Did i screw up (interview)

It's illegal to ask you about dependents in an interview. I'm assuming you are hoping to come off of maternity leave and work for them at this juncture, otherwise I don't think you would be interviewing. That's the only reason I could see being necessary for informing them that you were on a planned maternity leave.

I just had an interview for a job, i am on maternity leave, They asked my about my attendance and asked how many 'unplanned' absences i have had in the past year i said none which is true. I did not mention that i am on maternity leave as i didn't think that needed to be shared.

well it just hit me that my professional references most likely mentioned that i was on maternity leave. do you think that is going to hurt my chances? ... the references are not actually checked by the people that do the hiring but a seperate hr person...my hope is she won't pass that on?

I don't think you screwed it up at all. They asked you how many "unplanned absences" you have had in the past year. I define unplanned absences as, oversleeping, emergency happens, car crash, etc. Maternity leave is not an "unplanned absence," you plan the absence many months before you take it.

I agree. Maternity leave us nit an unplanned absence, therefore u were completely in the right about your "absences". If they do not hire you, u can request to know what grounds they made their decision on.

Does the job that you're on leave from currently know that you're not returning? Are they holding your job open for you? That could affect what kind of a reference that they will give a prospective employer...