“I’m writing this in the wee hours of the morning because it’s the only moment I’ve had to myself in days,” says Kayleigh Dray, mother to a toddler and a five-month-old. “Our eldest has fallen foul of croup, and the baby – clearly feeling left out – is running a fever, too.

“Both are koalas, desperate to be with me at all times. On top of me, ideally – while sobbing and coughing uncontrollably. That, in itself, feels like a lot of pressure; they look to me (and only me) when they need comfort. The doctor handed me (and only me) a list of worrying symptoms to be on alert for. The childminder messaged me (and only me) about the toddler’s absence… You get it. And this means that I’m getting about two hours of sleep each night. I’m doing the lion’s share of the childcare, while figuring out what’s for dinner, keeping track of potty breaks, remembering to buy nappies, sorting through clothes to make sure the right sizes are to hand and trying to keep on top of emails and deadlines (never has a “No worries!” ever been more fraught with worry). And I’m trying not to feel like the worst mother in the world when I plonk on an episode of Bluey in a desperate bid for five minutes’ peace.

“I used to think of myself as a calm, cheery woman who absolutely doesn’t care if someone forgets to pick up toilet paper on the way home. Now, I’m a Dr Jekyll character, showering the children with love but going full Hyde on my husband whenever he puts a toe wrong – because I just don’t have enough gentle parenting left in me. It’s not that I’m angry. Not really. But I am overstimulated AF and beyond exhausted by being everything for everyone all the time. I need a break, but I can’t seem to catch one.

“‘Taking a few minutes to decompress is perfectly fine,’ Dr Kalanit Ben-Ari reassures me. ‘Parenting is demanding, and those small breaks can really help recharge you. If hiding in the bathroom or popping out to the supermarket works, that’s great; any break from the usual parenting routine can feel like a mini-vacation, even if it’s just a quick errand run.’

“Noting that self-care is essential, she adds that it’s also OK to ‘ask your partner, a friend or someone else to take your baby for a walk so you can enjoy some me-time on the sofa with a hot drink and some music. Parenting is challenging for everyone at different times. You’re definitely not alone in feeling overwhelmed, and it’s perfectly OK to struggle. Every parent’s journey is unique, but the challenges are universal.’

“Now the baby is ready for another feed, the toddler is coughing in her sleep and the dog is trying to clamber onto my lap again because he has no boundaries. My husband, though, has unexpectedly cleaned the house, so maybe I’ll save my next meltdown for another night.”

“When it comes to parenting, everyone wants to recommend the book that worked for them. Whether it’s how to set a strict sleep schedule, the best recipes for baby-led weaning, dealing with potty training or any of the countless other challenges that arise throughout your child’s life, it’s likely that there is a school of thought (and a book), all about how to tackle it. But one that recently caught my attention when recommended to me in my antenatal class differed from the rest. Rather than focusing on the child, it shifts the emphasis onto the mother,” writes Annie Simpson, Stylist’s email content editor and mum-to-be.

“The First Forty Days: The Essential Art Of Nourishing The New Mother may have a slightly woo-woo title, but it makes for a fascinating read. So often the emphasis is put on women to ‘bounce back’ after having a baby, but here, author Heng Ou delves into the ancient Chinese practice of postpartum self-care and the importance of nourishing and caring for mothers after giving birth. Filled with warm and practical advice and recipes to help navigate the fourth trimester, it’s a refreshing change from the Western approach to women having to do it all. And even if I do end up taking it with a pinch of salt once my baby arrives next month, I’m hoping that it will act as a reminder to take a little more time out to myself in those early days.” £22.99, Bookshop.org