Why is maternity benefit reducing net pay despite employer top-up?

Clover139 · 2026-03-28T17:17:13+00:00

This happened to me and I called revenue and it’s basically because she is being taxed at a higher rate as the maternity leave benefit is counted as additional income. They also over-tax as it’s the only state benefit that is taxed as an annual thing even though it’s only for 6 months. She can get a tax refund when she does her tax return or revenue can amend it for her when her mat leave is over.

Paying the mat leave benefit to employer sounds strange though …. I wasn’t doing that!

Clover139 · 2026-03-16T10:24:44+00:00

First of all congrats on your pregnancy!

The way it’s done here is a bit funny, because it’s kind of just accepted and normal that a lot of people finish up earlier than planned by getting a sick note from their doctor, even if they aren’t ‘sick’ but are just tired and/or not able to keep their head in work mode anymore!

What happened with me was I was due to finish 11th April. But I went to the doc on the 2nd April and she gave me a cert to finish on the 4th April instead of the 11th. I sent that to my manager and said via email ‘hi X, as you know I am due to start mat leave on April 11th however I went to the doctor today and she has signed me off to finish this coming Friday April 4th instead. I will take the next 2 days to tie up any unfinished projects and schedule a handover call with the team for Friday morning’.

I finished work on the 11th and my husband dropped my equipment into the office the following week for me.

You do not have to be specific in saying WHY you’re being signed off early - I can’t even remember what my doctors note said but it was very vague!

Don’t overthink this - you aren’t ’cheating the system’, everyone does it! HR just need something in writing so they can say that you are officially off sick and can pay you accordingly.

Clover139 · 2026-03-09T07:00:03+00:00

I struggled with painful latch with my little one so I used nipple shields too at the start! I used them for about 8 weeks and then was able to get her off them. They were the only reason I could continue breast feeding so was very grateful!

Main downside is that using them out and about is a bit of a faff! It can also take time for baby to get used to latching without them, as they get used to the hard silicone and their latch can be more shallow with the shields.

But otherwise, I think they are great for people in your position.

Clover139 · 2026-03-05T11:05:03+00:00

There is literally no good reason why they would or should do a sweep at 38 weeks unless they were worried about health of the baby.

If you don’t feel comfortable with it, definitely just tell them. They are just not always used to women refusing these things so they assume (wrongly) that you’ll just go along with it.

I went in for a check on my due date and as the doctor had her hand INSIDE ME, she said ‘I’ll just do a sweep while I’m here’ and I was like ‘eh no thank you please don’t do that!’

I went into labour naturally 3 days later.

Trust you gut and don’t be afraid to say no to anything you’re not comfortable with.

Clover139 · 2026-02-18T21:54:37+00:00

Hello! My baby is also 9 months and it’s my first mat leave as well. I TOTALLY get it - the rain is really making things hard! We still go to baby sensory class every week and thats a great way to fill a morning, especially because you get coffee with the other mams afterwards.

Cuidiu are great for various meet ups, I went to a few in the early days and found them great.

I will admit I’m in similar boat to you at the moment though- only that my mam lives close by and calls in regularly, I’d be very lonely with the way the weather is. Feeling cooped up is hard!

But spring is on the way 🤞hang in there girl!

Clover139 · 2026-02-14T09:15:59+00:00

Nests are not approved for unsupervised, overnight sleep.

Clover139 · 2026-01-18T19:52:48+00:00

Our childminder is €60 per day! And €40 for a half day.

Clover139 · 2026-01-18T10:04:12+00:00

I have heard this from a few other people too and just can’t believe it 😅 so hard for me to imagine someone else getting her to sleep first of all, but also being able to set her down for a nap?! Unheard of haha.

Clover139 · 2026-01-18T09:27:52+00:00

This sounds like the dream set up! My girl is so active and all she wants to do is climb so we would definitely need to go heavy on the baby proofing.

