I have just found out that we are 5 weeks pregnant, earlier than anticipated. I rather foolishly didn't check on maternity leave policy prior to falling pregnant. I need to have had 12 months continuous service to be eligible for paid leave and that would be 25/5/10, baby is due 20/4/10 meaning I will fall shy by at least a month. I contacted HR in the hope that they would be able to assist, they have said that I have no entitlements and that I may not even be entitled to unpaid leave. What would happen in this instance, would they be able to fire me?

I am so upset, I left my old job 6 weeks ago where I had 14 weeks paid maternity and 6 weeks accrued annual leave. This wasn't supposed to happen so soon!!

I am ecstatic at being pregnant and sure this is just a small ripple in the waves, money is by no means everything, but it certainly helps!

Any advice much appreciated.