Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Will i get fired ?

29 replies

storminabuttercup · 16/05/2010 20:22

I am now 25 + 4 and so far i have had three episodes of sickness - lasting so far 8 weeks in total.

The first two were hyperemisis - i tried to go back after the first instance and was off again within a few days.

Then on Wednesday last week i passed out at work and had tummy pains - was taken to labour ward and found out i have a water infection and infection in my blood (i have no idea what this means) I feel absolutely knackered - still dizzy and sicky once again.

havent been into work since and i think im going to struggle next week - everyone says sstay at home and relax - but then i worry i will lose my job. also what do i say to the ddoctor - i'm knackered and cant go to work? i feel like a fraud.

am i?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

LynetteScavo · 16/05/2010 20:30

Can't you go on maternity leave at 26 weeks?

tutu100 · 16/05/2010 20:35

As long as you are being signed off by the doctor they can not fire you. I had hyperemesis during my 1st pregnancy and was signed off from 5 weeks. I tried to go back at 13 weeks and lasted 2 days before having to be signed off again until 22 weeks I lasted 2 weeks before I realised there was no way I could work and handed my notice in. I only did this because it meant I could claim more MA allowance and I wasn't going to return to work after having the baby.

If I had wanted to keep my job my GP would have kept signing me off and that would have been that. I was only getting SSP though.

Please take it easy, I know it is easy for me to say, but urine infections during pregnancy can be really serious and no job is worth the health and safety of your baby.

Original poster

storminabuttercup · 16/05/2010 20:41

LynetteScavo - i think its 29 weeks - but i dont want to lose those precious weeks after the baby is born - i can only afford 6 months mat leave unfortunately

tutu100 - thanks its nice to know other people have been in this position - i get full sick pay for 6 months as far as i am aware - there is also a policy where they cannot make you take mat leave until 4 weeks before. i have already been kind of demoted through this.

Wednesday was the scariest day of my life - many people say - oh a water infection is that all? it bloody hurts!

thansk so much x

OP posts:

Hevster · 16/05/2010 20:43

I was signed off from 4 months in my last pregnancy due to chronic fatigue which basically came down to too knackered to go to work (or do anything else for that matter) so far this time i have had 7 weeks off for hyperemesis, as my sick record is really good (when not pregnant) i don't feel guilty and they can't fire me coz i cant help it - am just crap at being pregnant.
No reason why doc won't sign you off for being too tired to work if you are.

LunaticFringe · 16/05/2010 20:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

storminabuttercup · 16/05/2010 20:48

thanks Hevster

all my sickness in last year has been pregnancy related - i had MC last year which i had three weeks off with.

people say pregnancy isnt an illness but it can make you pretty ill if you ask me!

OP posts:

ruddynorah · 16/05/2010 20:51

they are not allowed to count pregnancy related sickness as they would 'normal' sickness. you can not have it held against you. if they did it would be sex discrimination.

cardamomginger · 16/05/2010 20:54

You collapsed at work, were taken to hospital and had infections diagnosed in your urine and in your blood. YOU ARE NOT A FRAUD!!!!!!
XX

Original poster

storminabuttercup · 16/05/2010 20:59

thanks everyone

i'm so glad i joined mums net!

xxxxxxx

OP posts:

vicbar · 16/05/2010 21:01

Hi no one can count pregnancy related sickness in your sickness record that is employment law. They can insist you start maternity leave at 36 weeks or earlier if you told them (officially) that you wanted to leave before then.
I wouldnt feel guilty or worry you and your baby are the most important thing and they have 6 months while your on Mat leave to get over it !
Im 30+4 and have been signed of since 28 weeks till the start of my mat leave. this is my 4th lot of mat leave with thesame employer and Ive never suffered and detrimental treatment.
Just be honest with your Dr you dont want to get another infection.

Hope you feel better soon.

Hevster · 16/05/2010 21:10

storm are you civil service as your terms seem similar?

Pavlov · 16/05/2010 21:18

I thought this, asked gp to sign me off for a couple of days and he said 'er, no, a few weeks my dear' when i had hyperemesis. I felt like a fraud asking for some time to deal with 'morning sickness' as i thought i had then. He checked my urine and was all for sending me to hosp, i managed to avoid that but he was clear that I should not be at work. I felt better after him saying it, as altough i felt terrible, i felt that i should just carry on, not that bad, just pregnant and all that.

You do not have to take early maternity leave. You have a water infection so you should not be working, you will get a Drs note for this no problem. and people are right, take as much time as you need to feel well again. And then try again. If you are still not well, your gp will sign you off for a bit longer.

You do not have to take ML til 4 weeks before your due date, so don't be bullied into taking any longer than that and losing time with your baby if it is not necesary.

Original poster

storminabuttercup · 16/05/2010 21:19

thanks vicbar - i have an appt with a consultant on tuesday - pretty sure they wont be able to give me a note but will make an appt for wednesday and see how i get on.

