So you go back to work. You’re used to working whenever you need to – early or late, at the office, remotely or while traveling – with long hours and back-to-back meetings. Now, however, you sensibly build a schedule that allows you to be a parent. 

What does that mean: You look for some flexibility in hours. Don’t misconstrue this statement: this doesn't mean working part time, but fitting the same hours into a slightly different schedule despite the looks or comments you may receive.

For me, this meant getting ready in 10 minutes and working on “work work” or “personal work” until our son woke up so I could see him and breastfeed before leaving the house. I didn't schedule any meetings prior to 8:30 AM and my day always started with a conference call on the way to the office. I then squeezed all meetings and work that had to be completed at the office in between 9 AM and 5 PM and left work shortly thereafter to get home to breastfeed again, hoping that my son didn't get hungry too early. (There was, of course, an exception or two each week).

I couldn't skip these or the nighttime feedings except when traveling, which is a whole other story or I wouldn't have enough milk pumped for all meals – something I didn't have a clue about before going back to work. No one that hasn’t breastfed seems to get this. I would then work after my son went to sleep as I tried to hold between 6 PM and 8 PM for time with him. This took some maneuvering but eventually my perseverance paid off!

I certainly couldn't have done any of this without a cell phone or during a time when work was only done at the office. (Maybe that is why even more women didn’t go back to work years ago.) I should note that I also couldn’t have done this if I wasn't so lucky to have a son on such a great schedule or that slept so well. So let's recap: ready early in the am (which includes paying house bills, cooking dinner for that night, doing laundry, sending emails, reviewing documents, etc.), spend an hour or so with my son, commute while on the phone, work in the office from 9-5, commute while on the phone, spend two hours with my son and go back to the laptop when needed.

What I realized after I put together this masterpiece of a schedule – which required rescheduling my reoccurring weekly meetings – was that I was crazy. I hadn't planned in the 20 minutes (and that is in a perfect world) of pumping I would have to do three times per day. For all those too tired to do the math, that is an extra hour per day (on a good day) that I would have to find as long as I wanted to breastfeed. I then had to rearrange my calendar once again to make sure that I only had conference calls during those three times per day, that of course had to be the same times each day in order to keep up my milk supply.

Nothing is easy about resuming your career and add breastfeeding and pumping to the list and it gets even harder. First, you try to find clothes that fit, that are presentable at work and that are also easy for breastfeeding. For example, it is impossible to wear a dress unless it is low cut with easy access to the nursing bra unless you want to sit with your dress above your stomach – not a good visual for the workplace.

Next, get everything out of the fridge, hook up and plug in hands free, start the engine and go, and then dial into your call with your hands ready to type away. Another great visual. Then finish, pack up, take a speed walk to the fridge and get ready to do it again a few hours later. Another great example of women’s super multi-tasking skills.

It was great when someone would knock on my door wondering why he or she couldn't just join me for a call verses doing it separately. I would either stay silent or say "I'm sorry, but I have to get a few things done during this call" when what I really wanted to say was "I have a machine stuck to my body, pumping milk out of me while we strategize on the forecast, but sure, join me if you want to." Thank goodness I have an office because there is no way I could have gotten my work done and breastfed for six months if I couldn't multitask.

So pump as much as you can while on maternity leave, buy the best and quietest pump out there and pump into bottles not bags. Always remember a few germs in the office won't hurt as that is why you breastfeed anyway, right, to help with immunity and protect against germs?