As far as I am aware every Co. gives you up to 52wks of maternity leave, it depends on the Co. if it's paid or unpaid!
You can start your maternity leave whenever you choose, BUT you can still ONLY have up to 52wks leave!

So if you start your maternity leave at say 20wks & delivery baby at 40wks, you have already used up 20wks of your maternity leave IYKWIM?
So bubs would be 32wks old when you go back to work..

I get 13wks full pay maternity leave, I worked Full time & I had saved up some annual leave so I finished work at 36wks gestation (23rd June) so by 23rd June next year I have to have returned to work... Does that make sense???

We must return to work for a 12mth period also & if we resign withing 12mths we have to repay our maternity leave!

I have wangled my return to be part time & evenings from Jan 2007.

If you get 6wks pay it would be from whenever you start maternity leave, this can differ also as some ppl can work up until birth & others for medical reasons or personal reasons finish earlier!!


I hope this has helped somewhat!!!