Sick leave while pregnant

Just wondering if anyone knows what my right are in relation to taking sick leave while pregnant. I'm only 15 weeks pg and have already taken 17 days off sick (this is more sick days than the total sick leave i've taken since I started the job over 6 years ago). The problem is I'm sick again (seem to be catching everything) and worried about taking more time off. Can't find any law that protects my job due to pregnancy related illness, thought I had read it somewhere. Job isn't very stable as it is so don't want to rock the boat but really don't feel fit to go into work.

My understanding is that by law, you don't have to be paid for sick leave at all, same as you don't have to be paid for maternity leave. If the employer pays you, it's a bonus - and if they don't you can claim on PRSI. Can't imagine how you'd lose your job over it though, assuming you have doctor's notes. I hope you're feeling better soon.

Could you ask for it in the form of unpaid leave?

After 7 days my employer doesn't pay sickleave. (Well it's depends on who you are, I don't work for the nicest employers in the world!) I'm more concerned that because I'm out so much they take it that I'm not fit to do my job and put me on the next redundancy list. They don't take too good to people taking much sick leave at the best of times. My question is more do with whether they have to treat my sick leave differently because i'm pg?