Hmm… too many women (rather like men) have selfishness plaited around ignorance, and impose societal rules blindly, often for their own benefit ... those who are truly 'motherly ' are rare indeed. Giving birth is a means of status, power and even unearnt income and comfort to a lot of women who otherwise, would avoid having children.

Birthing and being motherly, ie nurturing are not necessarily synonymous, in my experience. Mothers can be very manipulative, seeking to hoard their children and their life energies, for themselves.