May 17, 2012

Tips and Tricks for New Moms Going Back to Work

The other night Peg was asking me about my schedule, and how I do feeding in the morning before work, etc. Now, I am not sure why she was asking me, as she is the mother of 11 month old triplets and still manages to look perfectly polished at all times.  I just have one baby and can't remember my mascara half the time.

However, it really helped me before I went back to work to see other people's schedules, and I wanted to compile all the wonderful advice you readers gave me. 

Look at my desk!  Is that not awful?

So, basic schedule:

6:00 AM- wake up, throw on makeup
6:30 AM- Miss Priss wakes up, I give her Prevacid, we let out and feed Buddy
7:00 AM- feed the baby
7:30 AM- hand Miss Priss over to Hubs, and throw on some clothes
8:00 AM-4:50 PM- work.  I bring my lunch and eat at my desk.  I pump once when I get to work, while I eat my oatmeal (notice vital elements- chair blocking office door, breakfast and diet coke).  Thanks to my goofy hands free "bustier" (sooo sexy, let me tell you!), I can work away while pumping.  I pump again in the afternoon after lunch.  Each time last about 30-45 minutes, including prep time.
5:00 PM- Before I give that sweet child kisses, I race to change into "play clothes" and get my dry clean onlies away from my reflux baby.  As soon as that is done I scoop her up and feed her (she has a "cluster feed" at this time).  Her sitter and I discuss her day briefly, then she heads home. 
5:30 PM- walk.  Hubs and Buddy come along if Hubs is home.
6:00 PM- do any dinner prep I can while Miss Priss plays on her activity mat, or chills in the swing.  If it is a bad day, we will sit outside and chill out.
6:30 PM- start bath. Depending on what's going on Hubs will take care of bath while I work on dinner, or he might go pick something up if I have been a slacker.
7:00-7:20 PM- after bath I put on her pjs, feed her dinner, say her prayers, put her in a sleep sack and say goodnight!
7:20-10:00 or 11:00 PM- I eat dinner with Hubs, then my real work starts. Hubs and I clean up the kitchen from dinner. Then I clean her bottles, and my pump bottles.  I pack my lunch and breakfast for the next day, and prep 2 bottles for Dell Harper. I lay out my clothes for the next day, and take a bath or shower depending on whether I need to wash my hair (I have super thick hair and wash it 2-3 times a week).  If needed, I blow dry my hair.  I run a load of laundry.  If I need to finish up stuff at work I try to get it done. Then, if I am not about to just fall out, I sit down with Hubs and watch a program (usually a 30 minute one!).

Okay, so my advice:
  • I like doing everything at night, because it means I get to spend more time with Miss Priss in the morning, when she is her least grumpy and more time at night with Hubs when he is his least grumpy.  I don't think I am allowed to be grumpy anymore at any time of the day.
  • Pumping Hints-
    • Clothing wise, pull up sweaters and tops, and dresses which zip down the back work the best for me.
    • Best advice I received?  Put a big burp cloth in your lap for spills and drips.  The day I forget to do this, I invariably drip milk everywhere.
    • Make sure you have something to drink while you pump.
    • If you notice your milk supply is low, while you are home with your baby on the weekend, throw in an extra couple of feedings.  Just one or two will help your supply get back up.  If your baby is like mine, she will be sooo happy.
  • Make your husband (or boyfriend, or girlfriend, or grandmother, or whoever), a partner.  I realized I was shouldering way too much.  Once I asked, Hubs was down with giving her baths, and he is awesome at diaper changing, and dinner prep. I just needed to enlist his help, instead of being super stressed and acting like a martyr.
  • Prioritize but relax.  Your family is more important than a clean kitchen.  Sometimes it's better to snuggle up on the couch with some ice cream, your man, and Modern Family than to have an empty sink.
  • Buy multiples.  In case I don't get the dishwasher ran, I have 2 sets of pumping gear and bottles.  This is such a small thing that is so helpful.
Sundays I make a bunch of freezer mini fritittas or a quiche for my breakfasts for the week, and a big batch of soup or quinoa salad (or both) for lunches.  Go ahead and pack them in individual servings.  Also, I keep oatmeal and some soup in my desk drawer for when I forget.

Most important advice I received?  Don't be a perfectionist.  I have a tendency to want everything to be done, and done just so.  I've got to let stuff go.  Sometimes I might have to go to work with my hair in a messy bun.  I might not get to go on a walk, or have a sparkling clean house every day.  Dell Harper might have a meltdown in the Chick-fil-a drive thru (happens every time).  And, it's okay.

5 comments:

  1. Thank you, thank you, thank you...now I know I'm not the only one...

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  2. Our schedules are ridiculously the same.
    Evening prep is fantastic.
    I am working on not being a martyr.
    I need deets on the wedding!!

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  3. I love "BE A PARTNER" with your partner. Ask for help and let them give it. So true!!

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  4. "I don't think I am allowed to be grumpy anymore at any time of the day."

    Bless you.

    Also: the clean house isn't a priority stuff? YES. Even without kids! See my post today... ahem.

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  5. I don't have kids yet but I follow the same rule of trying to get things done at night. Lunch packed, clothes picked out, etc. It just helps me so much in the morning! XO

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