Signed off

I'm so sorry for your loss 🧡 I think you should definitely get signed off. Generally, GPs ask you what you want it to say on your sick note, and how long you want it for, which can seem a bit overwhelming when presented with those questions on the spot, but the plus side is it means if you want it to say pregnancy related stress/anxiety, or whatever you may want it to say, that's what they'll put. Pushing through it won't do you any good if work is adding extra stress to your existing struggles. In terms of affecting maternity pay, it partly depends on your employer's sick leave policy and their maternity policy (which if you don't already have, now would be a good time to ask for it). If their sick leave policy means that you'll be on statury sick pay (SSP), then you'll get £116.75 per week if you work full time, and if you work less then it'll be whatever percentage of the full time equivalent you work. Info on SSP can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/what-youll-get

If your employer's maternity policy means that you'll be on statutory maternity pay (SMP), then this requires you to have an average earning of above £123 per week in the 8 week period before the "qualifying week", which is the 15th week before your due date. So SSP in itself is below the qualifying amount for SMP. But the good news is that you're coming up to that qualifying week. I'm 23 weeks today and my qualifying week is the week commencing 14th October. So you only have two weeks before your qualifying week anyway, which means that the last six weeks should push your average earnings up to above the minimum threshold. Hope that makes sense, and the short answer is it shouldn't affect your ability to get SMP. Info on SMP can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/eligibility

Oh I am so sorry to hear about your previous loss of your baby girl. I really and truly believe in maternity self care and if you are not feeling supported and your anxiety is high that I would really recommend speaking to your midwife about it and getting signed off as sick. I am a huge fan of being in my little pregnancy bubble feeling safe at home but I am still working full time however my employer is very supportive had I’ve had 4 lots of sickness throughout for all different reasons. I just feel that if they are not supporting you now then being at home would be the best for you. Your Dr would have to sign you off and give you a sick certificate xx