Two holding hands
Parent & Child
15.05.2025 Ifenna Ekezie 719

Maternity protection in the event of miscarriage: a new path for affected women

From June 1, 2025, a significant change in the law will come into force that will significantly improve maternity protection for women who suffer a miscarriage.

Women who suffer a miscarriage from the 13th week of pregnancy are also entitled to maternity leave from June. The new regulations offer staggered periods of protection and financial support to give affected women the time they need to recover and raise awareness of the emotional and physical strain of miscarriage.

Text: Laura Rohsius, Parent & Child Consultant at pme Familienservice.

Maternity protection for miscarriages

New legal regulations on maternity protection in the event of a miscarriage

Until now, maternity protection only applied to miscarriages after the 24th week of pregnancy. From June 1, 2025, women who suffer a miscarriage from the 13th week of pregnancy will also be legally entitled to maternity protection.

The duration of maternity leave depends on the course of the pregnancy in the event of miscarriage and is staggered: 

  • from the 13th week up to two weeks maternity leave
  • from the 17th week up to six weeks maternity leave
  • from the 20th week up to eight weeks maternity leave

What is the significance of the new maternity protection regulations in the event of a miscarriage?

These new regulations on maternity protection in the event of a miscarriage close a previous gap in the Maternity Protection Act and recognize the physical and psychological stress associated with a miscarriage.  

The introduction of staggered protection periods is an important step towards giving affected women the time they need to recover. During the protection periods, employers are not allowed to employ the women concerned unless they expressly declare their willingness to work.  

Women are also entitled to maternity benefit during this period, which provides financial relief.  

These regulations should also help to raise awareness in the world of work of the emotional, physical and psychological challenges associated with miscarriages.  

Tips for employers: be sensitive when dealing with affected employees

1. respect privacy: Respect the boundaries of the employee concerned and give her control over the conversation. Think about which details really need to be asked.

2. safe framework: Encourage the employee to share their situation without putting pressure on them. Create a safe atmosphere in which emotions are okay and you allow time for stories and sympathy.

3 Avoid empty phrases: Phrases such as "It'll be okay" or "It had its reasons" can be hurtful. Instead, you can simply listen and show understanding.

4. inform about new regulations: Make sure that all employees are informed about the new maternity protection regulations so that they know what rights and support they are entitled to.

5. offer flexibility: Depending on the workplace, discuss the possibility of flexible working hours or working from home to make it easier for the women concerned to return to work.

6. provide resources: Provide information about counseling services (e.g., pme Familienservice) and support groups that can offer support. This shows that the company cares about the well-being of its employees.

Through these measures, HR staff can help affected employees to feel supported and understood, which not only promotes their recovery, but also improves the working atmosphere.

Maternity protection, child benefit & co.: the pme parent advice service

Our parent counselors support parents in all matters from pregnancy to the child's adulthood.  

Personal and confidential: We are there for you online, by phone and on site. You can find more information on the pme parent counseling page.   

 

WFurther information:

 

zero Digital kindergarten: Less documentation, more time for the children

Kindergarten child looks through a peephole
Pedagogy
12.06.2024 Sabrina Ludwig 7451

More time for the children thanks to the childcare center app

No more printing, folding notes and sticking them on the pinboard: our childcare center app makes communication between parents and teachers and the documentation of everyday educational activities easier. This not only saves paper and printer cartridges, but above all time.

"Emil is unfortunately ill today" flashes the message on the display of the tablet at childcare center Wolkenzwerge in Berlin in the morning. Parents and teachers can communicate via an app at childcare centers at pme Lernwelten . With just a few clicks, parents can call in their child sick in the morning or let them know who is coming to pick them up in the afternoon. "That alone makes our work easier. One look at the app and I can see which children are already here, which are sick and which are still missing," says Benjamin-Henrik Mahl from the childcare center management team at pme Lernwelten.

The heart of the app, however, is that the teachers can use the digital log to document the children's day. When did the child eat and what, was it changed, did it sleep, did it learn something new? Instead of communicating this verbally to each parent and writing it down on paper as before, the teachers can simply type everything that happened during the day into the app. Special activities and experiences such as "Emil discovered a butterfly!" or "We built an insect hotel together today" can also be recorded in the daily log.

More time for individual support

Teachers at childcare center Blütenallee in Darmstadt have been using the app since January 2017. Thanks to the app, parents receive a lot of information during the day, leaving more time to talk about more important matters such as the child's development when picking up the children. "We save time as a whole team thanks to the digital documentation, which benefits both the children and the parents," says head of childcare Katrin Kob. "Thanks to the childcare center app, we spend less time on everyday things such as meals and bedtimes and are better able to discuss what the child has experienced and how they have been throughout the day."

The childcare center app reduces the administrative workload for teachers because information reaches parents faster and in a more targeted way. "Instead of phone calls, text messages or other communication channels, we have a single channel through which we inform parents," explains Benjamin. "We can also easily send information about the upcoming parents' evening or the menu using the app. And we can even see who has read the message and who hasn't yet."

 

No crowded group chats like on WhatsApp

Teachers don't have to worry about chat groups overflowing with messages like WhatsApp or other messaging services. The childcare center app actually only knows one direction of communication: the teachers inform the parents, not the other way around. The only exception: Parents can sign their child out or in sick.

Door-to-door conversations remain important

The free app for parents does not replace face-to-face conversations and exchanges between parents and teachers. "The app is not there to replace door-to-door conversations at drop-off and pick-up times. But it is a supplement. The fact that facts such as bedtime or eating habits have already been clarified means that there is room to focus more on the child's individual experiences and development or to talk about educational concepts," says Kristina Müller from the childcare center management team at pme Lernwelten.

The childcare center app is not a must for parents. But most parents have downloaded the app. "The app is very popular with parents. They feel well informed, even if they don't pick up the children themselves, and are happy to receive messages from their child," says daycare manager Katrin. Parents and teachers are also on the safe side when it comes to data protection. The data in the childcare center app is subject to European data protection regulations.


 

About us: We are pme Lernwelten

As a provider of over 75 childcare and educational facilities, we offer parents and children high-quality and flexible education. Our colorful teams are made up of people from different nations, with diverse talents and interests.

You can find out more about our educational concept and current vacancies here: www.familienservice.de/web/pme-lernwelten

Get to know us as an employer!

Creating a balance between work and private life is an integral part of our culture.

You can also look forward to a range of benefits such as a fitness card, job bike and much more: Your career as an educator at pme

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Portrait photo of Laura Rohsius

Laura Rohsius

Consultant Parent & Child, pme Familienservice

As a graduate in education and educational science, Laura Rohsius has in-depth specialist knowledge of all aspects of having children, becoming and being parents, as well as all colorful parenting and family topics. She is also well versed in child protection.