Motherhood During the Roman Empire

A good Roman mother was considered honorable and fertile. All women in the Roman Empire were expected to bear chidren. A lot of mothers during the time of the Roman Empire had "wet nurses" that would nurse their children for them which was actually quite common at the time. To which exent Roman fathers were involved in taking care of the children is still unknown, but many were invovled and liked to be present when the Roman mothers would swaddle their children. Large families were not common and having a family of 5 was unsual. Roman woman were valued for having children, raising them, educating them, and making sure they would grow up to be good people. It was believed that in order for a Roman woman to be able to raise her child correctly, that she herself should be educated as well. 

Motherhood During the Roman Empire