When COVID-19 kept me and my kids home-bound I became a remote worker slash preschool teacher slash elementary teaching assistant slash professional snack-maker. And quickly, my commitment to pumping milk and nursing my baby eroded.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll everywhere. Here are four reasons pumping breastmilk (and maintaining milk supply, and nursing) got 100 times harder during the pandemic.

When you believe you have to fill a freezer with breastmilk there is an underlying belief that you don’t have enough, you won’t have enough or that you’re not doing it right. When it comes to nursing and pumping, this kind of scarcity mindset puts undue pressure on your postpartum nerves. There is a lot of beauty in being a “Just Enougher” when it comes to pumping breastmilk.

Smoothies are spot on when you are breastfeeding and pumping, especially if you’re also working. You need all the things: protein, fat, fiber, vitamins — and veggies are a great start. So put them in your morning smoothie. The perfect answer? A cauliflower celery smoothie.

When you’re a working mom who’s pumping breast milk, you are tired. You need nacks, and your snacks need to do double-duty, satiate you and work to keep you energy levels up (and as a bonus, help with milk production).

Pumping breast milk while you’re driving is a game changer. Your car might be the most private place for hooking up your breast pump each day.

Practical tips to successfully pump breastmilk at work, so you can avoid ending up totally naked in a conference room.