Getting signed off work

[Nancy1252]

Just looking for your opinions before I go to the GP….. I’m 18 weeks pregnant, have high blood pressure and SPD, I work full time and work is very stressful, we’re going through a big restructuring expected to carry on until the end of the year…. Then to add to the stresses my 20 month old is going for brain surgery in December.

my question is would this be something I could be signed off work for? The stress of work is definitely adding to the high blood pressure which I’ve now been prescribed medication for and extra scans booked in as well as testing for pre eclampsia (had pre eclampsia in previous pregnancy) I feel very nervous about going to the GP about it, like they’re just going to say no and I just have to carry on.

has anyone else been signed off for anything similar this early on in pregnancy? If I could get signed off for 6 weeks then I can use annual leave and start mat leave early for the rest. Do you think this is doable?

thanks for reading sorry it was a long one!

Hi. No personal experience but just giving my opinion… you may be surprised how sympathic your GP will be. I’m not surely they will sign you off for 6 weeks in one go. They may sign you off for a couple of weeks and then you may need to go back to be signed off for further. Good luck and I hope everything goes well with the surgery.

Sorry, I hope your DC is okay! That all sounds incredibly stressful!

Yes, ofcourse you can get signed off for this. You are feeling stressed and this is impacting your health. Call the GP explain how you feel.

For context, I work in HR and staff get signed off all the time. The situation isn’t really important it’s the impact on you that is.

I hope you feel better soon.

I'm so sorry you're going through all this, and hope your little one is out and recovered well after the op!
I was signed off with SPD albeit later in pregnancy but didn't have any additional issues so absolutely not unreasonable to be signed off at this point.
Got everything crossed you have a happy healthy rest of your pregnancy and in just a few months all will be absolutely perfect.

I was signed off pretty much all of my pregnancies with HG. I wish I’d felt less bad about it tbh. I felt so much guilt at the time but realistically there’s no way I could have worked and to an extent, you need to prioritise, and set the level to which you’re willing to push yourself accordingly.

To me it sounds like continuing work could cause more complications with this pregnancy, it already sounds relatively high risk since you had PE last time. Your 20 month old will also really need you around and in good condition to support them. If you keep working, end up with more complications, end up in/out of hospital and not being able to be there for your 20 month old. Personally to me it would be a total non brainier, your family and your health are way more important. X

Just one thing to consider, if you are off sick a lot of companies can start your maternity leave early so maybe check your policy and contract to see what's said

@strawberry2017 I think you're right if the OP is after 24 weeks and the sickness is pregnancy related.

I'd check the work policy but if the GP signs you off for stress because work and your child is having brain surgery (which sounds very very stressful) you may not be out into maternity leave.

Hi, @strawberry2017 and @absolutehush , it’s if you take sick leave 4 weeks before expected week of childbirth (so within your 36th week).

It could affect your maternity pay depending on whether or not you get full sick pay.

There is an 8 week qualifying period and this 8 weeks is used to calculate what your entitlement is to mat pay.

If you are on sick leave during that 8 weeks it could either take you below the minimum amount or reduce what you get in the 6 weeks of 90% pay.

See link below and maybe contact someone like ACASo or Pregnant then Screwed for more detail,
maternityaction.org.uk/advice/sickness-during-pregnancy-and-maternity-leave/

Read this as well, it's a bit clearer than the other link timetastic.co.uk/blog/sick-leave-and-sick-pay-during-pregnancy/

You do have a lot going on! I’m sure the GP will be extremely sympathetic. Good luck with it all.

Gosh you have so much on. I’d hope they be supportive and encourage signing you off tbh.

Are you receiving good treatment for your SPD? I saw a chiropractor under the any qualified provider MSK pathway. So helpful.

Thank you everyone for your replies, makes me feel a bit less anxious about going to the GP now.

@FatAgainItsLettuceTime the company I work for have a pretty good sick and maternity pay policy, as long as I have a doctors note I will get full pay for the time off.

@CornishTiger i haven’t seen anyone for the SPD yet, it’s on my list of things to do but I haven’t had much time to do anything as the amount of work I have to do is meaning I’m working 10/11 hours days most days!

@strawberry2017 I had a read of our maternity policy and it says if you take sick leave from 36 weeks onwards then they can start the maternity leave early.

Thanks again everyone for your comments and well wishes for my sons surgery x

Sending you lots of love and strength.
I had SPD with my youngest and I know how agonising it is.
Hope everything goes well for your eldest x