Pregnancy Related Illness

[DannoUK]

My sister has been advised to take a week off work by her doctor in week 34 of her pregnancy due to high blood pressure. As she finishes work at week 36 can she start maternity leave early, now in fact, with such short notice to her employer?

[spanksy]

If your sister has been worried about going into labour early, you'll be happy to know that the vast majority of babies delivered at 35 weeks are born healthy and survive without any major problems. Her baby's lungs should be fully developed by now and any breathing problems can be easily treated.

Does her partner know what to bring to the hospital? Besides toiletries and a change of clothes, her partner may also want to bring something to read, a camcorder, and even swimming shorts (yes, really, if she's planning a water birth).

Hope this is of help...

[DannoUK]

Thanks for these tips - I'll pass them on - although I dont think she is concerned about any early birth. Its more the employment and legal standing she is concerned about.

Thanks

[mifta]

I was signed off sick in week 26 and did not return until after I had the baby. If she has a sick note there is nothing her employer can do other then insist she start her maternity leave, I believe. I also recall that she can commence her leave at any time past week 29.

[winny]

I am under that impression too. If you have a sick note after 29 weeks then you start your maternity early so your sister will effectivly have started it early by 2 weeks. Her employer can do nothing as she has a sick note but if she had wanted to do it voluntarily it would have been different I think. Has she got one of those pregnancy and birth books from her mw they usually explain all fully. If not try the mw or cab.

[TopCat1]

ok, Legally, if she has a sick note, the employer can start her maternity early, which isn't great because it means less time to spend with the baby.

BUT, if she can get signed off on the sick for an 'Unpregnancy related' illness, then this wont affect her maternity at all. Although I'm being signed off now (at 27 weeks due to pregnancy bloodpressure and sickness) but my boss is good enough to allow me to take it as sick leave for 4 weeks, and then I have 4 weeks holidays to take, THEN my maternity kicks in.

Hope this helps.

[Lorrymac]

Hi, I'm not sure exactly where your sister stands with regard to the short notice period but your maternity leave is fairly flexible as to when it can start. So long as your sister has worked for the employer for 26 weeks and was there from the 15th week of pregnancy then she is elligable, and maternity leave can start 11 weeks before the baby is born so at 34 weeks she is fine! it just means that if she starts it early, she will have a few weeks less with the baby (as you get 26 weeks paid maternity leave). Hope that helps