The rules around Maternity in Uk have just changed. All pregnant employees, regardles of length of service will be entitled to 52 weeks ordinary maternity leave. Depending on how long you have worked for your employer depends on how much pay you are now entitled to and whether it is just standard maternity pay of £108 per week, or full or part pay from your own salary. You are now not permitted to return to work for 2 weeks after the bay is born as it constitues Health and Safety risk. I did my casework training on this last Friday!