

I've never had twins but I can only imagine you start getting uncomfortable much earlier on?

In regards to the pain, some painkillers are safe, I've ended up on oramorph (post-surgery infection) short term which both the consultant and my GP are ok with short term.

OnNaturesCourse · 08/05/2017 15:31

Sorry to steal your thread, OP.

I work standard hours, so no shift allowance or anything. But I'm on full sick pay... Isn't sick pay made up of government payment and your work topping it up? So mat pay would just be what work has been paying?

It's all so confusing.

Original poster

MummySara · 08/05/2017 15:32

@EllesBelles, Did you go back to work anytime after 26weeks?

I think because I don't complain about my pains and troubles I think I get ignored. Im consultant led, and Iv only been seen once, and they were so behind with seeing patients it was a case of quickly get them in and out the door.

OP posts:

McBaby · 08/05/2017 15:41

Signed off from 26-36 weeks in first pregnancy due to spd and contractions. If you can't work then don't feel bad about asking the gp and work to help you cope.

annlee3817 · 08/05/2017 15:55

I was signed off a few times, first due to a bladder issue caused by pregnancy. Second due to being at risk of pre labour at 24 weeks, then signed off again at 32 weeks for the remainder of the pregnancy again due to risk of prem labour. Honestly you and your babies are more important, I'd you are struggling and can afford to be signed off speak to your midwife or doctor. My works policy was to enforce the start of mat leave four weeks prior to due date, so I was signed off until mat leave had to start.

UnbornMortificado · 08/05/2017 16:25

Pregnancy is bad enough without putting up with treatable pain on top of it Mummy. GP's can still deal with medication even with consultant led care on top, I don't believe midwives or nurses can though.

DuggeeHugs · 08/05/2017 17:18

I was signed off for a few days at 30 weeks due to gestational hypertension. Work were fine with it all and made sure I wasn't overdoing it when I went back (middle of a massive restructure and the busiest time of the business year). They arranged regular days working from home until I began maternity leave - would this be possible/helpful for you? My commute was at least an hour each way so this made a big difference for me.

Twinmummytobe · 08/05/2017 17:32

Hi I was signed off at 26 weeks due to a bleed and FGR. I won't be going back. If you are struggling speak to your doctor and they will write you a letter for your Gp to say you are unfit for work

Hollyhop17 · 08/05/2017 17:40

I've been signed off for most of my pregnancy due to HG. Work arent allowed to count your pregnancy related sick days as normal sicl days, i.e. you cant trigger warnings/disciplinary action for long absences. BUT they do count towards your sick pay. I am out of full time sick pay so currently on half, if it continues then eventually I will go on to statutory, which the government pays. I would like to have worked more but everytime I have gone back, it has set me back again. I am on a fixed term contract and I think they are glad to be getting rid of me next month!

I definitely would get signed off, it sounds like you have lots to cope with. Good luck.

chocoraisin · 08/05/2017 22:07

I was signed off for PGP at 16 weeks with DS2. Stayed off the entire rest of my pregnancy. It's ok to stop if you need to OP. x

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