Mother's Day: Expert warns of high stress for mothers

Ms. Rupprecht, as the managing director of the Müttergenesungswerk, what goes through your mind when it's Mother's Day?

Making something, giving a flower, saying thank you for what mothers constantly do, even pressing the pause button—all of these things are justified on this day. But mothers shouldn't just be appreciated privately on this day. As a society, we should be aware that we have to ensure that mothers' lives are better. They still bear the brunt of caregiving. This can lead to illness in the long run.

Rebekka Rupprecht has been managing director of the Müttergenesungswerk since January 2025.

Source: Farbtonwerk/ Bernhardt Link

What is the current state of maternal health in Germany?

Studies show that 24 percent of mothers and, incidentally, 14 percent of fathers in this country need treatment. For parents of children with disabilities, the figure is 75 percent. That's quite a lot. The Müttergenesungswerk (Mothers' Recovery Center) was founded in 1950—75 years ago. The need for treatment hasn't diminished. Quite the opposite: We only have space for around 50,000 mothers, 70,000 children, and 3,000 fathers. That's far from enough.

Which illnesses do you encounter most frequently in mother-child treatments?

The most common are so-called "mental disorders." These include states of exhaustion, even burnout, anxiety, sleep disorders, depressive episodes, and stress reactions. These are often accompanied by symptoms such as back pain, joint problems, osteoarthritis, and disc damage. Migraines, headaches, restlessness, obesity, and skin problems also occur. Most spa participants experience three to four such health problems simultaneously.

What causes such health problems?

Many people in care work are permanently overburdened and chronically exhausted. There are many reasons for this: the multiple demands of family and career, and the associated constant time pressure. Added to this are financial problems or children with special care needs. In some cases, they also have to care for relatives. And we recently emerged from a pandemic. This acted as a catalyst, leading to a retraditionalization of family structures—and further exacerbated the stress situation, especially for mothers.

What role does society play in the fact that care workers are at such a high risk of exhaustion?

It starts with a lack of recognition and appreciation for care work. There's no room to take a breather. It's assumed that everything will be compensated for in the private home. Socially, politically, and economically, too few and inadequate solutions are offered. But raising children isn't just a private pleasure. We all want children who will be responsible, resilient, and socially capable in the future. Healthy parents, who have sufficient support and relief systems around them, are an anchor for this. So that they don't have to carry everything alone.

Does that mean that expectations of parents are too high?

In our performance-oriented society, we expect ourselves to give 150 percent in all areas. That's simply not feasible, especially when there are children. The expectation is to quietly fulfill all demands. Raise children, so to speak, invisibly. That's why it's so good that more mothers are taking to the streets these days. That they're starting to talk about the fact that care work doesn't always happen automatically. It must be possible to do care work in Germany without getting sick.

Are the demands on mothers in particular different from those on fathers?

I found an anecdote told by comedian Carolin Kebekus telling: When her partner goes for a walk outside with the stroller, the neighbors start raving about what a great partner she has. Mothers don't have it that easy: The counter-question is more likely to be what the mother actually does during this time. At the same time, no one seems to care if she's pushing the stroller. Mothers want to fulfill their role well. But no matter how they behave, they are often judged very narrowly and harshly.

What adjustments should be made now as a priority to make life easier for mothers?

There are many levers that can be adjusted: I'm thinking of employers who, in the event of staff shortages at daycare centers, show understanding when parents leave the office early to pick up their child. I'm thinking of uncomplicated parental leave. Working hours that are more manageable. The family is under special protection. This is enshrined in the German Constitution, and we should take it more seriously. This also includes low-threshold access to healthcare services for caregivers, such as the inpatient medical preventive and rehabilitation programs offered by the Müttergenesungswerk (Mothers' Recovery Center).

We should also truly live by the fact that men and women are equal before the law. We should also ensure that mothers can participate everywhere – especially in political contexts. Mothers in particular are not able to participate to the same extent as others. Political work is currently mostly organized in such a way that it takes place at times when people are looking after their families. When there is no childcare available. And functioning care networks are needed. In some families, there are grandmothers or sisters who can help out. But as a society, we cannot assume that these private structures exist to compensate for this.

Do you have the impression that the new federal government is taking sufficient account of the concerns of mothers and families?

The Mother's Recovery Fund is included in the coalition agreement, and financial support for spa treatments for mothers, fathers, and family caregivers is to be provided. That's already a positive sign. It gives us hope that federal funding will be considered, for example, to increase the number of urgently needed spa places. This could shorten the currently far too long waiting times and provide care workers with the urgently needed support. We will see to what extent the federal government will support care workers in general and in the area of ​​equality. And how, in particular, the healthcare of care workers is taken into account. If in doubt, we will remind people that this must not be forgotten.