Time Management for New Mothers

When the first child is born to a family, most women’s worlds turn upside down. Finding time to balance current relationships, household chores and personal needs with a new baby can leave mothers feeling frayed, frazzled and frustrated. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a little patience, prioritizing and flexibility, new moms can navigate this time and emerge confident and content in their new role.

This was Tonjia Coverdale’s experience. “Before I had Benjamin, I was a typical type ‘A’ personality. I had a plan and carried it out flawlessly,” says the mother of her now 18-month-old. “When he was born prematurely, I had a big adjustment to make. Now I was on his schedule—his plan. I learned early on it was okay to have a tentative agenda but I had to remain flexible for him.”

“Having a new baby is a definite rebalancing act,” says Rebecca Levin, LCSW, coordinator for Postpartum Support International. “Just getting used to having a newborn around is hard. Trying to figure out how to integrate him into your existing life—that’s a huge challenge.”

For Christine Bart, the biggest challenge was maintaining her current social life. “Before Kailin was born, we had a lot of childless friends and were used to going out and taking weekend trips,” says the mother of her now 16-month-old. “Afterwards things changed. Our friends would come over, but it wasn’t like it used to be,” she says.

Experts agree the dynamic of friendships often changes after the first baby is born.

“Relationships are birthed out of common interests, so it may be difficult for childless friends to understand the time and energy a newborn requires, let alone the limitations you now have,” says Postpartum Doula Gracie Mirolli.

But that doesn’t mean the friendships can’t continue. Look for commonalities you still share and plan times to get together for lunch, coffee or at the park. Take the baby with you or ask someone to baby-sit so you can go alone. Talk about what is going on in your life and stay tuned in to your friends’ interests. Even if those friendships fizzle, it doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a life of loneliness.

“We still have friends who are childless, but I have a whole new set of friends with kids that I’ve met through playgroups, at story time, even on the Internet,” says Bart.

More important is to schedule time alone with your spouse. If date nights won’t work, try a creative approach. When the baby is asleep, order in Chinese and put out a tablecloth and candles, watch a movie together and give each other foot or back rubs. Make this a priority from the beginning to keep your marriage healthy and strong.

Another challenge most new mothers face is finding time for household chores. Levin’s advice is simple.

“Set small goals,” she says. “Instead of saying, ‘I’m going to clean the whole house today,’ start with one or two rooms. That way it’s more manageable and you won’t get frustrated if it doesn’t all get done.”
Even then flexibility is key.

“I break up the work and do different chores throughout the week so it’s finished for the weekends,” says Bart. “One day I’ll do vacuuming and dusting. The next I’ll do bathrooms and laundry. But I’m not super rigid. Some days I don’t get it all finished, but I have a happy child.”

Coverdale makes housework a matter of multitasking. “I didn’t have a formal fitness program in the beginning so I combined it with housework,” she says. “I wore Benjamin in a sling or mei tai while I did my chores. Now that he’s older I involve him in some of the simpler tasks like unloading the dryer and helping pick up toys. We make it into a game.”

Other mothers combine fitness, friendships and infant time by participating in parent exercise programs, such as yoga or stroller programs, which include baby in the routine.

Incorporating activities is, in fact, the best way to find time for the things you want and need to do. Of course, it may take a bit of ingenuity.

“The biggest adjustment I had to make when Benjamin was born was changing from a working woman to a stay-at-home mom,” Coverdale recalls. “I loved being home with him, but I had a huge void and wanted some personal enrichment.”

Coverdale combined her love for technology with family and fashion and created an online mother and baby clothing line called DivasnBabes.

“It’s my creative outlet, but it doesn’t take time away from the baby,” she says. “I work on it at night, after Ben and my husband go to bed. It’s my recharge time.”

Bart wanted personal fulfillment too, but waited until Kailin settled into a routine before starting to work on her master’s degree online.

Mirolli thinks waiting is wise. “The baby dictates so much of the mother’s time at the beginning. The best thing she can do is rest so her energy returns,” she says. “In time her baby’s routine will emerge and life will become more predictable.”

Then you can do those things you deem important, as long as you stay flexible.

“I always want to have time for my daughter,” says Bart. “Even if it means some days I put things on the back burner to read books, sing songs or just pick up and go to the playground.”

Denise Yearian is the former editor of two parenting magazines and the mother of three children.

What is a Postpartum Doula?

A postpartum doula (ppd) is an experienced professional who assists new mothers with the recovery of the birth experience and oversees her postpartum needs so she can focus on the baby. The ppd facilitates the mother’s rest periods, encourages proper nutrition and is available to demonstrate practical newborn care, from feeding and bathing to diapering and dressing techniques. She can also assist new fathers in learning skills and gaining confidence to care for the newborn.

For families with older children, a ppd can create a fun and stimulating environment so Mom and Dad can care for their new baby, rest or enjoy quality time together. A ppd also offers practical household assistance with regard to cooking, cleaning, laundry and shopping.

Postpartum doulas differ from nannies or baby nurses in that they do not take over the care of the baby. While they may offer assistance, their goal is to guide and encourage the mother to learn to care for her own infant and to shoulder domestic chores until she is physically able. For more information or referrals, log onto www.cappa.net or www.dona.org.

Resources for New Mothers

• BabyCenter, babycenter.com. An online parenting community center that provides pregnancy, baby and toddler information.
• Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association, cappa.net. Provides new and expectant parents referrals in childbirth education and support.
• DivasNBabes, divasnbabes.com. An online baby-wearing boutique that offers ring slings, pouches, wraps, mei tais and more.
• Doulas of North America (DONA, International), dona.org. Provides information and referrals for birth and postpartum doulas.
• International MOMS Club, momsclub.com. Local support groups that hold meetings with speakers and discussion topics, family parties, playgroups, baby-sitting co-ops, special activity groups, community service projects and more.
• La Leche League, lalecheleague.org. A world-wide organization committed to breastfeeding support through telephone and group meetings.
• MOPS International, mops.org. Meetings provide fellowship for mothers with young children in a nurturing, caring environment. Moms share information, have group discussion time and learn a craft, while children play nearby with supervision.
• Parenting Press, parentingpress.com. An online resource that provides books, articles, tips and tools related to parenting.
• Parents as Teachers, parentsasteachers.org. A non-profit parent education organization that provides parents of children, prenatal to age 5, with support and information on their developing child.
• Postpartum Support International, postpartum.net, online support group: ppdsupportpage.com, for dads: postpartumdads.org. A worldwide organization dedicated to education, prevention and treatment for issues related to maternal mental health.