maternity

英[mə'tɜːnɪtɪ] 美[mə'tɝnəti]

1. the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus

2. the kinship relation between an offspring and the mother

3. the quality of having or showing the tenderness and warmth and affection of or befitting a mother;

"the girl's motherliness made her invaluable in caring for the children"