A Northeastern University study of 40 women who returned to work after childbirth found that, “Many women re-define their identity as women and as workers during this time . . . [M]any are unusually sensitive to their environment – to the role models around them, to their employers’ policies, and to co-workers and bosses’ attitudes, remarks and behavior,” the Wall Street Journal’s The Juggle Blog reported.

"All the women in the study took cues from other mothers as a way to figure out how well they were doing," The Juggle reported. "Having positive role models made new moms feel a lot better about their own ability to handle both work and motherhood, the study found." (June 2009)