week to see if I can be signed off again I was signed off until 36 weeks with DD, and then at that point its compulsory to start mat leave. (I think its because the company can claim your wages back through smp) Definately speak to another GP. As I still had annual leave to take my lovely manager let me "return" at 36 weeks and use my holidays up, so I could spend more time with dd when she arrived. Worth thinking about if a) you have a good relationship with your manager, and b) The annual leave left. It's only compulsory to begin Ml at 36 weeks if the illness is pregnancy-related. If you break your leg for example, you can go off sick until 39 weeks or the date you originally nominated to go on ML. I heard they can ask you to go on leave early or suggest it (before the 36 week point) but you can say no. I was v pleased to hear this as I went on sick leave for the two weeks before I started my ml. Good luck x