How long is maternity leave (Mutterschutz), and do I get paid?

Duration: Maternity leave (Mutterschutzfrist) starts 6 weeks before the expected due date and ends 8 weeks after the birth. For premature or multiple births, or (on application) the birth of a child with a disability, the period after the birth is 12 weeks. If your baby arrives early, the days you could not use before the birth are added afterwards.

Before the birth: You may keep working during the 6 weeks before the birth if you wish, and you can change your mind at any time. Working during the 8 weeks after the birth is not allowed.

Money: If you are a member of a statutory health insurance fund (gesetzliche Krankenkasse) in your own right, it pays maternity pay (Mutterschaftsgeld) of up to 13 euros per day. Your employer tops this up to your average net salary of the last three months (Arbeitgeberzuschuss). So most employed women receive roughly their net salary during this time.

If you are privately insured or family-insured: If you are not a member of a Krankenkasse yourself (for example if you are privately insured or covered by your spouse's family insurance), you receive a one-off total of up to 210 euros from the Federal Office for Social Security (Bundesamt für Soziale Sicherung). Your employer still pays the top-up.

How to apply: Send the certificate of your expected due date from your doctor or midwife to your Krankenkasse. After the birth you also need to send the birth certificate. Maternity pay is tax-free.

Afterwards: When maternity leave ends, parental allowance (Elterngeld) and parental leave (Elternzeit) begin. Maternity pay is deducted from Elterngeld for the same months.