Time off work
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Google says: In the UK, if you are off sick due to a pregnancy-related illness within the four weeks before your baby is due, your maternity leave will automatically start on the day after your first sick day, meaning your sick leave essentially transitions into maternity leave. So, you can take a week or two off without triggering your maternity. I did this around 30 weeks in my first pregnancy. I was feeling really low and exhausted. Went to my GP, he arranged further blood tests and turned out I was iron deficient and he signed me off for two weeks. My fit note literally said "pregnancy related tiredness" but I was too exhausted to care what anyone thought by that point 😂 take the time off and look after yourself ❤️
Some companies have policies that if you take pregnancy related sick leave within a certain time before your maternity is due to start/your due date, that your maternity leave will kick in from that point. Can you self certify up to a certain number of days and say it’s flu or something gastro related so you can avoid triggering maternity leave?
You’re not being unreasonable. I’ve been signed off for 2 separate weeks during my pregnancy both for sickness. I probably could have worked during it, but if I’m honest I just needed a break and was fed up of work. I work for the NHS and any sickness 4 weeks before would trigger my maternity leave. I’m not sure if this is the same everywhere. X
Usually doctors won’t take any risks with someone who is pregnant, so they would sign you off. Ensure the sick note says pregnancy related sickness as it is recorded differently- meaning work can’t discriminate against you (grievance for long term sick for example). They can only start your maternity leave early for pregnancy related sickness four weeks before your due date. I was off for three months due to being very unwell with pregnancy related illnesses and autoimmune, if that helps reassure you. x
You can self certify for a week
Yes girl I feel you, so tired I’m 28 weeks! I’m lucky I’m wfh full time due to some personal reasons but I find it so hard to give an eff about the corporate world at the moment. I feel like there’s so much I need to do to get ready for baby but by the end of the day I’m so mentally drained I just want to lie there lol. I don’t think you’re being unreasonable needing some time off, pregnancy is hard!
@Emma I agree! I’m so tired at the end of the day and don’t feel I have time to sort things for baby arriving. It’s just exhausting isn’t it!
I’m in the same boat I’ve just had annual leave and back to work and it’s just all bit much I’ve got annual booked 4 weeks before my due date as my companies policy is if sick due to pregnancy 4 weeks before due date may leave kicks in but i have total 16 shifts left as a shift worker and just not sure i can do them so thinking of just going sick now till April I’m worried about being bored and going sick but tbh I think I’ve gone past the point of caring and need to put me first xx
It is, then I feel guilty for not doing enough 😭. Not long for us now though! Xx
Sign yourself off for a week! No doctor signature required
Don’t know if it’s just me but my employer makes me feel bad if I’m off or anything so I find it hard. As I’m getting to 30 weeks now, I’m starting to not care to be honest!
I’ve been signed off now until the beginning of my mat leave xx I think it’s for the best can relax and de stress and not have to worry xx
If your GP signs you off because you're unwell, etc. Why would your maternity leave kick in? I was signed off for a month with my last pregnancy, and my maternity leave didn't start until the date I'd put originally. Surely they can't force you to take maternitry leave early just because you've been signed off x