Yes... the word that every mother with newborn dread. I am back to work. So 2 weeks or rather a month before the actual day, my schedule is packed with catching up with friends, eat all I want, shop for new clothes, bag, etc.
I have picked a Wednesday to return to work and the Monday of the week is our wedding anniversary. Nothing fanciful, we went for a couple massage, a package that I finally finishing using it. The package was way way back even before we had Charlotte. By the way, the massage sucks big time. Initially wanted to go for a nice lunch, but we had some good food the weekend before as it was my fil birthday celebration. We ended up at fort road due to holland king holland again... so we had some kueh chup for lunch. Wedding anniversary need to not big bang celebration as long as quality time is being spend together. Moreover I was on maternity leave for a couple of months already and Nick has been on leave on and off during this period as well. We also went for good food on and off especially during Charlotte birthday period.
The following day was the 1 day before return to work. We went for a nice prata at prata place and this picture created an agony morning for a group chat in my whatapp. Hahahha... I send this photo to my ex col group and they are cursing and swearing.... complaining that I created a very disturbing morning for them :P
The biggest challenge I would have back to work is not about work...hahahha... but more of my commitment to breastfeeding. I did not think that I would still be pumping when I return to work... Since my supply is still there, I would supply till it dried up. I heard that most mother had their supply drop drastically upon returning to work. We shall see.
I did a secret setup in office. Why is it a secret set up? Because it is hidden under my desk. The portable fridge is a hand me down by my cousin. I got a portable steraliser from the pigeon sale. I did not intend to bring a steraliser but it was too cheap to resist buying. It is only $30. I can bring it for holiday. The fridge is not as cold as expected but good enough to chill the milk. So I will put in 2 frozen ice pack after the expressed milk has chilled.
My office did have a nursing room. I would try to pump during lunch time or right after a quick lunch. My supply for 1st day is good. But it dropped drastically on 2nd and 3rd day. I reckon it due to lesser intake of water in office. So the 2nd week I did my water parade all the time and I am not into dieting...hahahh...
As I cant be lunching in all the time. I will sometimes do hand expressed in the toilet just before lunch and 1 more hand expressed session in the late afternoon. Each hand expressed session take about 15 min. It is definitely much faster than a 45 min pump session in the noon time. However, the hand expressed will resulted in some bruise (you know where), and my hands will ache from it... I only do it when I am going out for long lunches.
Next thing I would like to share is on thermal bags... I am quite crazy over thermal bag. My eyes sparkle when I see thermal bags (sometimes free with other purchase). So far after my trial and error, I am sticking to 2 main thermal bag.
The pink bear logo has very thin layer and it is free from some goodie bag during charlotte time. The good thing is it can fit 4 bottles which is just nice to bring milk to Clovy school. Before I went back to work she only need 3 bottles in school (cos we send her to school later), so the diaso one is compact enough. But for both of the bags is very prone to condensation which will wet the other items in her diaper bag. My final choice is the carter colourland which is slightly bigger than the pink bear logo bag and thick enough so prevent condensation. I have been aiming this bag in Taobao but I did not get it as I wasn't sure of the quality. I saw the exact same bag at the mummy market fair and it is only $15. I grabbed it the minute I saw it!
I also wanted a compact thermal bag for me to bring milk back home from work. I look around for the type of thermal bag available. I am particular about the inner linning as I need it to be able to keep the milk really cold. Before I got the mini fridge from my cousin, I was thinking of storing a lot of frozen ice pack in the bag and put in the expressed milk. My office did have a fridge but I am not sure about the cleanliness and it is always packed. I read a lot of review on the type of thermal bag available. Initially, I wanted to get the fridge to go but I realize the size is not really compact and it is quite heavy. I went to source around in kiddy palace and found 2 bags that fit my criteria, the Munchkin Cool Wrap Bottle Bag and Vog insulted bag. Apparently, the Munchkin one I can get it cheaper via iherb. I tested the size of both bags with the medela milk bottle. Munchkin one is bigger and heavier. The Vog one is a singapore brand and much cheaper. The best thing is the inner layer. It is the same insulated layer like what we see from the bag that pizza hut delivery used.
I got the VOG bag in the end. It can fit in 2 bottles and still ample of space for the frozen ice pack. Before I got the VOG bag, I got a small Mag Mag thermal bag from Pigeon sales but the fabric peel and I was quite upset. Pigeon swapped some wet wipes in return. Actually the Vog bag can fit 4 bottles (2 stacking on top) and it is relatively cheap but I did not want to get 2 of the same as I am worried that I might mixed up the 2 and bring the milk to work instead of to Clovy school :P
I also have some other thermal bag which comes free... the simple one is from mamil which can fit in a bottle and a small thermal flask. I don't really use it to transport cold milk. Another one is my newly addition from Hagan-daz ice cream. I haven started using..hahahha
