Pregnancy and Maternity Protection — Your Rights as an Expectant Mother

As of March 2026. All information provided without warranty.

Maternity Protection

The Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG) protects pregnant employees:

Protection periods:

• 6 weeks before the expected delivery date: You must not work (optional to continue voluntarily)
• 8 weeks after delivery: You must not work (mandatory protection period)
• In case of premature birth or multiple births: 12 weeks after delivery

Employment protection:

• From the start of pregnancy until 4 months after delivery, your employer cannot terminate your employment
• Also applies during parental leave

Maternity Benefit

Who receives it?

• Employees covered by statutory health insurance

How much?

• Health insurance: €13/day (max.)
• Employer supplement: Difference to average net salary
• Result: You continue to receive your full net salary during the protection period!

How to apply?

• Health insurance: Submit application for maternity benefit + medical certificate with expected delivery date
• Employer: Informs itself and automatically pays the supplement

Prenatal Care

Health insurance covers:
- Regular prenatal examinations (approximately every 4 weeks, later every 2 weeks)
- 3 ultrasound examinations (additional examinations as private services: €30–100)
- Blood tests, blood pressure measurement, urine tests
- Midwife care — completely free of charge!

Finding a Midwife

A midwife accompanies you before, during and after birth:
- Costs covered by health insurance
- Search early! (preferably from week 8 of pregnancy)
- Search portals: ammely.de (GKV-Spitzenverband), hebammensuche.de

Hospital Birth

• Visit the delivery room in advance (free of charge)
• Hospital costs: fully covered by health insurance
• Birth certificate — apply at the registry office within 1 week

After Birth — Complete Immediately:

1. ☐ Birth certificate at the registry office (within 1 week)
2. ☐ Apply for child benefit (€259/month, retroactive up to 6 months)
3. ☐ Apply for parental allowance (within 3 months)
4. ☐ Health insurance for your baby (family insurance GKV: free of charge)
5. ☐ Register your child with the local residents' registration office

Tips for Foreign Mothers

• Midwives often speak only German — but there are midwives who speak native languages (ask at counseling centers)
• Pregnancy counseling is free and confidential (pro familia, AWO, Caritas, Diakonie)
• Pregnant women often receive faster residence permits — inform the immigration office