Is childbearing sinful?

Response

No, childbearing is not wrong.  Ceremonial uncleanness is not the same as sin.  Leviticus 12:6-7 refers to both a burnt offering and a sin offering.  A woman who gave birth was ceremonially unclean, but this in no way implies that she sinned.  For instance, one chapter earlier, Leviticus 11:24-27 states that one who touches the carcass of certain animals would be unclean, but the law never forbids men to do this.  It would be necessary at times, for instance, if one of these animals died on the property.  Thus, ceremonial uncleanness is not the same as sin.

However, the sin offering is mentioned here as well.  This does not imply that the woman was sinning in childbirth, but that she had sin which needed atonement (all people do).  By offering the sin offering, she was acknowledging to God that she was a sinner.  For instance, in the purification of a leper, the priest was supposed to offer a sin offering (Leviticus 14:13), but this does not imply that the leper is a sinner because he has leprosy, it is just a universal fact that men are sinners, and when approaching God, it is good to acknowledge this.  When Aaron offered a sin offering for himself during the offering of the scapegoat (Leviticus 16:11), it was not for any particular sin which Aaron had committed, but because Aaron was a sinner and had obviously sinned since the last sin offering.