Maternity leave is the period of compulsory leave from work granted during pregnancy and the postnatal period. The compulsory nature of this leave is enshrined in the Consolidated Law on Maternity and Paternity.

According to the law, maternity leave begins two months before the expected date of birth, unless flexibility is requested. 

Even in the case of flexibility, the obligation to take leave for doctoral students begins no later than the month before the expected date of birth.

The period of leave may cover periods of gestation prior to two months if the pregnancy is at risk or in the case of tasks incompatible with pregnancy.

After childbirth, leave lasts:

• three months (unless flexibility is requested) and, in the case of childbirth after the expected date, the days between the expected and actual dates;
  
  
• three months plus any days not taken, if the birth is earlier than the expected date (premature or early birth). This also applies if the sum of the three months following the birth and the days between the actual and expected dates of birth exceeds the five-month limit;

If the newborn is hospitalized in a public or private facility, the mother may suspend her postnatal leave, even partially, and resume work. The mother will take the remaining leave period starting from the child's discharge. This right may be exercised only once for each child.

It is also possible to request maternity leave in the case of adoption or foster care of a child, for five months starting from the date the adopted or foster child joins the family.

All information can be found on the INPS portal: Allowance for maternity and alternative paternity leave. 

It is possible to apply for suspension due to pregnancy on Esse3. The procedure is indicated on the specific page: Suspension of the PhD Programme.

The doctoral student must send the gynecological certificate indicating the expected date of birth to dottoratro.rice@uniud.it.

In the case of activities in hospitals or laboratories, doctoral students are also required to inform the Department of Aggregation and the host institution.