Does sick leave affect maternity pay?

[junkfoodaddict]

I am currently on sick leave due to acute stress (will be 23 days in total but includes weekends obviously) but also 18 weeks pregnant. I had read on an FB page supporting pregnant and new mums that sick leave can affect how much maternity pay you get. Is this true?
A colleague took a day strike last year and found her maternity pay was substantially reduced but I have no idea about sick leave. I do get 26 weeks full pay whilst sick so technically I am getting a full salary whilst off work.
Some advice would be appreciated so I can plan ahead.

It can affect your pay if you were paid less during your qualifying periods. So if you weren't paid for sickness they would calculate your 6 weeks' 90% based on your actual pay in those months and not your salary.

If you will be paid full pay for those months then you have nothing to worry about :)

And if your 6 weeks' 90% was lower than the smp for the next 33 weeks you would also get the lower amount.

When your friend was striking, the deduction was made from her qualifying period and so affected her smp.

So basically your smp is not based on salary, but on those months (supply teachers often get caught out by this) it can go up if you have paid over time, or down due to unpaid leave. Your occupational pay would be paid based on your salary IME of paying teachers.