Where, in relation to a pregnant employee, the date of confinement falls in a week that is four weeks or more before the expected week of confinement, the employee shall, where the circumstances so require, be deemed to have complied with section 9(1)(a) if the notification required by that section is given in the period of 14 days commencing on the date of confinement.

Notwithstanding section 10(1), and subject to regulations under section 11, the minimum period of maternity leave for an employee referred to in subsection (1) shall be not less than: (a) 26 consecutive weeks and a further period of maternity leave in respect of a date of confinement on or after 1 October 2017 equal to the duration of the premature birth period; or (b) 26 weeks and a further period equal to the duration of the premature birth period part of which is postponed in accordance with section 14B or section 14C, as may be appropriate, commencing on whichever is the earlier (i) the first day of maternity leave taken in accordance with section 10; or (ii) the date of confinement.