Two holding hands
Parent & Child
15.05.2025 Ifenna Ekezie 1248

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 Gratitude makes you healthy and happy

Woman smiles gratefully
Body & Soul
25.10.2024 Christin Müller 14822

Learning gratitude and staying healthy

We adults live in an everyday life full of to-do lists, tight deadlines and ambitious goals. We often overlook the little moments that really enrich our lives. Feeling grateful for these little things almost seems like a luxury that we often don't have time for.

In this article, we show you why feeling gratitude can be the key to a healthier and happier life and what methods you can use to learn gratitude.

Learning gratitude increases the feeling of happiness

To feel gratitude in such a situation, you need to look deep inside yourself. Leave out everything negative and focus on the positive aspects of your life - however small they may be. After all, gratitude has been proven to increase happiness and joie de vivre. And not only that: gratitude can be learned!

There are various methods you can use to learn gratitude. The best known is the gratitude diary, in which you write every day before going to bed what was nice that day or what you are grateful for. One thing a day is enough. In our article "Writing down positive thoughts", we explain the principle of writing them down in more detail, which you are welcome to use as a template for your diary. However, it is important that you don't just write down what you are grateful for, but also reflect on it so that you can feel it.

Gratitude method: The 5-finger method

We would like to introduce you to one gratitude method today because it gives you a holistic feeling and quickly and effectively sharpens your eye for the little things mentioned above.

The starting point for this gratitude exercise is the 5-finger communication method developed by US psychologist Elsbeth Martindale. You can do the exercise regularly or when you are not feeling so well. You will quickly experience a good mood boost and permanently increase your well-being.

Use your hand as an aid and go through the following five steps one after the other.


 

  1. Thumbs: Familiarize yourself with the topic! Think about what you are really proud of. Be aware of your strengths and give yourself a pat on the back.
  2. Point the finger: Point to the facts! What excites and inspires you? For example, think of something beautiful from nature or a piece of work that you have created.
  3. Middle finger: Name your feelings! What good thing have you done for someone and how did it make you feel? How does it make you feel when you think about it now? Think about who you could do something good for next.
  4. Ring finger: What makes you feel good? Think of the person(s) you love or have loved. What feelings does this trigger in you?
  5. Little finger: What do you want? Name one thing you are grateful for.

Do you already feel a change?

Gratitude makes you healthy

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You may have already guessed that gratitude makes you happy and content. But did you know that it can be a real all-round medicine? People who are grateful generally have a positive attitude towards life. It improves sleep and reduces feelings such as anger, anxiety and depression. Gratitude increases motivation and reduces chronic stress - both in private life and at work. This has even been scientifically proven in various studies over the past 20 years. A study conducted by the University of California in 2015 even found that being grateful has been proven to improve heart health.

The good thing is that gratitude, like curiosity or humor, can be trained, says psychologist Willibald Ruch from the University of Zurich. Those who do this regularly increase their well-being. After some time, the neurobiological effects of gratitude training have even been proven by brain scans, report scientists from the University of Indiana (2016), according to Spiegel.

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.