on maternity leave and discovered pregnant. what now?

[kirsty7225]

Hey guys. Im new to this site but need some help. I have a 4 year old going on 5. He starts primary school in August. I am on maternity leave with my 8 month and im due back in june (july if I take my 6 weeks holidays) but u have just found out I am pregnant with 3rd baby (unplanned but over the moon) and I am terrified to tell my boss. Do I go back and finish again in few months for another maternity leave or do I be a stay at home mum. How do other mums with 3 cope with work and childcare? Ive never been so nervous in my life about explaining this to my boss.

Congratulations. Don't be nervous as these things happen. I had a terrible time explaining to my boss about my first, which sent me into depression and I ended up having a terrible pregnancy. Nothing, no matter how dedicated to your work you are, is worth that. Just do what ever it is that makes you happy. Don't just think about the financial aspects, you have to be happy with your decision too.

Congratulations kirsty7225!
You would probably be surprised how common an occurrence your situation is! Firstly, if you wanted to return to work anyway, then please don't let the fact you're pregnant put you off. You will still have the same entitlements as before; time off for antenatal appts, the right to take another period of Mat Leave, accrue annual leave etc, plus depending on the dates and your earnings you may even qualify for maternity pay again, so it could be worth while. Granted, some employers may feel aggrieved that you would be returning for only a short time before taking more leave but at the end of the day you do have rights so should feel empowered to make use of them. Plus, returning this summer may help you decide if you really do want to continue working, or try the stay at home mum thing after baby number 3 has arrived

Hi, If you are on maternity leave and become pregnant again so the 2nd baby is due around the end of your maternity leave 1 do you have to go back to work for a period of time inbetween the 2 maternity leaves to get Statutory maternity pay again? On the .gov website it advises you are entitled to SMP as long as you have been employed for 26 weeks beforehand and this would be the case but on maternity leave for the company.

Hay, I posted before and now I am in exactly the same situation as you. I have to go back for x amount of weeks to be entitled to maternity pay again and so that is exactly what I am going to do. At the end of the day you have to do what is best for you and your family. Congrats again