Having a long break from working can be career suicide, especially in Stem (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) industries.
Women are often faced with a choice between focusing on their career or having a family.
How long can breast milk be left out for?I have met some who have successfully managed to do both, but they are a rarity.
The key to their success seems to be in having a truly egalitarian relationship, where childcare responsibilities are shared equally and career sacrifices are made by both parents.
Unfortunately this is not always the case.