Treen,
That last thought has been bought up a few times

It is unfair but I guess quite realistic.
It's kind of sad that it reflects real life in a way. Woman who have student loans can take up to twice as long as men (if not more) to pay them back if they wish to have children.
Not to mention all the issues with the work place and having children that some woman still have to face in some countries or areas.
BUT I do think it would be realistic if they could still do something like farming (as many nursing mothers have done for thousands of years) or maybe research, there is no reason why they couldn't study texts or study that bowl of berries.
Building could be deemed as too dangerous obviously and same with healing as you wouldn't want to expose the child to that cold

I also think that woman should earm MORE (I know they earn a little) parenting skills during those two years.