Returning to Work + What's in My Pump Bag?

Image from Working Mother

It feels like just yesterday I came home from the hospital with my precious little one. But to my dismay it has now been a whole 10 weeks and I am back at work. My original plan was to stay home with my son for the first six month and then return to work after, but financially that plan was not going to work. So, apprehensively I packed my bags and headed back to work. Keep on reading to find out how I handled it and what I bring along in my pumping bag.
Ten weeks after my son was born I returned to work. It was probably one of the hardest things that I have done. I felt so much guilt leaving my baby with someone else while I went and worked for eight hours straight. I felt sad, and like I was in some way failing my baby and being a bad mother. I felt this way for about a week or so and slowly began to realize that I was doing nothing wrong. I would have to give myself a little pep talk every morning before walking out the door but I began to feel better about having to work.

I recently saw a post on Instagram that said "I'm not a bad mother because I work. I am not a bad employee because I am a mom." and this hit home. Being a working mom just means you are that much more awesome at what you do.

Now on to my work pump bag. It took me a few tries to find the right bag. I would constantly change bags in hopes that the next one would be “the one”. I was even contemplating spending $60 on a pumping bag I saw on amazon but I just couldn’t justify the purchase. I then started using my Eddie Bauer Diaper bag and it was perfect! It fits my pump, and all the other accessories and items that I need while pumping at work. I am an over packer so there are definitely more things in here than what I actually use on the daily but I would rather be over prepared than not have everything I need.

I carry in my bag

• Spectra S2 pump
• Tubing
• Pumping bottles 
• Extra storage bottles ( I like Medela ones)
• Cooler bag
• Milk storage bags 
• Dapple bottle soap
• Boon travel brush set 
• Medela battery packs
• Medela sanitizing bags

Like I said I don’t use every single item every time I pump but I would rather have it in case I do need it. 

My work pumping schedule looks like this: 

I pump at 9:30 am which is exactly 3 hours since the last time I pumped. I then pump again during lunch which is about 12:30pm. I will pump once again at around 3:30 pm and if I have to stay late I will pump once more around 5 or 5:30. I don’t always have to work late but on days I do, I have to remind myself that the last pump of the day is important and I can’t skip it no matter how tired I am. 

So far this schedule has been working for me and I have been able to keep up with what my baby eats. What does your pump schedule look like? What are your essentials for pumping at work?