There are some funny returning to work after baby stories in the comments from yesterday’s post. I am sorry my day wasn’t a bit more eventful, it was calm and not too stressful (aside from a last minute deadline that kept me here later than I wanted to be) and Sophia seemed to have done beautifully in the arms of my little sister. Apparently she slept most of the day! Me? There were no tears, however, I was exhausted and ready for bed at 8pm. Here begins the slow process of changing Sophia’s schedule. She has always been ready for night time sleep at 10:30 pm, not a minute earlier. I suspect it will take her a few weeks to adjust to an earlier bedtime.

I suspect that next week (when Sophia spends the day with a stranger, The Nanny) will be harder. Deep cleaning breath.
As for the pumping at work thing. There are some great hints that I have gotten.

• Chux Rock
• Hands Free Tandem pumping is really the way to go. I had read that cutting holes in an old bra was a good way to accomplish this. While I think this is a cheap solution it is certainly not the most convenient because you will have to undress to put the bra on. A better solution is a Hands Free Bustier. I have the Easy Expression brand (although not purchased from the linked to site) and it is worth every penny. Mostly just for the funny promotional picture on the product description and packaging.
• Feeling yourself up goes a long way for production.
• God Bless the private office.
• Keep a sock-in-progress in the pumping bag.
• You don’t need to clean your horn set up every time. Just stick in a plastic bag in the fridge for the next time. I am cleaning mine every evening.

That is all - go and be proud with your pumping self and if you see a lactating working mom give her a hug today. Now that I know what the carrying cases look like I have noticed a bunch of lactators on the train and bus. As Pumpkin Mama says, “I’m raising my pump horns in salute.”