Appendix Table A1.

Coding framework and exemplar excerpts for each code

Self-care behaviors
Making time for oneself
Delegating childcare	“Asking my husband to get up with the baby so I could get needed sleep” (632)
Delegating home/family responsibility	“Yes, my husband always encourages and supports me to get care of myself. He helps me to do chores so I can get sometime for myself.” (140)
Being alone/solitude	“Saying no to a social zoom with family so I could have quiet time by myself instead” (1182)
Thinking positively	“I have a monthly call with friends to discuss personal goals and accomplishments” (202)
Taking care of health needs
Personal hygiene	“Taking showers is pretty much it right now” (1170)
Sleep	“Taking a one-hour nap during the day” (530)
Engaging in pleasurable activities
Beauty and personal care	“Pedicure while visiting my parents and they watched my daughter” (864)
Unwinding with a drink	“Drank and gossiped via video chat with a friend” (875)
Listening to music	“Listening to music while I do the dishes and leave the baby with my husband” (105)
Reading	“I re-read my favorite book.” (1180)
Shopping	“I bought new clothes” (633)
Exercising
Meditating	“I have a counselor who is teaching me mindfulness and staying in the present. My husband highly encourages my self-care.” (402)
Walking	“Going for a walk with my family.” (635)
Jogging	“Went for a run today.” (734)
Yoga	“My husband started giving our newborn a bottle every afternoon so I can go have 1–2 hours of free time. Yesterday I took a short walk in the woods and did yoga” (492)
Housework/catching up on home responsibilities	“I let my husband take care of the kids so I could go to the grocery store.” (656)
Religious and spiritual activity	“Reading scriptures in the morning” (179)
Spending time in nature	“Played yard games outside in the sunshine” (1483)
Socializing	“I did a video call with my brothers” (534)

Barriers to self-care
Limited time
Home/family responsibility	“Too much work around the house and with the kids. Just forcing myself to just do something is hard but I do it anyway.” (876)
Professional and occupational responsibility	“No time between a demanding job and a young toddler!” (530)
Limited financial resources	“People say go out more for one away time but it's hard when no one can watch the baby and you don't have money for a baby-sitter” (686)
Limited social resources	“I have no one to help with my daughter.” (864)
Single motherhood	“I'm a single mom of a 10-month-old; I have zero help and zero personal time/space. Sesame Street occasionally distracts the baby long enough to let me eat, breathe fresh air, or go to the bathroom.” (527)
Difficulty accepting help	“Feeling guilty for asking my mother to take care of my child for me too. Husband doesn't help me as much as I wished he did.” (637)
Lack of childcare	“I feel like my children get in the way of self-care such as quiet time where I could meditate or read. I cannot even shower without them banging on the door or trying to shower with me.” (170)
Mental health
Anxiety/worry	“My daughter has severe separation anxiety, and seeing her anxious makes me feel anxious even when I know she is being well taken care of.” (416)
Depression	“Depression gets in the way. Therapy helps, along with my support system.” (635)
Guilt	“The guilt is what I struggle with the most, so when someone else suggests I do something, or they plan something it's easier to do it.” (311)
Lack of motivation	“Just lack of motivation. when I get to it, I'll get to it” (472)
Self-sacrificing mindset	“The baby's needs are above my own right now. He's never out of my thoughts.” (106)
Sleep/exhaustion/lack of energy	“Lack of energy after caring for my children, my home, my work.” (641)

What helps mothers engage in self-care (personal)
Optimism	“Keep my mind positive to live positively.” (140)
Free time	“Hooray for naps, early bedtimes, and similar interests. Time to do what I want and sharing things that make me joyful.” (570)
Alone time	“I need more time alone and out of the house” (845)
Getting sleep	“Husband, he'll take the baby and let me get some sleep” (240)

What helps mothers engage in self-care (social)
Family and friends
Parents	“My parents, and in laws sometimes take my son off our hands so my husband and I can have some time alone to appreciate ourselves and one another. We sometimes spend time doing whatever we want to do, whether individually or together.” (182)
Parents-in-law	“My mother-in-law has been very good about helping to alleviate some of the things on my “to do” list. For example, when she babysits our kids she will often also do dishes, do laundry, cook dinner, whatever needs to be done really. It always makes me feel much more relaxed to come home and see those things that needed to be done, done.” (142)
Extended family members	“Two children and husband. My parents and some extended family help me out when I need it.” (656)
Partner	“My husband tries to encourage me to eat and relax. He is always willing to take over our daughter's needs so I can have some time to myself.” (399)
Friends	“A close friend encourages me to seek therapy to work on my personal things and another to take time out for me.” (442)
Other moms (mom friend)	“Other moms, encouraging the small things like a shower or painted nails to help myself feel more human and happy.” (176)
Offers to delegate infant/childcare	“My mom tries to help me by offering to watch my baby so I can take naps, or work out.” (235)
Encouragement to engage in self-care	““Every now and then my husband thinks to say “hey you should take this money and go treat yourself” to either clothes, shores, massage, hair, nails, whatever I decide I want to use it for” (511)
Societal pressures (“They”)	“Modern culture influences the way I view taking time for myself. I feel women are made to feel guilty for taking time to themselves and for falling short of “doing it all.” This influences my decisions on how much time I take for myself and how guilty I feel about taking time away from my family.” (611)

Influence of COVID-19
Influence of COVID-19	“Yes, many people have told me I need to make time for myself but it is extremely hard to do so, and next to impossible to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic.” (530)
COVID-19 exposure	“Having an at-risk person in my household” (204)
Quarantine	“The shutdown keeps me from engaging in social activities or getting a massage or having time away from my baby. There is no more work-life balance. Work and life are happening at the same time all the time.” (621)