Reluctantly revisiting Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Now I am no psychologist, but it seems to me that after years spent working on my own route to self actualisation, and to "fulfilling my potential" by focusing on the rewards that a successful career can bring, having a newborn leads to a rapid and somewhat reluctant reappraisal of where I am in Maslow's pyramid, and which needs currently 'dominate' my life. ( I am of course referring to Maslow's theory of human motivation, so please google it if you have no idea what I'm jabbering about)!

Clearly self actualisation can take many forms: my career may be on ice, and self esteem a little wobbly at times, but I have to remind myself that I am currently fulfilling my lifelong desire to be a mother...which is arguably harder than some of the challenges that have faced me in my commercial existence?! Please note the jury is still out on this point and I'm not alluding to putting yet another load of laundry on, or perfecting my nappy changing technique, although these are critical parenting skills.

To come back to psychology/philosophy, a newborn baby is naturally the purest expression of base physiological needs ( food, water, breathing, excretion, etc..although sex is probably less pertinent right now). However I had not anticipated how my own, usually complex motivations, which coexist at different levels of Maslows pyramid and have historically been dominated by 'self actualisation,' would also need to change. Sadly for my husband sex is probably less pertinent for me too, as just finding time to shovel food into my mouth ( other than the obligatory daily / twice daily slab of cake justified by breast feeding ) and to shower off the vomit odour is enough to dominate my waking hours for now.

I think perhaps this is why maternal self esteem often takes a bit of battering post partum as the establishment of a new way of life kicks in. 

Personally I feel hope is on the horizon, as pride in semi-competent parenthood (?), esteem and security from new friendships and routines, all arise gradually like the Phoenix from the ashes of a former life. If I was a gardener I might use the analogy that the green shoots of parental love in my proverbial garden, and buds of friendship are now in bloom and need to be nourished, just as the weeds of self doubt need to be eradicated and kept under wraps ( which is more than i can manage in my own tiny patch of scrubland at the back of our house).

And so it appears I have rationalised and argued away my complaints for another day. My definition of self fulfilment may be changing, but perhaps that's no bad thing? All views I welcome.