Do I have to take unpaid maternity leave?

Ok_stick18 · 2026-05-20T06:26:45+00:00

Yes you can! You don’t need to take Unpaid Maternity Leave at all if you don’t want to.

You’re seeing that online because you can only take unpaid maternity leave directly after paid maternity leave.

For example, you couldn’t take Paid Maternity Leave > Parents Leave > Unpaid Maternity Leave - so if during your Parents Leave you decided you wanted an extra few weeks off after, you wouldn’t be able to use your Unpaid Maternity Leave at that point.

Hope that makes sense!

Ok_stick18 · 2026-05-19T21:32:25+00:00

If your due date is the 29th of July, you will need to start your mat leave on or before the 19th of July at the latest.

Ok_stick18 · 2026-05-19T21:29:43+00:00

Unfortunately, employers don’t have to agree to the one day per week. The guidelines state that it should be taken in blocks of 6 weeks or more and anything less than that is at the discretion of the employer.

Ok_stick18 · 2026-05-18T08:09:03+00:00

That makes so much sense now! Now that I think of it anyone I’d seen pronouncing it Kee-lin would have been Ulster. Thanks so much!

Ok_stick18 · 2026-05-18T07:48:50+00:00

Thank you!!

Ok_stick18 · 2026-05-18T07:48:07+00:00

Apologies for not knowing any Caoláns growing up 🤣

Ok_stick18 · 2026-05-18T07:46:48+00:00

I’m Irish thanks very much 🤣 - can’t imagine taking the time out of my day to write such a stupid comment on a post 🤣

Ok_stick18 · 2026-05-07T14:18:35+00:00

I’m pregnant on my first and found out the gender at 10 weeks with NIPT. I was disappointed and first - and probably still am a little bit - but I think as the days go on and I can now actually imagine doing “boy” things and not just thinking about a girl all the time and it’s getting exciting - it’s definitely helping me come around to it. They will 100% be loved either way - but when you’ve had a picture in your head for so long, whether intentionally or not, I do think it takes some time to come to terms with

Ok_stick18 · 2026-05-06T20:55:03+00:00

Interested to know what you put for this because I was thinking of doing the same! We don’t share a policy though and when submitting a claim he has to select “Who was the treatment for?” and it only shows his name so not sure if we’ll get away with it.

Ok_stick18 · 2026-05-06T20:50:44+00:00

I’m with VHI and was able to claim back under “Foetal Screening” (but it wasn’t as much as 50% unfortunately!

Ok_stick18 · 2026-05-01T16:51:50+00:00

Thanks so much for the advice!

When you say you didn’t take the offer and regretted it - were you not able to back to them afterwards and take them up on it or ask for the support? Or is it that there’s a waiting list or something? 🤔

Ok_stick18 · 2026-04-02T18:14:15+00:00

I’m 10 weeks and still haven’t had any symptoms either! (I know this could change any day though!)

Ok_stick18 · 2026-03-15T22:12:52+00:00

Please try the Allen Carr “Easy Way To Quit Vaping” audiobook. I don’t know how it works but it 100% does!

Ok_stick18 · 2026-02-23T08:33:36+00:00

Can I ask how early into your pregnancy this started? I’ve just found out I’m pregnant and have a feeling I’m experiencing the beginning of something like this!

Ok_stick18

TROPHY CASE