I interpreted her question as a 'what if' also. She was generally interested to know how she might in the future, possibly have children if her partner weren't willing to stay home (and lets face it many men aren't).

I didn't take it to be an archaic ideal of parenting or anything, but more genuine curiosity, but I was not there and couldn't interpret other things other than words - like body language, etc.
I guess you do need to take into account that the woman is still, for the most part, the primary caregiver in many cases. Perhaps not so much in the corporate world or the industry you are in, but in most of the circles I am in, they are and so I assume in many others they are also.