35 weeks tomorrow and have a really horrible chest infection. If I'm off sick can my employer force me to start maternity leave?

[MamaG]

No, I don't think so, because it is not related to the pregnancy. I would ask your GP to write you a note to say what the time off sick is for.

I thought it was only for pg related illness, but didn't want to take the risk!

I really REALLY don't want to take antibiotics but feel rough as! Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow

Your employer can forcibly start your maternity leave if you are off sick with a pg-related illness from 36 weeks, so you're fine.

Pg-related could mean caused by or exacerbated by pregnancy.

Thanks flowery. Don't think a chest infection could fall into that category?

I wouldn't have thought so, in my non-medical opinion

poor you, MamaG!

hope you can feel better soon and get some sleep.

Only for pregnancy related illness and then only in the last 4 weeks

Its good to know that if I HAVE to have the odd day off, they can't make me finish.

I'm aiming to finish at 38 weeks as I always ALWAYS go overdue, so will stil have a month at home. Plus the way mat leave falls, if I finished at 36 weeks (as I did consider) I'd be due back when the schools break up next year! gah. Nto great when you've got 2 at school already

Thanks for the advice

expat - think its my own fault really after my enormous bloody hike on Saturday, no wonder I'm ill

i htink it's this weather, MamaG. don't know about your area, but IIRC you're pretty far north, and we've been having very cold nights and fairly warm days and today it's gone dull.

not condusive to good respiratory health.

i worked till 37 weeks with DD2, but she did come at 38+2, so you never know.

Yeah the weather's same here - I actually woke up shivering the other night and have been doing school run in a T shirt.

bonkers.

I really msut buy the rest of my baby stuff in case this one comes early. I'm so convinced it won't, I'll be gasping "that was a strong BH" to DH when I'm 10cm at 39 weeks

i have dreadful sinusitis as a result of it and didn't get to bed till 5AM, up at 8 with the girls.

luckily DH is off today but i still can't get to sleep and sinuses pack up and i wind up waking up so i feel your pain!

i'm going to go peg out some washing here in hopes it clears the nasal passages.

bit chillier the day, however.

the girls both have chesty coughs so i think it's the usual autumnal gripe we get here in the north.

Oh poor you, I regularly get sinusitis and its bloody painful.

I just burst into tears at work - most unlike me. My ears really bloody hurt

Oddly, I did sleep well last night, apart from the usual 3 trips to the loo and coughing, I felt I'd slept deeply IYKWIM.

well, don't be afraid to bang on the door and get signed off if you need to.

just imagine labour with a chest infection and that should send you running for hte phone to the GP's surgery!

God can you imagine?!

I had a bad cold when DS was due, MIL was on the phone asking how I was so I told her, she said "oh PIL has a cold as well" and I hissed through gritted teeth "well PIL isn't about to give birth is he"