Apologies- somehow managed to send this reply to your personal address, will try again via the list:
I did my original PhD 10 years ago in Biology without children- and felt like a fraud etc- very much as you've described. I'm now back doing further postgrad work (MSc currently, applying for PhD funding) - changing areas to Psychology- with 3 young children. It does make things harder. The house is a complete state (and needs rebuilding let alone decorating). I think that's something you need to let go. Don't be perfectionist about the house- that will come later.
It is possible with a young baby to get some work done when they're asleep- providing you're getting enough sleep at night. That's really important. You'll probably find once you've got childcare sorted that thngs get a little easier with some space. When I started my MSc I had no childcare for my youngest child (except the one day I spent on campus) and it made getting anything done harder. Now with more childcare it's easier.
Not sure there's much advice in there- other than the fraud thing being quite common when doing a PhD, and that chaos is normal with young children, but it is possible to muddle your way through work as well, but you do have to be less perfectionist than before children.
Your baby is still tiny, and you'll still be adjusting to motherhood- give yourself time, and don't worry too much about work. It will sort itself out. 2 month olds are so unpredictable that is is hard to work around them. Give it a bit longer and your baby will have more predictable sleeping patterns and will probably sleep in longer blocks. On the days when I have my youngest at home (now 2 years old) I still quite often get a good 2 hours work in while he sleeps. When he was younger he would sleep for up to 4 hours a day, but not in the early months.
Good luck and congratulations! :-)
Chris
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