How do you deal with the time requirements of nursing and pumping around the clock?

[mousebandit]

Just wondering how all the other mamas of little ones that are trying to get nursing going are handling the time requirements of nursing then pumping every 2-3 hours round the clock?  My new little girl is 4 weeks old, she had issues and was only 4 lb 14 oz at birth, and has the usual problems breastfeeding (shallow latch, sleepy, not much suction, etc.).  I know what I need to be doing, pumping after every feeding, every 2-3 hours, but each feed-pump session is at least an hour, often closer to 90 minutes, and I have 2 toddlers on top of that.  How do you get it done and still get food in everyone and get enough sleep to maintain supply? 

We went through this with daughter #1, but there were no other little one at that point, and I had an older teenager and my mom to help with everything else.  This time it's just me and the kids (new baby, 17-mo ds, and 3-yo dd) and hubby is working long hours and not able to help with feedings.  We're in a new town (moved when baby was 2 weeks old) with only about 400 people.  No vehicle unless I load kids up at 6am and drive hubby to work.  I do have an LC who came out from the nearest "city" once.  We will try to keep seeing her.  It's not so much the techniques, it's just the time and intestinal fortitude to make it happen with all the pumping and just how long every little thing takes.

I know that I'm not the only one dealing with this issue, I just can't figure out how to make it work.  If I delay 1 second on pumping, the next thing I know it's been 45 minutes, and our "schedule" is all jacked up.  If I really stick to the schedule, the toddlers are in TOTAL chaos all day, no one eats, and I am a raving lunatic.  Plus I am having a very hard time waking myself up for the night feedings as she is so happy to sleep and I'm so exhausted I just don't wake up enough. 

THanks for any help or encouragement! 

MouseBandit

[tincia]

Are u having major supply issues? Because if not, u don't need to go to all of those extremes to get/keep things going..if your baby sleeps through a feeding and is healthy enough that u don't have to wake her for it, then give yourself a break! A little sleep might go a long way! I am strugglung with the time involved too and also have three children at home..i have igt and supply issues but have set boundaries..i am willing to do what it takes except for a few key things, one being waking to nurse/pump if the baby sleeps through a feed..and i am a better mother to all of my children because of it..and if it means my baby gets a few ounces of formula than so be it!
I am as anxious to read the advice as you! Cause I definately dont have it down either!