Two holding hands
Parent & Child

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.

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 Write down positive thoughts: Never brood again

Woman writes in diary
Body & Soul

Write down positive thoughts: Never brood again

When winter just won't end, it can really put a damper on your mood. In such phases, we often forget the positive moments that keep us going.

We would rather brood over negative things that have failed, upset or hurt us. However, positive thoughts are not only better for our well-being, they also help us sleep much better. Our health expert Petra Dinkelacker has a really good tip on how to change your mindset in the long term by writing down your positive experiences.

Store good experiences and ensure a lasting sense of well-being

Writing things down can help us to better remember positive experiences. By writing things down, we can determine over time which approach helps us to develop things in a positive direction and which strategies we should develop in the future.

This is how it works:

  • Get yourself a nice book and a nice pen that you use for the sole purpose of jotting down your thoughts.
  • Take five minutes before going to bed. That's often all it takes.
  • Now write down your successes and positive experiences of the day and ask yourself the following questions:
    ​​​​​​​
    • What worked well for me today?
    • How did I manage it or what did I do to ensure that it went well?

Think about three things and answer these two questions for each of them.

Plan to practise this method for at least three weeks and write down your experiences. If it doesn't work on one day, don't put yourself under pressure. Revisit your thoughts later or skip a day. But keep going and leaf back through your book from time to time to see what insights you can derive from it.

I wish you many positive thoughts!

Health impulses with our 5-minute exercises

Our 5-minute exercises give you ideas for more relaxation, balance, activity and feel-good moments in your everyday work and private life. They are not a substitute for professional help from counselors and psychologists.

Please seek professional advice, for example from life coaching (Link opens in a new window) ( Link opens in a new window) , if you are permanently depressed, suffer from persistent excessive stress and have deeper mental problems.