Starting mat leave early???

[cjferg]

Almost 33 weeks, struggling with MH.

Found out baby is too small which is really getting to me along with some other things.

Was supposed to start mat leave on 3rd April (due 17th April) and take the rest of my holidays before which would have went up to 23rd March

Feeling like I can't deal with that though. Kicking myself for saying I'd start it so late. Can't get organised with baby stuff because I have no energy. I use it all at work then come home and am knackered and just want to sit and do nothing.

Usually feel better after a good nights sleep but still felt utterly shit when I woke up today. Feeling guilty/anxious because I am so unorganised, cause I'm not eating that healthy and cause now I'm a high alert pregnancy apparently, and cause I just asked for tomorrow off work because I'm a mess and boss was basically like 'well you are inconveniencing me phone me when you'll be back'. I only wanted to not have to get up at fucking 6am on a sunday, have to heave a load of newspapers around, and spent 7 quid on a taxi for the privilege when I have very little money and have cried about 6 times today.

Is it possible to start mat allowance this early without actually going into labour? Should I see about getting signed off by a doctor?

Sorry you are feeling like this and also that your employers are being so unsupportive. You can take Mat Leave from 29 weeks but obviously that will mean you have less at the other side once your baby is here. If you are feeling overwhelmed or exhausted you can get signed off by the doctor and the earliest your work can force you to take Mat Leave whilst on sick is 36 weeks. Also talk to your midwife about some prenatal mental health support too.

it’s so hard being preggers!

You can go from 29 weeks. It is a balance with time going back the other side after the baby though.
I went really early with both of mine because like you I just got fed up and felt so awful. It was so nice finishing! But both times I knew I wouldn’t be going back to the same job.

To be honest it sounds like you are not well.
Go to your gp and get the time off sick.

They can bring your mat leave forward to 36 weeks if you are off sick with pregnancy related illness, but otherwise you should be good with sick leave until then.

Hope some rest helps.

Oh and try not to give work a 2nd thought.
You guys are most important, take care of yourselves