Mat leave with prem baby

[Lynniepoos]

Hi, I had my baby 16 weeks early and so my maternity leave had to start straight away. I am now comingn to the end of my paid leave and c an't really afford to stay off unpaid but am gutted at leacving her so soon. I feel cheated to have spent 3 of the siz months in hospital filled with worry and in the early days not knowing if she would even live. She is now 5 months (6 weeks corrected) and it just feels too soon to leave her. Is there any help I can get?

A friend who lives in France told me that if that had happened there, the time between her birth and due date would be classed as extended sick leave and then maternity would start. As we are all part of the european union, should this not be the same here?

I know I'm clutching at straws but I just can't stand the thought of going back so soon :(

Any thoughts would be great.
Thanks
Lynne

Unfortunatly, your maternity leave starts as soon as you have your baby. Could you take a mortgage holiday to get some extra time off ?

Sorry but I don't think you would be able to class this as sick leave unless you were off sick for an extended period before your baby was born (although someone more knowledgeble may come along and correct me, which would be great! ). If you can't afford to go into the unpaid part of your maternity leave, could you use any holiday you've accrued while on maternity leave to extend your leave? Or go back part time, either as a permanent arrangement or as a phased return to to work? Failing that, if you have a good relationship with your employer, maybe ask if they'll make a special case for allowing you extra paid leave (maybe "borrowing" from next year's holiday allowance or something?). I hope you find a solution

Sorry if I'm being ignorant (my mat leave was years ago) but don't you get maternity pay until 9 months from the government now?

It sucks doesn't it. Sorry you have had such a rough time.

Some larger companies do have a policy of extended maternity leave for mothers of premature babies, but I'd say it's almost always unpaid.

The company I worked for wouldn't even agree to unpaid extended leave so I didn't end up going back there (and have inadvertently shafted my career as a result).

yes but it's only £125 a week sopossibly not enough topay bills forOP

Was you in hospital for a time too? I was in for three weeks (mine was 31 weeks though) and reacted to the GA so was ill for awhile afterwards too (I hadn't realised how much until I saw a picture of me at 8 weeks!) If you were sick too you might be able to claim that although it might not make much difference.

Unfortunately though unlike annual leave you can't claim sick time during maternity leave so it would only be before the leave started.