Going back to work after having a baby? The time towards the end of maternity leave is bittersweet. You may be sad about the ending of this unique time, or perhaps excited about returning to work, or maybe both! You lost plenty of sleep during maternity leave and there’s no reason to lose sleep worrying about pumping at work. Here are some things to know so you can ease the transition, ease your mind, and establish a smooth pumping routine at work..

People assume “postpartum” is referring to “postpartum depression.” In fact, the word “postpartum” literally means “after birth” in Latin. But I get it, it has negative connotations. The period after giving birth can be filled with crying, exhaustion and fear of your own bowel movement (and I’m not just talking about the newborns). If we are talking about mental health, it’s not thrilling to admit that 1 in 5 birthing persons will have some sort of mood and anxiety disorder before or after giving birth. About 10% of new dads experience depression or anxiety too. But, it IS INSPIRING to know that there are known ways to improve postpartum mental health. Yes, even before you have a baby.

I admit it. I was duped by the false advertising of the phrase “sleeps like a baby.” Before I had kids, I assumed a baby’s sleep was like an adult’s best night of sleep: you went to bed when you were drowsy, slept through the night, and woke up rested.

I wish I had managed my own expectations about infant sleep, gotten some realistic advice about how to “set the stage” for my baby’s sleep, and gotten more hands-on support from a postpartum doula when I was exhausted.

Remember that time— before kids— when you learned the truth about clogged milk ducts, constipation in pregnancy and postpartum night sweats? Yeah, me neither. Those things, among other postpartum wonders, really rocked my world when I became a mom. What’s with the new parent initiation? In a way, it feels like a secret society. No one REALLY knows what goes on until you’re in.