Notice for Maternity Leave?

[Suprima]

Can’t see anything in my maternity policy- so just wanted other people’s experiences. Currently 17 weeks pregnant. I originally told my employer’s in my initial risk assessment that I was planning on going on ML at 34 weeks.

However my mental health is so poor (pregnancy related anxiety) and I am struggling at work so instead want to go off ASAP. The earliest I can go is 29 weeks.

If I speak to my boss tomorrow, have I given them enough notice that I want to go off at 29 weeks, not the 34? Am I legally allowed to start my mat leave at 29 weeks if they are difficult?

You can give 28 days notice of a change of start date. Can you add any annual leave on at the start e.g. take 2 weeks annual leave from 29 weeks and start maternity leave at 31 weeks? Or get signed off at 29 weeks and your maternity leave would get triggered automatically at 36 weeks as you would be off with a pregnancy related illness

What is the nature of the anxiety? Is there a way for your employer to help minimise it?

@dementedpixie

You can give 28 days notice of a change of start date. Can you add any annual leave on at the start e.g. take 2 weeks annual leave from 29 weeks and start maternity leave at 31 weeks? Or get signed off at 29 weeks and your maternity leave would get triggered automatically at 36 weeks as you would be off with a pregnancy related illness

What is the nature of the anxiety? Is there a way for your employer to help minimise it?

I don’t have annual leave- I’m a teacher. My 29th week falls at the end of the Easter school holidays though, so I’ll technically be off from week 27.

Good to know that I have time to give them plenty of notice. Going to notify my boss early this week.

Nothing they can do to minimise the anxiety. It’s related to me suffering from miscarriage, I constantly think my baby has died and I’m stuck in OCD thought loops of intrusive thoughts of miscarrying. I often think about aborting as losing her feels inevitable anyway. Work should be a distraction but it isn’t as I am just coasting through the day with my mind on overdrive.

OP as PP suggested you could get signed off by your gp all the way up to 36 weeks, at which point your employer would probably trigger your mat leave. I'm so sorry about your experiences and completely understand you probably aren't fit to work but you can be off work and not necessarily need to start your mat leave x

Also have you spoken to your midwife/ got a referral to the perinatal mental health team? X

Gosh OP, that sounds so hard. Please don't take early mat leave, get signed off, as you have absolutely every right to do, and keep your mat pay and mat leave for when your baby is safely here . As a teacher, being on sick leave means you'll likely be paid decently and still receive pension contributions too.

It's so hard, I know, I've been there- had many losses myself, and pregnancy afterwards is so so hard. Seek some help through your midwife or GP too x

Have you spoken to your line manager? My HOD has been brilliant. Currently waiting for a meeting with occupational health to adjust my timetable, could reducing your teaching hours help? They know about my previous losses and I am able to request cover at very short notice (like at break for P2) if I’m not up o it.
Otherwise Definitely go off sick as others suggest - sick pay is much better than may pay! X

Agree with above.

You can’t be forced to take mat leave until 36 weeks. If work isn’t a distraction you should be off sick. Can you urgently find some therapy, even if it means paying for it?

Do teachers get full sick pay?
As of its just statutory sick pay be aware that it could affect maternity pay amount if off sick in roughly weeks 17-25 of pregnancy.
If you get full sick pay then it wouldn't affect anything

Get signed off.

I echo getting signed off - as long as you’ve worked as a teacher in an LA school you are entitled to sick pay for 100 days on full pay. Your maternity leave could then start at 36 weeks, giving you more time when the baby is here.
Have you spoke. To your midwife/GP - they may be able to refer you to a mental health midwife

I'm sorry you're feeling like this. Fellow teacher too.

I would get signed off sick. This will take you to 36 weeks. If you go at 29 weeks you will have to return when baby is 9 months maximum. That's if you take the additional 3 months without pay. Buy yourself time. Sign off sick

Hi there- thanks everyone for replying.

