by Kelly Greenbaum

Created on: September 30, 2009   Last Updated: October 01, 2009

Motherhood in and of itself is a full-time career. These superwomen we see that can manage to do both either have nannies, lots of family support, or live in a constant state of exhaustion. It is said that motherhood is the hardest job one will ever undertake but undoubtedly the most important. As soon as the baby comes into the world the job of motherhood begins. The feeding schedules are gruesome and deprive the mother of much needed sleep. And if the mother is breasts feeding, then the baby is completely dependent upon her for all of their nutritional needs.

This does not take into consideration the mother's physical condition after giving birth. The act of delivering a baby is no easy task on a woman's body. Often there is cutting and stitching involved and if there is a c-section, the recovery rate is much longer. Women tend to be thrown into hormonal overload usually by the fourth day and also must cope with this.

The average company will give a mother six to eight weeks off after the baby is delivered. This usually means that when the mother returns to work she is often feeling guilty, preoccupied, and worried about her babies care. The first day back to work can be the most difficult. And employers are seldom concerned if you have to leave a sick baby in order to come to work. Many professional women who chose a career over motherhood, tend to be the harshest critics with moms because they figure they made a decision based on the company, and the mother made a different decision in her life and should be compensated accordingly.

Many couples decide to work opposite shifts if this can be arranged, but then the couple's intimate times are taken away and the relationship can suffer. In order for a mother to accomplish both tasks she would have to be a true heroine. Getting up feeding the baby in the middle of the night, getting ready for work, working, shopping for supper, preparing supper and spend quality time with a significant other and the baby. Where is the time left over for the mother? This does not include such tasks as housework, Dr's appointments, sex, or a social life. What is her quality of life?

Society still holds to the traditional concept that the mother should be the one who stays home with the babies while the man's career excels. Why else would women make less on the dollar than their male counterpart? It has to be noted that since the woman actually carry the baby in their body and deliver the baby, she cannot compare her productivity with a man at the same time she is pregnant and while giving birth.

I think it is possible for women to do both however, I believe they need help from their significant other, a nanny, or their parents and siblings. To attempt to do everything themselves, will lead to an emotional and physical overload that will eventually start affecting the mothers health and temperament. Babies are very perceptive and it would affect the babies sense of well being also.There is no doubt that being a mother requires many sacrifices and challenges but they are, after all, bringing up our next generation.

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