Hospitalization of the newborn: what are the consequences on maternity leave?
Verified 12 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
If the child is hospitalized beyond the 6è week following her birth, the employee may, if she wishes, interrupt her maternity leave postnatal.
The employee may resume her paid employment before the scheduled date of her return from work, then postpone the remaining days not taken from her post-natal maternity leave until the end of the child's hospitalization.
Thus, by resuming his work after the mandatory 6-week postnatal leave, the employee will remain:
- Either 4 weeks postnatal leave if it's his 1er child or child 2e child, post-natal leave having a maximum duration of 10 weeks,
- Either 12 weeks postnatal leave if it's his 3e child, post-natal leave having a maximum duration of 18 weeks.
The employee must then prevent CPAM: titleContent (or the MSA: titleContent if it depends on the agricultural scheme) of the date of interruption of maternity leave, the date of resumption of postnatal leave and the duration of the carry-over.
The employee must send a certificate justifying the hospitalization of his child.
Please note
Postponement of part of the postnatal leave in case of hospitalization of the child beyond the 6th week following her birth cannot be refused to the employee. It perceives the daily allowances, under the usual conditions, at the resumption of his postnatal leave and throughout his duration.
The employee must also notify your employer the date of interruption of maternity leave, the date of return to the company and the length of postnatal leave subject to the carry-over.
It must send him a certificate justifying the hospitalization of the child.
FYI
The employer may not refuse to postpone part of the postnatal leave in the event of hospitalization of the child beyond the 6th grade week after birth. The employee receives her salary in the usual conditions during the resumption of her activity and throughout its duration.
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