The Bookish Girl

Raise your Pump Horns in Salute

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.”

Related posts:

  1. Working Boobs
  2. Freudian Slip?
  3. Knitting in Public

10 Comments »


  1. kmkat says:

    I’ll raise my coffee mug (lactation days having long passed) to all you dedicated moms taking such good care of your wee ones! Must admit, though, that I got a chuckle out of the bustier photo with the two whatevers hanging off the mom’s boobs. But as you all know, a sense of humor is essential to good parenting :-)

    Comment - May 8, 2007 : 9:55 am


  2. Kathy says:

    Hey there! I pumped for a long time with both kids — feel free to email me if you want to chat about it. Also, remember to drink, drink, drink the water — will help a lot. And keep in mind that some days your production will be better than others — you are not a machine (although you can feel like one.) I raise my virtual pump to you!

    Comment - May 8, 2007 : 9:55 am


  3. Stephanie says:

    Ah – the good old massage-stroke-shake before and during pumping works wonders. I can always get another couple of ounces that way.

    I’m jealous of your private office. I have office supplies and a microscope for company.

    Comment - May 8, 2007 : 9:56 am


  4. Carole says:

    Congratulations on a successful first day!

    Comment - May 8, 2007 : 9:58 am


  5. kern says:

    woosh woosh! I pumped for 18 months with DS#1. It always made me feel better about gasp! leaving him with a sitter.

    What a lucky baby to have such a giving mama!

    Comment - May 8, 2007 : 10:22 am


  6. nova says:

    There are some knitters who will read this post and have no idea what magical information you are providing. There was a time that I did not know what the pump bags/backpacks looked like. Now that I know what they look like, I want to hi-five every woman I say carrying one…but you know, we don’t do that sort of thing in the real world.

    Comment - May 8, 2007 : 10:28 am


  7. JulieFrick says:

    Oh, thanks so much for the tips. I washed mine out every time! My hands were cracked claws from all the hot water! Thankyouthankyouthankyou.

    Comment - May 8, 2007 : 3:01 pm


  8. Cathi says:

    One of my friends pumped the entire time her kid was a baby because of nipple issues- I have so much respect for her for that alone. My pump experience is limited, although those hospital strength ones kick so much ass.

    Happy raspberry nips to you! :P

    Comment - May 8, 2007 : 3:39 pm


  9. Linda says:

    I’ve just discovered your blog. Your baby is gorgeous,
    and I love her name.

    I breast-fed all 3 of my children but fortunately I was not working. I breast-fed my boys for nine months and twelve months. They are now 6 ft 2 in and 6 ft 4 in so I’m fairly certain that they obtained the necessary calories, nutrients etc. I hope that things go well for Sophia with the nanny ! And for you at work !

    Comment - May 9, 2007 : 9:49 am


  10. Katie says:

    I had a medela PIS and used it all the time with both kiddos, even though I stayed at home (because I did want to go out now and then without them–the babies, I mean). Loved it. It lasted for two solid years of daily pumping (my freezer was stocked, let me tell you). And I loved the micro steam bags that medela makes. You pop your pump parts (tubes and horn parts), a little water, and nuke the whole shebang. It sterilizes them and it makes it so easy when you’re traveling, or at work!

    Comment - May 14, 2007 : 3:12 pm


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