Pregnancy & Family

Planning a pregnancy in Germany: due date, maternity and parental leave

Due date, maternity protection, parental leave and parental allowance thought through together – with deadlines, examples and the right calculators.

Updated on May 25, 2026 Topic: Pregnancy week, ovulation, fertile days, parental leave

What you are calculating

A pregnancy is also a project with deadlines and money. Four calculators accompany the path from the first week back to work:

Calculator Typical question
Pregnancy week calculator Which pregnancy week am I in, when is the due date?
Fertility window calculator When were or are my fertile days?
Parental allowance calculator How much parental allowance will I get?
Parental leave calculator When does my parental leave start and end?

The pregnancy timeline

Pregnancy is counted from the first day of the last period and lasts about 40 weeks (280 days). A value like "12+3" means 12 completed weeks plus 3 days. The week pregnancy calculator gives the due date and current week – optionally backwards from the due date.

phase Period (roughly)
1st trimester weeks 1 to 12
2nd trimester weeks 13 to 28
3rd trimester week 29 to birth
Maternity protection before birth from 6 weeks before the due date
Maternity protection after birth up to 8 weeks (12 for premature/multiple births)

Maternity protection: the protected time around birth

Maternity protection is a statutory protected period. It begins six weeks ago the expected due date and ends eight weeks later birth – for premature and multiple births, and for the birth of a child with a disability, it extends to twelve weeks after birth.

Financially this time is covered by maternity pay from the statutory health insurance (up to 13 euros per calendar day) plus an employer top up that makes up the difference to the previous net wage. As a result, net income is largely preserved during maternity protection.

Parental leave: unpaid time off from the job

After maternity protection, parental leave follows for many. Key points:

  • Duration: up to three years per child, usually until the third birthday.
  • Splitting: up to 24 months can – with the employer's consent – ​​be transferred to the period between the 3rd and 8th birthday.
  • Application: for parental leave until the 3rd birthday, the request must reach the employer at least seven weeks before it starts.
  • Part time: During parental leave, part-time work of up to 32 hours per week is possible.

When exactly your parental leave starts and ends is planned by the parental leave calculator around the due date.

Parental allowance: income during parental leave

Parental allowance replaces part of the lost income. There are two variants that can be combined:

Variant amount Duration
Basic parental allowance approx. 65–67% of net (min. €300, max. €1,800) up to 12 months (14 with partner months)
Parental Allowance Plus about half the basic amount twice as long, ideal with part-time

The expected amount is estimated by the parental allowance calculator from the net income before birth – including the sibling bonus and the logic of basic and Parental AllowancePlus.

Key deadlines at a glance

  • 7 weeks before parental leave starts: written request to the employer.
  • 6 weeks before the due date: start of maternity protection.
  • After birth: wait for the birth certificate, then apply for parental allowance (paid retroactively for a maximum of three months).
  • Health insurance: apply for maternity pay in good time.

Common misconceptions

  • "Maternity protection and parental leave are the same." No – maternity protection is the paid protected period around birth, parental leave is the time off afterwards with parental allowance.
  • "I get parental allowance automatically." It must be actively applied for and is paid retroactively for only three months.
  • "During parental leave I may not work at all." Part time up to 32 hours per week is allowed; Parental Allowance Plus is designed for this.

Conclusion

Thinking about due date, maternity protection, parental leave and parental allowance together early on avoids missed deadlines and makes family income planning safer. Start with the week pregnancy calculator for the timeframe and check the financial side with the parental allowance calculator and the parental leave calculator.

Sources

FAQ

Frequently asked questions on this topic

When does maternity protection start in Germany?

Maternity protection starts six weeks before the expected due date and ends eight weeks after birth. For premature and multiple births it extends to twelve weeks after birth.

How long can I take parental leave?

Up to three years of parental leave per child, usually until the child's third birthday. Part of it can be transferred until the eighth birthday under certain conditions. The request must reach the employer seven weeks before it starts.

How high is the parental allowance?

Basic parental allowance (Elterngeld) replaces about 65 to 67 percent of the lost net income, with a minimum of 300 and a maximum of 1,800 euros per month. Parental AllowancePlus pays about half over twice the time and fits part-time work.

What is the difference between maternity protection and parental leave?

Maternity protection is a statutory protected period around birth with maternity pay. Parental leave is the unpaid time off from the job afterwards, bridged financially by parental allowance.

Matching calculators

Continue calculating