Hevster - not civil service - big company though - similar terms i expect

OP posts:

Original poster

storminabuttercup · 16/05/2010 21:23

And thanks pavlov

To be honest the main problem is people dont really understand hyperemisis so they see it as morning sickness.

I dont think the pain of the WI is being helped by having this lil one kicking like a footballer all the time - but i dont care i love feeling him/her move

xxx

OP posts:

Hevster · 16/05/2010 21:23

terms sound similar, hope appointments go well and you get signed off for as long as you need (and that you feel better soon). any chance you can work a bit from home? that's what I am planning to do as soon as it can be sorted.

Original poster

storminabuttercup · 16/05/2010 21:27

i'm sure they will thanks hevster

nope no chance of HW in the role im in

to be fair at the min due to change in role as mentioned above i dont actually have an official position! (loooong story) im helping out with bits and bobs so dont think ill be missed !
x

OP posts:

Jacksmybaby · 16/05/2010 21:45

Hey again storm. Sorry you're still so sick.

Your employer cannot use your pg as a reason to dismiss you without being liable for automatically unfair dismissal. Employers are very wary of dismissing pg women (without making sure they can justify it on grounds other than pg) as it is potentially terrible PR.

Also, while sick leave is one of the factors an employer can normally take into account when making redundancies (i.e. when deciding who should go), pregnancy-related sick leave is an exception to this and must be ignored.

Please don't go back to work. And please try not to feel guilty and stress about it (easier said than done I know!). You'll make yourself much worse - I know this from bitter experience!

Hope you start feeling better soon.

ktwiltshire · 16/05/2010 22:17

i was signed off from work because of hip/back pain, which turned out to be PGP/SPD (pregnancy related complications is whats on the sick certificate) when i finally saw the physio, i was signed off by the GP when i was 19 weeks and stayed signed off sick till my maternity leave kicked in. i work in the NHS so luckily i get full sick pay. but essentially like the others have said they cant hold it against you in terms of your employment.

you are more than entiteled to need to take some time off to cope with this, a good few weeks and hopefully you will feel better enough to go back to work for a while, but if not dont worry, you need to rest for the baby, make sure you get enough down you for the baby, and your own sanity!!

bottom line like the others have said, they cant fire you, you are legitamtly sick and need the time off, so take it. the GP should be able to sign you off for a few weeks if you go and see them monday mornning so you dont have to wait until your consultant appt.
good luck

Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 16/05/2010 23:05

You most definitely cannot be fired for any pregnancy related issue.
I was in the position where my employer fired me because I was pregnant. Apparently I was no use to her in that position! I took her to industrial tribunal, they wiped the floor with her.
If your employer gives you trouble, go to your union if you have one, otherwise, speak to the citizens advice bureau. They were great, supported me all the way.
Don't take any crap from your employer. X

Original poster

storminabuttercup · 17/05/2010 07:40

Thanks All

i think in the company i work for i am pretty safe - its just the manager i have just finished working for in that company (i have now been moved) is making my life very dificult at the min.

I am at the end of my teather, up at 6.30 today after just a few hours sleep.

Seems like every time i go to the docs i burst in to tears and feel so pathetic - but thats the only way to get my note so have to face it but i feel so rubbish today i dont know if i can.

and i am sick of MOANING so sorry all

xxx

OP posts:

Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 17/05/2010 10:22

Sweetie, you are pregnant! These feelings are totally normal! You shouldn't feel pathetic and rubbish about it. The manager you work for needs to buck their ideas up. Tell them that you feel discriminated against, and you are unhappy with this and if they don't stop being unpleasant you will take it further. If they know anything about employment law that should shut them right up! If not go to personnell. You don't have to take this treatment.

Hevster · 17/05/2010 10:45

storm you ok today? and moan all you like, thats what we are here for!

Original poster

storminabuttercup · 17/05/2010 13:43

Saggyoldclothcatpuss thanks - already have a union case going forward as soon as i feel well enough to do something

Hevster - i went back to bed at ten oclock and i have just woken up

i called the Docs surgery today and the Receptionist couldnt get me an appointment - but remembered me calling the other day asking to speak to midwife and was the one who said to go straight to labour ward. Anyway - receptionist went off to speak to the doctor who has wrote a note for two weeks with strict instructions to go back there if i dont feel better.

This has taken alot of weight off my mind!

Today i just feel SHATTERED, also very shivery - which i think is the infection.

i am going to have a nice bath now and get dressed!

thanks ladies - you are all great

OP posts:

Jacksmybaby · 17/05/2010 14:32

Good news. Glad you're getting some rest. x

Hevster · 17/05/2010 17:02

Excellent news about the docs, spend as much time in bed as poss, and if you are bored join the library (it's keeping me sane!)

Flip

1 2