Arrange your maternity leave (congé maternité)
For a first baby the legal maternity leave is 16 weeks: 6 before the due date and 10 after. You can move up to 3 weeks of the prenatal part to after the birth, but only on medical advice — it is not simply your choice. Checked against ameli.fr on 21 September 2026.
- Who it applies to
- People who are employed (salarié)
- On your timeline
- Paperbump schedules this usually between week 28 and week 32 of the pregnancy
- Official source
- ameli.fr
- Last checked
- 21 September 2026
What else to know
Longer leave applies from the third child and for multiples. Whatever you arrange, at least 8 consecutive weeks must be taken, of which at least 2 before the birth and 6 after. The Assurance Maladie pays a daily allowance throughout, worked out from your earlier salary and capped — at most €104.02 a day from 1 January 2026 — that is the figure after the flat 21% deduction the formula applies, so it is what actually reaches you. It is paid for every day of the week, weekends and public holidays included, with no waiting period.
Work out your own dates — free, nothing leaves your device