Sleeping moms, how do you do it?

Pumping is nowhere near as effective as a baby nursing off the breast... is there a reason why you aren't actually nursing? The more often you nurse/pump, the more your supply will build up.

The key to sleep is to not 'overstimulate' yourself between "naps" at night. When you get up, to either breastfeed or pump, is to "zombi-fy" yourself. No lights, or very, very low nightlights- just enough you don't trip over stuff. Next, is keep your eyes closed, or close to it. Do the same basic routine every time you wake- don't decide to throw another load of laundry in 'while you're up'. Don't think about what you have to do tomorrow. Just the bare minimum in thinking and movement. This will allow you to fall back into sleep faster, and even re-enter that stage of restful REM sleep that sometimes takes hours to get to.

Did she tell you to pump instead of actually nursing? Unless your daughter physically cannot nurse, you should be doing that instead. Nursing is much more effective at getting your milk out and in turn producing more.

Some women won't respond well to a pump. It sounds as if you are one of them unfortunately.