French Labour Code
In forceWhere, prior to childbirth, the employee herself or the household is already responsible for at least two children or where the employee has already given birth to at least two viable children, maternity leave begins eight weeks before the presumed date of childbirth and ends eighteen weeks after the date of childbirth.
At the request of the employee and subject to a favourable opinion from the health professional monitoring the pregnancy, the period of suspension of the employment contract that begins before the presumed date of childbirth may be reduced by a maximum of three weeks. The period after the presumed date of childbirth is then increased by the same amount.
When the employee has postponed part of her maternity leave after the birth of the child and is prescribed time off work during the period prior to the presumed date of childbirth, this postponement is cancelled and the period of suspension of the employment contract is counted from the first day of the time off work. The period initially deferred is reduced by the same amount.
The eight-week period of maternity leave prior to the presumed date of childbirth may be increased by a maximum of two weeks. The period of eighteen weeks following the date of childbirth is then reduced by the same amount.
