Illness benefit while on maternity leave

A cousin's recently had a baby and is receiving maternity benefit. She's very unfortunately fallen ill and is in hospital at present. Does the period when she's unwell count as illness benefit, ie does the time that she's sick fall under a different benefits category allowing her to extend her maternity leave?

She's understandably stressed out at the moment and wants to know the answer, notwithstanding all around her, including me, telling her just to concentrate on getting better.

Streamer

You can only postpone maternity leave if the child is in hospital unfortunately as per the citizen advice website.

Maternity Benefit can only be postponed in the event of an illness to the child.