SPD

[Zhareen]

Hi. I'm currently 27wks and have been diagnosed with severe SPD . I would like to know if anyone was made to start their maternity leave early due to SPD as I've been told as SPD is not an illness your employer can trigger off your mat leave by wk 29.

I don't know personally, but have you looked on the Pelvic Partnership website? Thehy have loads of advice on SPD including the possibilities of gettng DLA and a temporary disabled badge for sever SPD. There is a helpline, so they may be able to advise you.

SPD really sucks. I've got it just now for the second time, but nowhere near as bad as I had it with my last pregnancy.

All the best

Thanks for the advice. I'll have a look on the P. Paternerships website tonight. Good to hear that SPD wasn't so severe in your 2nd pregnanacy too, as this is my first and that was another of my concerns.

Zhareen, can't offer you any advice re; maternity situ but I had severe SPD in first pregnancy, nowhere near as bad with second and was perfectly fine with third.

It also disappeared about 3 weeks before birth.

Just thought I would give some reassurance.

Your employer can automatically trigger maternity leave 4 weeks before your due date if you are off sick (I think there's something about the reason having to be partly or wholly pregnancy-related, but this would be) - otherwise you would just be off sick until the date you have notified as your start date.

It used to be 6 weeks before but the law changed recently, so don't let them force you to start mat leave early.

Thanks Kirst2. I've just read up on something to do with the 4 week rule as I don't want to be pushed into starting my maternity too early and being left out of pocket because of being ill.

Hi zhareen - your gp should be able to sign you off rather than you have to go on mat leave. My gp signed me off for 6 weeks to take me up to when i had already planned to start taking holiday before mat leave so didn't miss out financially. Don't let anyone tell you spd is not an illness!!!!! Hope you've got lots of support and can take it easy, I'm 34 weeks now and pain is much more manageable now that I'm properly taking things easy. Have you been referred to a physio?

Agree with the others, either get signed off sick or ask if you can change your role slightly/work from home a bit? Check out your sick pay rights in your contract/staff handbook and if you will be paid take advantage of it. If not you may want to consider your next move depending on finances (boring I know!).

Thanks for the advice everyone its been very helpful. I've spoken to my GP who insists on signing me off sick until my planned leave starts. I'm also going to see the physio very soon, which my midwife sorted out very quickly so hopefully that my help with the pain.