Be mindful to read your employers maternity policy - a lot of workplace policies are that if you have any kind of sick leave after 36 weeks, it automatically triggers your maternity leave to start - some even sooner
I have been off sick for a while , but my maternity pay has only just started this week x
Yeah I took 3 weeks sick leave more or less (still on it!) my HR essentially told me that pregnancy wipes away any sick leave and there's no limit but it's still fully paid. Unless you are off sick 4 weeks before your due date, then mat leave kicks in automatically