Contacting LLL or just going to a meeting for support/ideas is a great idea. Also, I've heard good things about the No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. I've not read it, but I've glanced through it -- it might be worth taking a look at? Also, the Nighttime Parenting book by Dr Sears. Have you tried cosleeping? If you're having to get up to nurse her that often, that's a big interruption - if she's in the bed with you, for part or all of the night, she might be able to nurse without you having to wake up fully and it might be less disruptive. I know not everyone is comfortable with that (and it doesn't work well for all families) but I thought it might be worth suggesting.

Around that age, there is so much going on for them - growth spurts, for one, and also more mobility, a bigger understanding of the world, etc. etc. All that leads to increased nursing, and a lot of that tends to be at night when they're all settled in. It's really, really common and really, really overwhelming sometimes! I distinctly remember times that I fantasized about being hospitalized. I didn't want to be seriously ill... just injured enough to require a couple days observation in a hospital. LOL I read about Lindsay Lohan checking herself into the hosp. for "exhaustion" and I think I went a little nuts for a minute or two, screaming obscenities at her. Nighttime parenting can be rough, that's for sure.

If it helps, my two worst sleepers as babies/toddlers became the most amazingly easy kids at night once they hit 2 or 3. They go to sleep easily and cheerfully, and wake up the same way. (The other 2, not so much... and my now 2 yo seems to be following the pattern - he was atrocious to get to sleep, and now he's much, much easier. But I will say that regardless, at some point, that gets easier. It all gets easier. You will sleep again!!)

It really sounds like it might be a phase, and that no changes are really necessary - as hard as it is, it will probably resolve itself when baby settles. Finding some breastfeeding support (LLL is great, but other options can be fabulous as well) might help you figure out if it's just one of those super intense patches that you run into with parenting (breastfeeding or not!) or if it's something that you should try to resolve some way.

I think it's important to say that for a baby under a year old, the nighttime feedings are very important - especially when mama works during the day. Those night feedings can have a big impact on your milk supply. Working moms who breastfeed often find that their baby nurses a lot at night. Cutting down on the frequency to get some much-needed sleep is obviously a good goal -- sleep is important!!!!!!! But cutting out the nighttime nursings entirely isn't necessarily best for a 9 month old baby.

This might be helpful? http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/night-weaning-12-alternatives-all-night-nurser

I know this sounds completely counter-intuitive, but our pediatrician suggested that we put our son down for more naps, then his night sleep would start to get better too. So, my son now takes 3 1-2hr naps a day, at 10 months old, and he goes down at 7:30pm, and not up until at least 5:30am. Now, he is bottle fed, so that might make a difference. He is also on a growing spurt, so sleeping more anyway. Hope you get some great zzzzz's soon!

I feel for you. I am going through the same thing for the last year. My little man is 13 months old and never ever slept more than 5 hrs. He usually wakes up every 3 hours to eat. He was breastfed until 8-9 months and has been in the bottle ever since. He goes to be 8:30 and is up about midnight, 3:00 am. and 6:00 am. However; it is not uncommon for him to wake up briefly between feedings and he is so loud we end up walking up with him regardless. My husband does all the night feedings but our house is small so we are both up no matter what. My older son started sleeping 6+ hours at about 5 months and I had no idea how hard sleeping for more than 3 hours at a time would be. I think the last time I slept 8 hours was about my 7th month of pregnancy. I went back to work when he was 3 months old and sometimes I find that I go to work to rest.