Being a working mother comes with its challenges, but the challenges are steeper in some states, particularly for those in the South.

Just ahead of Mother's Day, WalletHub sized up the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia based on attractiveness to working mothers. The analysis looks across 12 metrics in three categories: child care, professional opportunities and work-life balance.

The top-ranked states are primarily in the North and Mid-west and include:

No. 1 -- Vermont

No. 2 -- Minnesota

No. 3 -- Wisconsin

No. 4 -- New Hampshire

No. 5 -- Massachusetts

Southern states did not fare well in the study.

Eight of the 10 lowest-ranked states are from the South, including:

No. 51 -- Louisiana

No. 50 -- South Carolina

No. 49 -- Mississippi

No. 48 -- Alabama

Source:

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Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

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