Because I now have to carry so much stuff to work, I am now in search of the perfect work bag. On any given day, I will definitely be carrying: 

1. Breast pump, breast pump parts, and associated paraphernalia including cooler bag for milk, +/- ice packs in said cooler bag, pumping bra, empty milk bags, battery bank to recharge my pump,etc
2. Usual everyday carry stuff, like wallet, phone, keys, pens 
3. Work-related equipment, including at least two boxes of lenses, scrub hat, extra pair of socks, small notebook for recording notes of operating room cases, and small hard drive
4. Water bottle or thermos 
5. Lunch box in its own cooler bag
6. Ziplock style snack bag (I like these silicone ones from Stasher) with some apples inside 
7. Random small electronics, like USB drive, backup phone charger, etc.    I might also be carrying the following: 
8. Surface Book 2 15″ laptop in its own case if extra cushion needed
9. Extra set of clothes, because sometimes on days I’m in clinic and the operating room, I need separate sets of clothes and sometimes separate sets of shoes too. 

That is a LOT of stuff. 

A few years ago, before I became a mama, I got a Senreve Maestra bag in the large size, “sand” colorway from the hubby as a gift. This was before I had to carry breast pump and parts around, and also before I got a 15″ laptop (I used to have a 13″ Surface Pro then, which was much more compact). I used it for awhile but decided just now to let it go. I thought I would review what I liked about it and why it didn’t work out for me. There’s not a lot written out there about it that aren’t sponsored posts so I thought a personal and honest review might be useful. 

When I was pregnant, one of the best pieces of advice I got was from another experienced mama, who asked me “Do you have your pump yet?” Silly me, I thought I wouldn’t need my pump until I went back to work 3 months after the baby was born. I’d have plenty of time to figure it out, right? And she told me, “Just get it now. Trust me.”