maternal
On mom's side
Maternal means relating to a mother or motherhood: maternal instinct, maternal love, maternal mortality.
It also describes things inherited or received through one's mother: maternal grandfather, maternal genes.
Extended uses suggest nurturing or protective qualities associated with mothers: She took a maternal interest in her students' wellbeing.
Carrying developing offspring
- birthComing into the world
- childbirthInfant's emergence from womb
- laborStrenuous effort; also childbirth
- deliveryConveyance of goods
postpartum · breastfeeding · lactation · gestation · prenatal · antenatal · fetus · newborn
Lactation-based infant nourishment
- nursingMedical caretaking profession
- cradlingHolding tenderly, protectively
- swaddlingWrapping babies snugly
- rockingOscillating on curved base
lullabies · cooing · cuddling · soothing · caregiving · tending · doting · comforting
Guidance from experienced person
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- adviceGuidance on decisions
- teachingProfession of instructing others
- influencePower to affect others
example · counsel · lessons · values · traditions · encouragement · support · empathy
Mother of a parent
- ancestorPredecessor in lineage
- mamaInformal word for mother
- mumRefusing to speak
- momFemale parent, informal
abuela · nana · familial · clan · heritage · generations · relatives · offspring
Protecting from harm
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- vigilantKeenly aware of danger
- watchfulCarefully attentive, observant
- safeguardingPreventing harm or loss
sheltering · defending · fierce · instinct · hovering · warding · caretaking · worrying
Hereditary code molecule
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- chromosomesGene-bearing nuclear structures
- genesUnits of heredity
- heredityGenetic trait transmission
mitochondrial · ancestry · lineage · haplogroup · allele · genotype · bloodline · traits
pregnancy
Carrying developing offspring
- birthComing into the world
- childbirthInfant's emergence from womb
- laborStrenuous effort; also childbirth
delivery · postpartum · breastfeeding · lactation · gestation · prenatal · antenatal · fetus · newborn · obstetrics
breastfeeding
Lactation-based infant nourishment
- nursingMedical caretaking profession
- cradlingHolding tenderly, protectively
- swaddlingWrapping babies snugly
rocking · lullabies · cooing · cuddling · soothing · caregiving · tending · doting · comforting · nourishing
mentorship
Guidance from experienced person
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- adviceGuidance on decisions
- teachingProfession of instructing others
influence · example · counsel · lessons · values · traditions · encouragement · support · empathy · reassurance
grandmother
Mother of a parent
mom · abuela · nana · familial · clan · heritage · generations · relatives · offspring · daughter
shielding
Protecting from harm
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- vigilantKeenly aware of danger
- watchfulCarefully attentive, observant
safeguarding · sheltering · defending · fierce · instinct · hovering · warding · caretaking · worrying · securing
DNA
Hereditary code molecule
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- chromosomesGene-bearing nuclear structures
- genesUnits of heredity
heredity · mitochondrial · ancestry · lineage · haplogroup · allele · genotype · bloodline · traits · carrier
- Momsmom, mama, mommy, mummy, mamma
- kind traitskind, caring, compassionate, nurturing, tender
- lovingloving, adoring, affectionate, amorous, caring
- cattle traitshorned, polled, black, red, spotted
- parentagepaternity, parentage, fatherhood, natural parent, parenthood
- feminine traitsfeminine, womanly, ladylike, girlish, demure
maternalpaternal
Of or from father
fatherly · fatherlike · paternalistic · patrilineal · avuncular
maternalunmotherly
Lacking parental tenderness
unmaternal · cold · uncaring · neglectful · distant
- maternity leaveJob-protected time for childbirth
- maternity benefitsCompensation during childbirth leave
- maternity wardHospital section for childbirth
- maternity clothesApparel for pregnant bodies
- maternal instinctInborn drive to nurture
- maternity rightsLegal protections during pregnancy
maternity, maternally, maternities, maternal uncle, maternal grandmother