Maternity protection started in the 19th century. Until then, even heavily pregnant women and women who had recently given birth had to endure up to 16 hours a day in noisy factory buildings – the number of miscarriages and stillbirths rose steadily. At that time, a ban on employment for factory workers up to three weeks after the birth was laid down for the first time – albeit unpaid.
Protection against dismissal was not provided at the time. Many young mothers went back to work as soon as possible after the three-week ban on employment. Around 17 million children died in Germany from 1871 to 1912 for this reason before the end of their first year.
In 1942, the National Socialists issued more far-reaching maternity protection regulations, such as protection periods six weeks before and eight weeks after childbirth. Dismissals were forbidden until four months after the birth. The rules were intended to ensure that the National Socialist model of a mother with many children could be implemented.