Returning to work after having a baby can feel… big.
Big emotionally.
Big logistically.
Big in the “how am I meant to make all of this work?” way.
If you’re breastfeeding or pumping, there’s suddenly a whole extra mental checklist running in the background of your workday:
Did I pack everything?
What if I forget something?
What if this is just too hard?
If that’s you — you’re not alone.
Why pumping at work feels harder than it “should”
Most mums are told what they’re entitled to when returning to work — breaks, a private space, flexibility — but very few are actually shown how to make pumping fit into real life.
Real life looks like:
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Rushing out the door
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Juggling childcare drop-offs
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Meetings and appointments that run over
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A bag that somehow feels both heavy and incomplete and never big enough.
The mental load alone can be exhausting.
That’s why I created the Returning to Work: Pumping Bag Checklist — not to add another thing to your to-do list, but to take one away.
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s fewer “oh no” moments
This checklist is designed to be:
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Printable (so you don’t have to rely on memory)
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Simple (no over-complication)
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Realistic (because forgetting something once does not mean you’ve failed)
It covers:
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Pumping essentials
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Milk storage basics
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Comfort items that make a long day easier
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A small reminder to look after you, not just the milk
Many mums keep it folded in their pumping bag or stuck inside a locker — something to glance at on autopilot mornings.
Download the free Pumping Bag Checklist
If you’re preparing to return to work — or you’re already back and just want things to feel a little less chaotic — you can download the Returning to Work: Pumping Bag Checklist below.
👉 [Download the free checklist here]
👉 [Download the Canva template to customise your own checklist]
Print it. Keep it in your bag. Make your life easier and reduce the mental load. 🤍
