Navigating the Maternal Load: A Support Guide
The Maternal Load, often referred to as the “mental load,” describes the invisible cognitive work involved in keeping family life running smoothly. It includes the ongoing planning, organising, remembering, anticipating and coordinating that is often required to manage a family’s day-to-day needs.
Before motherhood, you may have had greater flexibility to organise your time and prioritise the occupations that were important to you. Motherhood introduces a new set of roles, responsibilities and demands that can significantly change how your time and energy are distributed.
The transition into motherhood can therefore create challenges in maintaining occupational balance the ability to participate in the different activities and roles that are meaningful and important to you.
In this download, we will work through a series of activities to help you identify your maternal load, delegate responsibilities, and make space for your own occupations. The aim of this process is to help you find greater balance.
Occupational balance doesn’t mean doing everything equally. It means creating a pattern of activities that supports what matters to you, your family and your wellbeing.
Maternal Village SA resources are for general educational purposes only and do not replace personalised healthcare, professional advice, assessment or treatment. Every person and family is different. Please seek individual support from an appropriately qualified professional when needed.