Getting signed of again and 26 weeks 😫? What should I do?

[Pregnancy2022]

This is my 2nd pregnancy and I have had a really rubbish time this time around

I was signed of for about 7 weeks with severe sickness, it did ease although it ended completely went but I was able to manage work

I then had to get signed of a few weeks ago due to a bereavement and I was of for 1 weeks

I returned to work and i was fine, but the last few days my sickness has returned and is pretty much aa bad as it was in the beginning, I feel absolutely awful . I finally thought I could enjoy my pregnancy but it doesn't seem thst way 😕 yesterday I was sick so much I ended up bringing up blood. All I want to do it lie down and sleep

I am ringing the doctors this morning, am i taking the pi** if I asked to get signed of again? I feel awful for not even being able to go to work but I really am struggling 😢😢

I was signed off from 12 weeks pregnant, i had horrendous hypermesis and could not function! I work in food retail so being sick all the time isnt the best for my job, i managed to go back to work for the grand total of 5 days when i was 32 weeks i was then signed off again till my mat leave kicked in at 36 weeks, i think you need to do whats best for you, my boss was very understanding and he supported me the whole time

Sounds tough. I think you have to do what you have to do
A friend of mine was so poorly with HG that she was signed off for pretty much her entire pregnancy, twice. Luckily her employer was understanding. Hopefully yours will be too.

Thank you both for your positive comments. I work in a school, they have never really said much when I do get signed of, but not once has a manager ever asked how I am feeling which is rather frustrating! But I guess that's just part of working in a school 🙄

I believe after 36 weeks they can insist on maternity leave starting, which may be relevant if you were planning to work up to the birth to maximise mat leave afterwards.

@Artus I'm aware of this. I'm hoping in another few weeks i will be feeling better again! But at the end of the day I think I need to do what's best for myself and my baby. I was hoping to work till 38 weeks but unfortunately I can't see this being tjr case at the moment. I still have another 10 weeks till 36 weeks so I'm praying for some improvement!

I got signed off at 19 weeks and ended up not getting back until after may leave. Long story but I had twins, we had TTTS, laser ablation of the placenta. When I felt ready to back after all that my SI joint pretty much collapsed and I could barely walk. In the end they were born at 31 weeks which triggered ML. ML would have been triggered at 36 weeks if I had made it further.

HR / employer were supportive the whole way through

Even if they're not understanding there's really sod all they can do about it. If you're not fit to work, you're not fit to work, end of discussion. And they legally can't discriminate due to pregnancy related sickness.

If you get signed off your mat leave will automatically start at 36 weeks, or if you manage to go back to work and then have even one day off due to pregnancy related sickness in the last four weeks before your due date it'll trigger maternity leave to start.

You are talking about this as if you have a choice.

You are coughing up blood. You cannot continue to work whether you like it or not. You have to mind you and your baby. You don't have an option here.

Just got of the phone with my doctor and he's told me to go straight to maternity as I've been bringing up blood 😫

What, that's not reasonable. I'd push back and get sick leave. The earlier you take mat leave the earlier it ends, it'll start automatically from 36 weeks if you're off sick but there's no mechanism to force you to take it earlier than that.

Glad you're getting checked out!

I was signed off for two weeks last time at 15 weeks, then two weeks at 25 weeks and then signed off for the remainder of my pregnancy at 31 weeks, it can't be helped, everyone's body reacts differently to pregnancy, you need to focus on yourself and the baby and try not to worry about work.

Sorry OP that sounds horrendous. I wouldn't worry about work right now. I was signed off from 26 weeks with ds2 and didnt go back until after mat leave. Mine was due to breathing difficulties. It was the doctors decision, they're the professionals and there is really nothing your employer can do in any case. Your baby and your health are what's important.

I hope the appointment goes ok.

Also, I don't think you even can take maternity leave yet. The earliest you can start it is 11 weeks before due date, which is 29 weeks.

Can’t you just self-cert for 7 days, not worry about it and see how you feel? It might be a bug if it’s suddenly so severe at 26 weeks. I don’t really see why you’re immediately thinking you’ll need to be off until you give birth from what you’ve said?

@BungleandGeorge I'm not saying I think I should be of until birth. I'm saying I've got 10 weeks till my work can force me to go on maternity leave. I'm hoping if I have a few weeks it will improve and I will actually be able to go back to work.

I’m not really sure why a few days sickness equals expectation of a few weeks off though? At 26 weeks chance are it’s a bug. Of course best to get checked out and see what the mat unit think

Well the hospital have told me my HG Haa mostly likely returned. Seeing it never fully went away it has obviously come back more severe again. @BungleandGeorge

My HG came and went throughout, i was on medication from 9 weeks till i gave birth and the dosage i took varied again throughout my pregnancy, HG hits different person to person, its not just about your sickness but its also about how you are mentally, i felt physically ok some days but the thought of being in work was driving me to tears, you just do whats best for you, you dont need us strangers lol i hope you feel better