What's possible in early days of motherhood?

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Hi all,

I'm 9.5 weeks off my EDD. First baby. I'm a writer and racing to finish my novel. Today my editor pointed out some key flaws which will need a lot of work. I thought I'd be finished by my due date, but maybe not.

How ridiculous is it to think that I might have any headspace or time to think about doing some work here and there in the early months?

Thanks very much for your thoughts

I was hoping to finish my PhD thesis, after DS2 was born. It didn't happen. I was dreadfully sleep-deprived and had to hold him 24 hours a day. Somehow I just did not feel like writing a thesis even when he was tucked up asleep in the sling.

I wrote it when I went back to work instead (when he was 6 months). I've got my viva next month. eek.

I couldn't think straight for almost a year, but then DS was a terrible sleeper. I look back now and it is like there was a fog in my brain, I could barely read a book and certainly not anything that required any thinking!
It came as a real shock because I've always needed to keep my mind active and pre-DS I would happily settle down with Plato or something as bedtime reading.

Good luck with getting it finished before the baby arrives!! :)

I think it is very variable. I did a small amount of writing/editing work during my first maternity leave, which must have been pretty soon after the baby was born as I only took four months off. But what I couldn't have done was a guaranteed project requiring a minimum of say five hours' work a day at that point.

I think it is also worth thinking/planning forwards; trying to establish what your childcare options are for a few months in. Because you need proper time, ring-fenced time, to work - none of this 'work while the baby naps' stuff. I took, as I say, four months (I didn't have an option - I'm a freelance journalist and my partner then earned very little). I actually did welcome the opportunity to get back to work, three days a week while the baby was at a childminder.

Proper division of work/parenting time is very important if you have an ostensibly 'flexible' job. Not least to shut everyone else up who thinks you're just doing a bit of work during naps.

Oh and actually there is also, I found, a huge relief in returning to words on the page after you've had a baby. Words do, really, what you want them to do. One knows how to handle them. They fall into a structure when organised. It is a blissful contrast.

Disclaimer: I am really a bit crap at new babies.

Thanks ladies, this has been really helpful to me.

Hopefully, once we've gotten over the hectic, newborn stage, I can take it around to my parents-in-law's house for a couple of hours, then go and work in the library.

Even if I manage one or two sessions short in the library a week, it'd be amazing.

All your stories of finishing novels/PhDs etc are very inspiring. THANKS!

I think it depends on how you cope; the support you get and the temperament of your baby. I didn't want to do anything with my newborn other than cuddle her etc. I had 3.5 months before I went back to work full time (needs must) but found by this point, she was such a great sleeper, on the days I worked from home, I'd get up with her around 6, she'd kip in the morning for 2 hours and in the afternoon and during these times, I found I could be really productive with my work.