Pregnant while on mat leave - due to go back in Jun, baby due in July - will I get mat leave & pay?

[Snowboarder]

I found out today that I am pregnant again. My DS is only 8 month old (5 corrected as was prem) so I'm not due back at work until next June. If all goes well the baby will be born in July so I suppose I probably won't be returning to work before DC2 is born. Does anyone know if I will be entitled to the same maternity benefits (pay and leave) I was this time around? I will obviously ask my employer at some point but can't yet as it's early days.

P.s although this pregnancy was unplanned it is a very welcome and amazing surprise. DS was conceived using IVF after I'd had cervical cancer so to say I'm over the moon now is an understatement although I'm sure my boss might feel differently. Very worried about breaking the news

I thought mat leave starts as soon as the baby is born so even if your ds was prem, you'll still have to go back when he is one, so in 4 months? if so, you should build up entitlement for mat leave no. 2.

Hi Oranges, you're right, it does. I was entitled to 12 mo which kicked off in March when DS was born unexpectedly. Fortunately I had a fair bit of holiday remaining, plus holiday accrued during this maternity leave period which adds a further 2 and a bit months, taking me up to the end of June. New baby is due at the end of July.

Aw congratulations!

You should be entitled to stat mat the same as your last pregnancy, I don't really know but I did want to tell you we also had an unplanned 3rd DD after Cancer treatment, she came along exactly a year after DH's last chemo session

so the last 2 and a bit months you are back on normal pay, with normal ni contributions? that almost brings you close to the entitlement for mat pay doesn't it? can you go back a few weeks early so you get the entitlement? Congratulations, btw.

You will get maternity leave. The amount of maternity pay you get is dependent on your income during the qualifying period.