Maternity is a term that refers to the period of time before and after childbirth. MOTHERHOOD (10 letters) is the state of being a mother, which involves caring for and nurturing a child. WARD (4 letters) is a term used to refer to a hospital unit that specializes in the care of pregnant women and new mothers. LEAVE (5 letters) is a period of time away from work or other obligations that is granted to new mothers to allow them to take care of their newborns.