Quitting BF?

RaeofSunshine52

I have been BF-ing since the baby has been here and I really don't like it. Its been only 2 weeks so maybe I am not giving it enough of a chance but I am ready to give in and just pump to give BM bottles. I am sick of my nipples cracking, sick of always whipping out my boobs, sick of her scratching my nipples when she's frustrated. 

 Yet, I feel so guilty for wanting to quit feeding straight from the boob. Anyone else ever feel this way?

DarceyLivesinFL

It gets a lot better after the first month or so.

I weaned Sammy at 7 months and had major guilt issues.  I think it's part of being a mommy.

If you really want to continue I suggest you get a good LC ASAPto help you with your cracked nipples.

CHI-06

I promise it does get easier!  I almost gave it up many times in the beginning but guilt kept me at it...and I'm glad it did!

TaylorA

I felt the same way but kept with it until now (8 wks), along with supplementing.  It's hard not to feel guilty but you need to do whatever makes you and your baby happy, if that means bottles then so be it!  My DD is much happier w/ bottles and so am I. 

mrsfrenchy

Thats how I felt. I started EPing at 3 weeks.  I'm still happy with my decision to EP, but sometimes I wonder if I should've stuck it out a bit longer, since everyone says it really does get better after those first 4 or 5 weeks.  Maybe it wouldn't have been so frustrating if I had stuck it out a bit longer.

That being said, BFing made me resent my DD and deciding to EP made our relationship much better.  And although EPing is a lot more work, I think sometimes it gives me more freedom than BFing would.

my advice is to try and hang in there with the BFing for 2 or 3 more weeks and then make your decision.  Keep in mind that you'll need to pump AT LEAST 6x a day, preferably more for the first several weeks.

 

GL

Stacyc625

exclusively pumping is hard- i have been doing it for four months- i would give anything to BF but it just wasn't happening. its a trade in- EPing has a lot of down sides to it as well- its double the work- ALOT of washing pump parts and extra bottles, time to pump AND THEN feed the baby, etc.

CoastieWife08

(hugs)

People say it gets easier. Try contacting a lactation consultant or the La Leche League ASAP to help you out.

Pumping and feeding from a bottle is harder, imo, than straight breastfeeding.  I'd give anything to skip the middle man and  pop her on the boob to eat.

Good luck!

Mrs.Donkey

Wait!  Don't quit!  Trust me... I was SO there.  I HATED BFing in the beginning.  It sucks,  right?  I know.  I had cracked nipples, mastitis, clogged ducts, and it just plain f-ing hurt every time he latched on.  I would spend my nursing sessions crying most of the time.  I wanted to quit.  I wanted to just pump.  It seemed like such a better option.

 

But I'm so glad I didn't!  I'm so glad I stuck it out.  K is now 5 months old, but as of three months it became enjoyable... that's right.... I started to ENJOY it.  I know it's so hard to believe and I KNOW that three months seems SO far away right now.  (Ugh... I vividly remember being in your situation).  It's worth the wait.  I promise.  Not only is feeding as simple as whipping out my boob, there are no bottles to deal with, no clean up, no prep, no pumps!  I can't think of a more labor intensive way of feeding a baby than exclusively pumping (and God bless the girls who do it, I think they are rockstars).  If  you can avoid having to do double the work for the same outcome, do it.

 Plus, here' s a huge bonus to BFing, at least for me - it has helped me melt away the baby weight.  I am back into my skinny jeans at only 5 months PP!  I have nothing to attribute that to except BFing.  It's like having a treadmill strapped to your chest.   So even when your little barracuda is sucking the life out of you, think of the calories! 

Now, all that being said, if it still isn't right for you and you just can't do it, don't beat yourself up over it.  As long as your not feeding your kid Kool-aid and Crack, you're fine

n&bcarlson

I totally understand.  At 2 weeks, my DD had serious latch issues, so I had to feed her with a nipple shield, then pump, then feed her the pumped milk from a bottle.  I wanted to quit every single day.  But I didn't, went to the local LC instead, and at 8 weeks it is so much easier.  The pain is gone, her latch is almost perfect, and it's really second nature now.  Try not to give up.  The first few weeks are awful, but it really does get better, and I really believed 6 weeks ago, as you may right now, that women who said that were liars.

wishin&hopin2008

Yes!  I feel this way. Have you tried using a breast shield?

iHeartJoe

we've all been there! it does get much easier after about a month, even more so after 6 weeks and so on. if bfing is really something you want to do i'd definitely encourage you to stick with it a bit longer. also, if your nips are sore lanolin is a freaking lifesaver! and if you need extra support i'd check into seeing an LC, they can be super helpful. GL and just remember it will get better!

AndysKandi

I definitely know how you are feeling. I had a really tough experience with DD #1...I dreaded BFing every single time, and often cried my way through feedings. People said it would get better after a month or so, but it didn't. It did improve, but it never got completely better. I was in so much pain, we never had a good latch (even several LC's could not help - I think the problem was that DD's mouth was too small). However I kept at it...by setting small goals. I would tell myself "just get through today" or "just get through this week". Then once I met that goal, I would set a new goal.

I am BFing DD #2 now and it is going a little better this time, luckily. Just do what you feel is right in your heart. Don't feel guilty about making whatever choice you need to - the most important thing is that the baby gets fed and that you are happy and relaxed. A stressed out mommy BFing may not be as good as a happy mommy formula feeding or pumping.

MrsLuckyGirl

like everyone else said, it does get easier. BUT do what makes you happiest. Happy mommy= happy baby. I do agree that pumping is 2x the work...I just wrote about this on my blog, hang in there!

Mrs.Beasly

I promise it gets SO much better. Seriously if you can make it to 4-6 weeks you both will be so much better at it and comfortable (at least that's how I felt). I totally know what you're going through with the cracked nipples... sorry if TMI but I had 2 gashes about the size of my pinky nail taken out of one nipple that wouldn't heal. I would cry every time I had to feed her b/c it hurt so bad. But I kept with it and I don't regret it.

Contact a LC ASAP to help with your nipples. To help mine heal I would get a damp washcloth and wipe them off after every feeding and make sure they dried before I would cover them. Also I would do lanolin but it was keeping them too moist and so it was preventing them from healing so I had to min. how much I used. We also improved our positioning (thanks to my Mom) so her latch and my nipples got better in no time.

 Good luck and do what you think is best for you and your baby. I always say a happy mommy = a happy healthy baby. Keep your head up!

Krissi~n~Justin

Don't feel guilty!   It does get easier, but I still think of doing it for selfish reasons as well.

You have to do what will be best for both of you!   GL!

mlf625

I quit before we ever really got started- while we were still in the hospital.  I hated it, there were issues that made it more difficult than it should have been, and DS was screaming and screaming.  It just sucked and I didn't want to do it, so I didn't.

IMO, formula is great too.  DS is thriving and healthy on it!  If you want to BF, that's awesome.  If you don't, you shouldn't feel obligated to.

busygourmet

I understand and it may take more than the 6 weeks as people tell you to wait for. I too still struggle with the same issues that you posted about and my DD is 9 weeks old. I have to go back to work in 3 weeks and she refuses to take a bottle, only wants to be breastfed, so now we are on to a different issue. It is frustrating.   Not all days are good but some are. I am hanging in there for all the benefits for both of us.