Forced to take Maternity leave at 29 Weeks

[NPrince]

I am 18 weeks, I have been off sick most of my pregnancy due to hyperemesis. My employer is trying to make me take make me take my maternity leave at 29 weeks… from what I’ve read online they can’t do this? at 36 weeks maternity kicks in automatically if off sick. Am I correct or is my employer correct?

I had HG whilst pregnant, it was truly awful and I feel for you. I suppose it depends how long GP's happy to keep signing you off for? In end I had a very pushy GP trying to get me back to work when I could barely walk from bed to toilet without vomiting. I got stressed having to go to GP time and time again to get sick notes. I think I got sick notes to 24 weeks and used annual leave to the 29 weeks. I suppose it depends do you feel you'll get better to return for final stage which is just as hard for different reasons.

I had it the whole way through with my 1st too, but GP more than happy to keep signing me off they don’t even see me anymore. i did want to take leave early but more 32/33 weeks not 29. Work retail and otherwise I would be due back literally at Christmas and I couldn’t think of anything worse tbh