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I struggle with this too. I've been trying to put DS in his swing while I pump, this sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.

This is the hardest part (that and realizing that I'm hooked up to a machine for at least 2.5 hours a day..;.time that I used to have free or snuggling my baby....)

I always pump hands free. I usually put DS in the boppy next to me on the couch and chat with him/sing/tickle him. I usually get a good 5 mins out of him here. When he starts fussing I move him down to his vibrating chair (next to me on the floor). I will get another 5-10 mins out of him. Then if he starts fussing again I move him back to the boppy.

Sometimes, frankly I just wait until he's down for his nap. My pumping schedule gets thrown a little bit as I try my best to pump every 3 hours during the day....but c'est la vie.

The middle of the night is the worst - I let DH sleep since he works a really demanding job and is sleep deprived as it is. When we're done the nighttime feeding I put him back down and the pray that he won't fuss while I pump. I have sometimes had to use the battery pack on the pump and go into his room and soothe him while pumping. I do not like to pump in his room at night b/c I feel like he knows I'm there and won't go back to sleep (or will rely on me to be there when he sleeps).

It's impossible for me to stick to a pumping schedule. I try and feed LO and then pump, sometimes he will go right to sleep and I can pump, sometimes it takes awhile, sometimes he wakes up, I stop pumping, check on LO, he sees boobs and he's like "lunch" so I feed him a little to calm him down and then I resume pumping. I always stop pumping when LO cries, sometimes I have to cut short my pumping time if LO is inconsolable.

I lay a blanket out next to the pump and that's usually when she has tummy time. If she fusses, I can give her the pacifier or DS really loves to play with her and she calms down we she see's his face.
I also talk to her and sing...it usually helps, last resort is playing her lullaby music on my phone.

I just figured out something awesome. I put on my pumping bra and hooked myself up to the pump and started it while DS sat in his boppy next to me on the couch. I then fed DS his bottle while pumping (ie, he sat propped in the boppy). It was awkward but it worked and I think I may have to do this in the middle of the night to get myself 20 more mins of sleep!

I pump and bottle feed exclusively too. It's a pain in the bum when Munchkin demands attention during the pump sessions. Usually I put him in his bouncy chair and make faces at him when he gets fussy. There's a few toys that can distract him as well. If all else fails the binky sometimes works too.

@winniebee: I found if I rock M for a while, she will fall asleep or be soothed enough to stay asleep or content when I put her down in the middle of the night to pump. Have you tried that?

@mediagirl: Thankfully, lately he is super sleepy during the nights so hasn't made much of a peep when I put him down! But otherwise I do rock him/sooth him until he's verrrry sleepy.