I have tried my best to seek mental health support and have cried to many of my midwives. I am just being told that they are short staffed due to covid. I have been told to go to my GP for anti depressants and have reminded to call 999 if I want to kill myself. I have been referred to the ‘time to talk’ mental health service but there are no appointments until 14th February.

I have requested that I have a flag put up on my notes as I am constantly being interacted with by health care professionals who haven’t read my history. I’m being asked things like ‘first baby?’ and queried when I cry and have panic attacks at scans. I am spending all of my money on private ultrasounds as it is the only thing that stops the thought loops for a few days.

There is a vulnerable woman’s mental health category which allows you a ‘softer touch’, extra scans and a dedicated team. My friend a few years ago managed to ‘get in’ due to general anxiety but it seems that due to staffing the criteria is much higher.

I am considering paying for a private mental health assessment, but I don’t know if the NHS will accept a letter from them as a means of enhancing my care.

All of my midwifes have been lovely but despite me extensively talking about my problems I have just been told to a) go to the go for sertraline as that is ‘safe to take in pregnancy!’ b) remember to call 999 if I want to kill myself and c) wait for my telephone assessment.

I’m not returning to work after her birth and we are financially very comfortable so I don’t care about knock on effects to my pay or salary at this point- just don’t want to piss anyone off.

Go to the gp* for sertraline that should say-

I don’t want to take any anti depressants. They zombie me. I have tried so many.

Sorry to add more stress but have you told them that you are not taking enhanced maternity pay? As you will have to go bum if you take that. If you take the statutory you won't have to go back.

@Whatelsecouldibecalled

Sorry to add more stress but have you told them that you are not taking enhanced maternity pay? As you will have to go bum if you take that. If you take the statutory you won't have to go back.

I am entitled to some enhanced due to my length of service even if I was up front about not returning.

I am not going to announce I am not returning until I have had my baby and seen what it’s like to SAH. I may be keen to return.

If I want to SAH, then I will then give the two months notice that I won’t be returning.

We have the funds to pay the rest of the enhanced back immediately so it doesn’t really matter.

It was really hard to write that because I am utterly convinced that her heart has stopped and I am going to find out next scan

I can’t imagine having her

@Suprima OP if you're that comfortable economically then get on finding yourself a psychotherapist specialising in miscarriage/pregnancy after loss or at the very least trauma and PTSD. Rather than being bounced around by the NHS.

Ok so giving your update if this was me, I'd speak to them tomorrow and tell them your leaving the earliest you can.

But please speak to your GP. You don't have to accept the antidepressants but you need to talk to him and see how he can help.

Very sorry your going through this.

Depending on area, we have a charity pregnancy unit, they so scans, and you pay a donation. You can go anytime so worth looking into.

Your MW should be taking this seriously and making sure your followed up with your GP etc

Are you employed in a private contract as teachers terms abs conditions state you must return for 13 weeks (or the equivalent of part time) or you must pay back the enhanced payment. I just didn't want it adding more stress to you.

I am so sorry you're feeling like this. Have you considered private counselling?

@Whatelsecouldibecalled

Are you employed in a private contract as teachers terms abs conditions state you must return for 13 weeks (or the equivalent of part time) or you must pay back the enhanced payment. I just didn't want it adding more stress to you.

I have replied to you- I can pay it back, it’s not a problem. The money is in the bank.

I just don’t want to give up my job without being sure as I am quite senior

@Suprima, I'm so sorry to hear you're experiencing this. I agree with PP that private counselling with a therapist who specialises in maternal mental health/pregnancy loss/PTSD and possibly OCD, also sounds like the way forward for you if you are able to afford it.

If money isn't an issue, definitely get signed off by your GP ASAP and then let your employer trigger your mat leave when they're able to. You have every right to prioritise your health and not feel guilty or bad about that in the slightest.

@Suprima apologies yes you did. I didn't realise you would be able to pay it back. I really think sign off sick.

Have you looked t self referral counselling? Our IAPT services you can self refer. It may be a way into securing more help n