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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 Corona and puberty - a generation in lockdown

Schoolchildren greet each other with masks and elbows.

Lockdown and puberty - how parents can provide support

Young people largely adhere to the corona measures

Young people are better than their reputation. The SINUS Youth Study 2020 has shown that, for the most part, young people are complying with the coronavirus measures and acting responsibly. In the vast majority of cases, they are prepared to cut back when it comes to their lifestyle, meetings with friends and other things that were once taken for granted. They usually do this out of a sense of responsibility for their fellow human beings, be it their own family, older people around them or society as a whole.

 

Corona and puberty are a toxic combination

In times of corona, the life of an adolescent is particularly difficult, because corona and puberty are a toxic combination! This developmental phase is all about gaining autonomy, setting yourself apart from your parents and developing your own rules. But corona is throwing a spanner in the works: instead of finding their own way, they have to be with their parents all the time because of the lockdown - even though they are actually only interested in their friends.

pme parent advisor Kyra Wetzel also emphasizes that the lack of social contact is particularly difficult for young people. For young people, the peer group, together with the family, is the most important pillar in their lives. They miss their freedom and the ease of life. Every day is the same, there is little variety. This fosters a feeling of loneliness and a loss of impartiality. What's more, control and restrictions are particularly annoying at this age. However, it is precisely now that parents have to take responsibility for the coronavirus-related restrictions imposed on their children.

Conflicts in the family increase during the coronavirus crisis Kyra Wetzel reports that conflicts in families have increased during the coronavirus period. Families are spending much more time together. Added to this are the excessive demands and stress caused by homeschooling and working from home. The lack of variety in everyday life exacerbates the situation. The family is completely thrown back on itself. Conflicts that you might have been able to avoid before now escalate much more easily and new ones arise. This takes its toll, as all family members are under a lot of stress and frustration in their own way, and nerves are understandably often frayed.

 

Anxiety, depression and eating disorders as consequences of corona

The lack of structure provided by school in particular also has an impact. Developmental neuropsychologist Anja Karlmeier from the Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel emphasizes that the brain development of children and young people is inextricably linked to their social and societal development, i.e. the opportunities they have to develop in family, school and leisure time. The school closures and contact restrictions therefore have direct consequences.

The COPSY (Corona and Psyche) study by the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf shows that more than 70% of the children and adolescents surveyed feel emotionally burdened by the corona crisis. This is reflected in anxiety, stress and depression, among other things. Psychosomatic clinics are currently receiving an increasing number of adolescents who are struggling with eating disorders, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. There are young people who are becoming more and more withdrawn and hardly leave the house or react with obsessive-compulsive disorders such as excessive hand washing. As paradoxical as it sounds, this is an attempt to regain control.

 

Media consumption by young people in lockdown

So young people suffer immensely in these times. But how do parents deal with this situation when the potential for conflict is already high? How do you organize family life? And should rules on media consumption etc. be maintained or should the leash be loosened?

Kyra Wetzel advises deciding together with the family when to have a media-free time. An outright ban or strict rules will lead to more conflict in most cases. Not all media consumption is the same. A distinction must be made between leisure, learning and information consumption. Young people have a right to participate in cultural life and a right to access the media. Parents should therefore carefully consider how much time their children are allowed to spend in their alternative media environment.
As parents, you should also offer alternatives. This could be a walk together, a games evening or cooking together. And: As parents, be a role model and pay attention to how you use digital media yourself. Clear agreements made together strengthen the relationship and trust between parents and young people and prevent conflicts.

The coronavirus pandemic and all the resulting measures affect us all. However, it is necessary to take a special look at the next generation, who should be setting the course for a successful adult life right now. This precious time is characterized by isolation, loneliness and restrictions due to the coronavirus crisis. The young people of today are the backbone of our society and the decision-makers of tomorrow. They should therefore have the best possible conditions to develop well.

 

Kyra Wetzel is a parenting consultant at pme Familienservice in the Stuttgart branch and is also responsible for the Concierge, Relocation & Outplacement product area

 

 

 

You may also be interested in these articles:
Corona: How the lockdown is putting children under psychological strain
School at home - how to make it work!

Mental consequences of the lockdown - are we at risk of burnout? 

Good grades at school: online tutoring with bidi

 

pme assistance - Our advice for parents

From pregnancy and birth to the child's adulthood - every phase has its upsides and challenges. Our team of social pedagogues, educators and parent counselors supports parents in every phase and takes the pressure off everyday professional and private life.

Find out more: www.familienservice.de/web/pme-assistance/elternberatung

 

Sources:

https://www.barmer.de/gesundheit-verstehen/coronavirus/sinus-studie-corona-248390


https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/familie/2020-07/kinder-corona-krise-psychische-folgen-entwicklungspsychologie


https://www.uke.de/kliniken-institute/kliniken/kinder-und-jugendpsychiatrie-psychotherapie-und-psychosomatik/forschung/arbeitsgruppen/child-public-health/forschung/copsy-studie.html