I truly dislike BFing

veloelle

There. I find nothing bonding about it. No tender moments. It is a mechanism to feed my child, just like a bottle. The pulling on/off, crying, feeding for hours, being relegated to the couch. If I'm not in the exact position, crying. And the constant droan to big sister of "I can't do X Y Z because I'm feeding your brother" is getting old. Sorry. Vent over.

winery

Don't do it.

Seriously, it IS a pain and I would have enjoyed my children as infants more if I weren't attached to them at the boob for 10 months.

And could have left them with someone else for a sanity break of more than 1.5 hours.

MrsStubbs

My dislike for washing bottles far out weighs my dislike for bfing.

We sucked at it at first and now it is so much better. It's my down time and it works for us.

Kapalua

I don't mind it (though it's getting a little old at this point)

BUT

ditto Winery.  I'm a bf advocate, but if you're miserable then there's no point. Do what you gotta do to enjoy your children...that is something you won't regret.

Julia-Henry

ditto everyone else. If you genuinely hate it, then stop. Do what's best for you and your LOs - enjoying them and being happy and well-adjusted is far more important than how you choose to feed them.

SumnerBride

I hated it too.  I had TONS of issues.  I told myself I'd make it to 6 months, and at exactly 6 months, I quit.  I realized that I can't have someone attached to me for that many hours a day, long term.

eclaires

Don't do it, then!

I was unable to BF Jackson, but I've thrown around attempting it this time.  If it's miserable, I'll quit in a heartbeat.  It only appeals to me because it's free.  Seriously.  I won't do it for any other reason - it's free, and I can cut out dairy a few weeks before I'm due in case this one is dairy sensitive too.

Jodi&Joe

It sounds like, although it's something you don't enjoy, something you want to continue with?!!?

If not, then stop! 

But if you do want to continue, why don't you set a small goal.  From everything I have read here, and been told IRL, it does get better.  It becomes more routine, takes less time, #1 adjusts (as well as you get better at entertaining and feeding at the same time). 

If I remember correctly, the baby is about 3-4 weeks old, right?  Maybe set a goal of another 2 weeks.  If at the end of the two weeks, there is zero change and you don't find it any easier, less time consuming, etc. then quit.  But chances are, you probably will find it gets better.

(This is all coming from someone who lasted 7 days with the first and 24 hours with the second.  I cried like a baby for DAYS after quitting with Joey and I still kick myself for not continuing with Cam.  That's the only reason I am suggesting you continue....as I don't want you to have any regrets.)

veloelle

I'm for sure not BFing longer than my 4 mo mat leave. I can take it part of the day, but he typically has one feeding each day that he's just totally fussy. Time of day doesn't matter. I won't cut out food, etc, because I don't have it in me. And DH loves feeding him; I think it's his favorite time. He was so excited when I started expressing some milk, and now we'll do some formula or else this kid would be attached all effing day. Like Sum, I just can't have something else attached to me for that long. I get physically & emotionally stressed.

the flameful part us that I can't workout when I BF; I get clogged ducts each time I try to work out, even if it's just walking briskly. That kills me. I got plugged ducts w/ DD due to pumping and everytime I'd go to the gym, next day I'd have a plugged duct. Working out is my outlet, and it really bums me out to think I have to wait. petty to some, I'm sure. But I think we'll start replacing 1 feed a day. Thanks For letting this be flameless!

JOEBunny

Oh, I so could have written this post.  I hate BF.  DS will not wean.  I am ditching him for 5 days this weekend in hopes that it will be the end.  Never liked it with DD either, but thankfully, she weaned at 1 year.  I also hate that DH uses as an excuse to never take DS anywhere.  He is not good with a cup though I have been trying since 2 months.  I have not been without DS for more than 9 hours since he was born (and then only once when I had surgery).

winery

Oh the non-exercising thing killed.

I would run, then I would immediately have adverse affects from it, lasting for days.  Regardless of the water I drank.

So, I hear you.

Seriously, I would have enjoyed my kids much more had I not been BFing.  and I BF for 13.5 months and 11.5 respectively.  Note how the second one is shorter.

rumpunch21

Ditto everyone else. I bf DD #1 7 months, and DD #2 7 weeks. Granted DD #2 had issues with dairy etc and did WAY better once on formula, but one of my big issues was constantly telling DD #1 "sorry, Mommy's feeding Charlotte right now!"

Our whole house was happier once I stopped. 

lsufan

The exercising thing isn't flameful at all.  I'd go nuts if I couldn't drop my kids off at the gym daycare and exercise.  

If I were that miserable and I could get my baby to take a bottle, then I'd quit. 

binnyskitch

I BF'd DS for 9 months.  But, now have a 3 week old DD, and I've already started giving bottles.  I have found that pumping and giving a bottle is so much easier!  A pumping session only takes a few minutes.  I never thought I would resort to pumping, because I hated doing it with DS.  But, it gives me so much flexibility (more time to play with DS, quickly head out the door to the park or play dates and toss a bottle in the diaper bag, leave DD with someone else while I leave the house, etc).  Otherwise, like you, I'd be on the couch all.day.long.  Ugh.

JenninMA

I cannot wait to wean DS. I feel like I'm supposed to love this nurturing time but I will be thrilled to be done nursing. I would totally lose my mind if it kept me from exercising and that might be a dealbreaker for me. I nursed DD until 17 months, at which point I was pregnant with DS. I am so so ready to have my body back to myself once he's done bfing. And it's so challening when you have an older child who also needs your attention.

praline

I didn't like it much with my first DD.  I did do it for 13 1/2 months, but I didn't miss it at all when we were done.

This time it has been much easier and more enjoyable, but DD #2 is almost 11 months old, and I am getting tired of it now.  I definitely want her weaned by 16 months or so.

How old is your baby now?  Because in my experience it does get much better...although you may never love it.  It's ok not to like it!  It's hard and can be a real PITA.

femmegem

I hate, hate, hated it the first time around. I'm hoping that by some miracle I don't find it so onerous this time and am really trying to be positive. Fingers crossed.

Anyway, I feel for you.

bugmommy

I hated it as well.  I exclusively BF DS#1 for 6 months and off and on until about 9.  With DS #2 they thought he might have an allergy and I decided right away not to do an elimination diet - I just didn't have the energy.  My guys are 21 months apart, DS #1 has autism, we had moved several times for DH's job, etc.  I really think it was the smartest decision I made because I was making us all miserable with it.

hopefulmom

Then quit and stop moaning about it.  If you dislike it that much then stop.  Why put yourself and the rest of the family through it.

I personally loved the convenience of it...not to mention the cost factor.   I would have kept up with my first DD but the doctor gave me not so good advice by suggesting I supplement.  Wrong move.  It dried me right up.  Those were the day before electric (or even battery) operated breast pumps except in rare instances when you got one from the hospital because it was necessary for baby's health.  I had no issues though and figured my older child had the chance of being #1 and getting ALL of my undivided attention...so the next child would also get some undivided attention while I BF'd.  I have to say though that although my babies all started out feeding on demand that lasted about 3 weeks then it was on MY schedule...every 3 hours.  I was fortunate that they slept through the night early on...like from a month old or sonner.

Chrisy-Wyobride

I totally understand.  I really disliked it for DD#3...I only lasted EBFing 5mo & BFing at all 7mo.  Don't regret it--I didn't need the stress & BFing stresses me out so much.