Sickness from work and pregnancy related illness

[popsycal]

Hi folks

I am currently 23 weeks pregnant, Have been on the sick for 4 weeks due to high blood pressure/possible depression. Doc has just signed me off for another 3.

Then it is 3 more weeks to xmas hols.
Then 2 weeks xmas hols (I am a teacher). At the end of the hols I will be 31/32 weeks pregn. I intended to go back for one week then go on maternity.

Anyway. I think I read that the time that work can 'force' you to go on maternity if you have a pregn related illness has changed recently...I am sure that it was 32/33 weeks when i had ds 2 years ago....think it is later now.
I do know that the earliest you can start maternity is 29 weeks though...which is around xmas for me.

Anyone know?
TIA

It is know 36 weeks Popsycal.

HTH

Thanks
so they couldnt force me to start at 29 weeks then?
I havent given them formal info of when i want to start maternity, though i have told the head and colleagues of my intentions....

No they certainly can't. I was on sick leave from week 31 through 35 and then commenced mat leave then. They may 'ask' you or presume that you will be starting earlier (as my employer did) but just be clear what your intentions are.

Hope things work out for you.

i am not sure whether or not i will go back after this 3 weeks.....and if i do then it s not an issue

my union rep who is also a v good mate, advised me not to formally give the date of my maternity leave until i had to,,,,and if necessary be on sick if needed. I don't thikn I could though.

Anyway - that is really helpful - the GP today put doubts in my mind!

i was wondering this too i am 28 weeks pg and had a slight show on thurs have been advised too take it easy so i am on the sick this week i too work in schools as a cook my boss asked if i was starting maternity leave as i was planning too finish 17th dec but that is two weeks hol so commence my maternity leave on the 4th jan but i am on sick so dont know were i would stand also

I am 27 weeks and have been on the sick from 20 weeks - raised bp amongst other things.

I am standing by the arrangements I informally told work when I announced my pregnancy - I would start maternity at 32 weeks. Although my union have said to say i will start at 36 weeks and stay on the sick if necessary or start maternity earlier

please dont let work force you to tsart your maternity early

(it is 36 weeks now - used to be about 32 weeks a couple of years ago when i had dh)
defo 36 weeks now

i have just answered my own question - i started the thread - i am going mad!

ps jolly4 - i am a teacher and have the exact same plan as you......start maternity on 4th january - it still stands
you are either on the sick over xmas or 'back to work' and then you start maternity the first day back after the hols

yes thats what i was planning to do, work till 17th dec when i will be 31 weeks then have hols then 4th jan commence and i would be 34 weeks but if i am still unfit for work do i still send sick notes until the 36 week of pg. i intend too go back too work after school hols dont really want too but finances forces me too i have rang work today and found that they are transfering meals from a high school a cook is then goin to my school too serve the food then has too go back too her other job they are so short staffed

What an incredibly useful thread! I'm in exactly the same position, I teach and am 33 weeks pg, really beginning to feel the strain but would be gutted if I had to go on maternity leave early as this would mean I effectively lost 5 weeks. My midwife just told me any doctor would sign me off on maternity now though, I take it she's wrong?

jolly4 - from what i understand once you have handed your MATb1 form in stating when you will start maternity, that is when you maternity starts....so even if i am ont he sick over xmas....3rd jan would be sick then 4th jan would be maternity.....

if you havent given your date in writing, and think you may be on the sick still when you had plannned to start your maternity, you may be tempted to put a later date......you can always start maternity earlier if not on the sick by then....

POPYSCAL I HAVENT HANDED MATB1 BUT I HAVE WRITTEN OFFICIAL LETTER OF DATE I INTEND TOO START MATERNITY LEAVE WHICH IS JAN 4TH SO I COULD GO SICK AS FROM NOW

yes!

if employer asks again - say you are on the sick at the moment - but your maternity stands firm as 4th jan....

and check you pay slip in jan!

will do thanks let us know how you are gettin on

Try looking on the tiger website as it's very useful.

Don't let work worry or bully you on dates. Just be sure of the facts and that's all. The law is soooo on your side!

been on tiger website evry thing in hand now, just been on due feb thread i had a leter yesterday sayin i have group b strep did worry me quite a bit scary why cant things just flow normally i will be ready for my hols at xmas anyway spk soon x