The Frence Justice Minister returned to work this week, just five days after giving birth to her first baby by Caesarean section.

Rachida Dati is no doubt a glamorous and undoubtedly talented 43-year-old businesswoman and politician yet she has come under intense criticism and has been the subject of much media attention this week. Supporters of her right to choose are in direct conflict with those who feel that her decision has put back the maternity leave debate and raised the old issue of whether you really can combine the high flying career with motherhood. And who will suffer?

Some speculation in the media has reported that her decision to return so early was perhaps a result of intense pressure from the French President, Sarkozy, who plans a radical overhaul of the justice system and as she heads up that department, she perhaps felt as if she had no choice.

Yes, it is a woman's right to choose but surely the need to take the time to support, nuture or indeed bond with a newborn has been a long fought out battle and now that women and families benefit from the maternity and paternity leave available, her decisions seem to be at odds with what we perceive as the best thing for a mother and a baby.

And in all this, what about the baby? What about her right to want her mother next to her in these special and vital early weeks of life? You never get or have it all, and we wonder, who really will be the loser here?

Let us have your views and visit the MumKnowsBest coffee room...