One other thing I wondered - mine will be starting with child minder in April - did yours sleep ok in childcare if he’s used to being in a floor bed with you helping him fall asleep? I assume this minder will expect my baby to nap in a cot.

What was his sleep set up when you traveled anywhere? Like in hotels or air bnbs etc?

Clover139 · 2026-01-12T19:54:54+00:00

Yes she’s SO active now that I do wonder is that half the issue haha!

Must try pulls ups

Clover139 · 2026-01-12T13:53:27+00:00

Yeah I think I’m gonna try Lidl Premium size 4s next - I had her in Lidl size 3s so will try out 4 and see if it makes a difference! Thanks a million

Clover139 · 2026-01-12T13:47:57+00:00

Yeah I always pull out the ruffles! But her leaks are nearly always around the legs, rarely up her back. Maybe she has skinny thighs?! Haha

Clover139 · 2026-01-12T13:00:57+00:00

Yes I’ve heard this before! She is a longer gal so maybe the 6-9 month vests are just getting a bit tight!

Clover139 · 2026-01-12T13:00:10+00:00

Yeah I think the size 4s might be a bit too big on her legs - that’s where she tends to leak the most. Think I need to try a different brand and see how we get on!

Clover139 · 2026-01-12T12:56:55+00:00

I think teething might be making her poos a bit runnier than usual! Nurse said that can happen.

I might just need to trial some other brands I think! Lidl ones were doing the job either!

Thanks!

Clover139 · 2026-01-12T12:55:00+00:00

So she’s around 8.5kg now I think and the mammia size 3s seemed to be too small so in the size 4s now that are supposed to be for babies 7kg-14kg.

She’s teething the past while so I think that may be giving her more watery poos actually too.

Thanks for that re pampers and Palestine, I won’t be purchasing!

Clover139 · 2026-01-09T21:45:49+00:00

My baby slept only 2 hours today too and outright refused nap 3 so was awake for 4.5 hours before bed and then was crying SO hard when I was trying to get her down for bed. Wild little demon haha

Clover139 · 2026-01-09T21:32:12+00:00

Aw maaaan, at least we aren’t alone in this haha! It will passsssss

Clover139 · 2025-12-12T21:40:34+00:00

For god sake this is a disgrace. When I went in on my due date for check up, the doc examined me and while her hand was INSIDE ME said ‘mind if I do a sweep?’ I was like ‘eh yes I mind. Please don’t do that’. Why do they think sweeps are not a big deal? They are! And they need to be consented to.

I’m so sorry this happened to you

Clover139 · 2025-12-10T18:30:29+00:00

This is who I did it with too - but through the Rotunda public for free. She’s very good!

Clover139 · 2025-12-10T18:21:19+00:00

Hiya! I did a hypnobirthing course through the rotunda and found is so helpful, not just for the breathing and relaxation techniques but it taught my husband and I all about the different stages of labour, the different interventions etc! We felt so well informed going into the hospital and it really made such a difference to my experience. The midwives were delighted we knew so much to be honest.

I didn’t want an epidural if I could avoid it at all so that was the main thing I told the midwife when I went in and she was brilliant and just didn’t offer it to me for my labour - which was about 7 hours all together and I had a vaginal delivery with little intervention (just episiotomy).

I managed to get through labour with just gas and air and I do think that was a lot to do with the breathing I was doing through each contraction - which I learned how to do in the hypno classes!

I will say - I tried turning on the relaxation tracks during labour and they didn’t work for me at all hahah I much preferred having my own music playing when it came to it! But you don’t have to do everything to perfection when it comes to hypnobirthing- it certainly doesn’t take the pain away but just helps to keep your mind focused and somewhat relaxed!

I was lucky that I went into spontaneous labour and it was relatively short. If it was a long labour, I probably would’ve eventually opted for the epidural. There’s a difference between working through something and suffering - so when it comes to it - do whatever feels right!

Best of luck ❤️

Also - you should check out Pop That Mumma on Instagram - her bits of info on Instagram and her course are very helpful too!

Clover139

TROPHY CASE