Where, on or after 1 October 2017, the date of confinement of a pregnant employee occurs more than 2 weeks before the expected week of confinement but less than 4 weeks before that expected week, notwithstanding section 10(1), the minimum period of maternity leave for a pregnant employee other than a pregnant employee referred to in section 13(1) or 13(2), shall be a period of not less than -

(a) 26 consecutive weeks and a further period of maternity leave the duration of which is equal to the duration of the premature birth period, or

(b) 26 weeks and a further period of maternity leave the duration of which is equal to the duration of the premature birth period part of which is postponed in accordance with section 14B,

and which commences on the date of confinement.