Should Moms Work or Stay at Home After Giving Birth? [Poll]

A lot of the debate among women, and even among family members, lies on the issue of whether or not a mother should stay at home for her children, or go back to the workforce after giving birth.

It is a preconceived notion to some that only a mother can give ample care and attention needed by a baby. Yet as the modern times roll on, a growing number of women would also fight for their right as equal partners in a household who also have a voice on their career choices.

As stated in a study by the Institute for Social and Economic Research, results show that serious damage to a child's prospects in later life can be caused by mothers who return to work after giving birth. According to this, there is a similar effect to children who are growing up in a single-parent household, as well as to children whose mothers are away from home during working hours, reports Mail Online.

It is not a surprise that the top reason why mothers work away from home is of a financial nature. "We interviewed more than 100 women, and money was number one," says Carol Fishman Cohen, referring to the research she did for her coauthored book, "Back on the Career Track: A Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms Who Want to Return to Work", quotes Huffington Post.

Many families are concerned that there won't be enough to go around their household if mothers will not contribute at all. Other moms are also concerned that if they leave their jobs for a long time, their salary value might decrease and they might not be appropriated with good compensation should they decide to go back to work.

And still other mothers might also ask "What about the father's role?" According to the abovementioned research, it has been found that fathers who worked full-time had a similar impact on their children's development to mothers who worked part-time. But their children were less likely than others to be unemployed later in life and less likely to show signs of mental distress.

One could only wonder where mothers should stand. It is safe to say that these all depend on the mother's decision and where their family stands on the issue.

Here are a few key questions that may help in determining a life-changing role, as stated by Huffington Post:

1. Ask yourselves: What can we really afford?  Couples should discuss money issues regarding the pros and cons of child care services.

2. Do a trial run. A couple of months would probably do for this experiment.

3. Set a time limit.  Create a reasonable time frame for this.

4. Get creative -- and stay flexible.  There are other ways to earn while staying at home. One should be open to possible scenarios.

And so we ask you,