Maternity refers to the state of being a mother or the period around having a baby. When a woman is pregnant or has just given birth, she's in the maternity phase of her life. Hospitals have maternity wards where mothers give birth and care for their newborns in those first crucial days.

The word shows up in many everyday contexts. Maternity leave is time off from work that mothers take to have and care for a new baby. Maternity clothes are specially designed to fit comfortably during pregnancy. You might hear someone say “the maternity wing” when referring to the section of a hospital dedicated to childbirth and newborn care.

While pregnancy and childbirth are biological experiences, maternity can also describe the broader emotional and social experience of becoming and being a mother: the preparation, the responsibility, the connection with a new child, and the transformation that comes with caring for someone who depends on you completely.