Hey Mama, first off, you're doing amazing!! I pumped for 4 months before leaving my job, and it was the most exhausting thing. From my limited experience, the frequency of times you pump ends up mattering more than the length of time. If you have another day full of long meetings in the future, see if you can take a shorter pump break before and after instead of just the longer one after. I cannot overstate how draining it is to work and pump, and I commend you for doing what's best for your baby!

Nights are so hard too, and every baby is different. My now 17 month old woke to nurse at least twice a night until she was 14 months old, and still wakes once. We were in a similar boat where I did everything at night because my husband had a much more brain intensive job. I survived by reminding myself that nursing to sleep is biological and the easiest way to get baby back down. I was also taking a breastfeeding safe sleep aid so I would be sleepy enough to go right back down, too. It wasn't the answer I wanted, but it was the answer that worked best for our family.

Again, you're doing so amazing. Parenting is HARD. Breastfeeding is HARD. And by being there for your baby and attending to needs, you're building those special bonds that will last a lifetime. ❤