is it normal

CGKyle

to not really like breastfeeding? i don't really find it a huge bonding experince for me. I dislike having to breastfeed in public because shes a lazy eater and takes her time! I'm sure part of our issue is the fact we use a shield, i can't get her to wean off of it. the shiekd is a PITA and messy and its clear so i always seem to lose the dumb thing(thank goodness i bought a few!). I still plan on pushing my self atleast 6 months because she loves it and i have mommy guilt. My MIL trys to make me feel like crap for hating it, but i think as long as I stick it out I should feel proud for doing whats best for B, even if its only 6 months.

kcl22

I totally thought you meant a clear cover; not shield. I was picturing someone sitting at the mall nursing under a clear cover. Mental fail of the day. I think breastfeeding is different for everyone; if you don't like it, wean. Or pump for when you're out.

LittleGus

I don't know if that's "normal" but it certainly isn't something to feel guilty about!  I personally find BF'ing inconvenient and limiting, but I continue to do it for some reason. lol.  Luckily for your MIL, it isn't her child or her bewbs, so she should really just stay out of it.  Sorry you're dealing with that

kg_08

I can only imagine what a pain the shield must be!

I'm like you and have never felt that supposed "bonding experience" either, and although we have no issues BF, I'm over it. We do realize the benefits of breast feeding though and don't want to spend the $$ on formula, so I'll be breast feeding until the second she can have cow milk.

Nhev

I kind of hated it at first. It got better for me after a while, but I still don't LOVE it. I do it because it's cheaper (even with the pump), faster than bottles (for us anyway), and what's best for her.

I have serious guilt too. My supply sucks right now and she's eating every 1.5-3 hours during the day and every 2.5-4 at night. It's exhausting! Like you though, I figure I'm going to go as long as I can and be proud to know that she's been able to thrive thanks to my milk!

Anyway, I think it's normal to like it or to dislike it. I never got the "bonding" thing...I feel like there's more of a bond from giving her a bottle because we look into each other's eyes. That's just me though!  

JaimeCH

I think it is perfectly normal. I don't enjoy it either. It is hard to be the only one who can get up and feed her in the middle of the night, pumping just plain sucks, going out in public is difficult, and bottle feeding is not going so well so I feel like I can't get away for an hour without feeling guilty. I just have to keep reminding myself of the health benefits, it is free, and it will only be a short period of time in the grand scheme of things.

CGKyle

kcl22:

I totally thought you meant a clear cover; not shield. I was picturing someone sitting at the mall nursing under a clear cover. Mental fail of the day. I think breastfeeding is different for everyone; if you don't like it, wean. Or pump for when you're out.

We've tried everything to get het to take a bottle, but she won't. We'll keep trying though!

JaimeCH

CGKyle:

kcl22:

I totally thought you meant a clear cover; not shield. I was picturing someone sitting at the mall nursing under a clear cover. Mental fail of the day. I think breastfeeding is different for everyone; if you don't like it, wean. Or pump for when you're out.

We've tried everything to get het to take a bottle, but she won't. We'll keep trying though!

It sounds like we are in the same boat. I think that I wouldn't mind BFing so much if I had the freedom of her taking a bottle. 

CGKyle

I think if I can get her off the shield everything would be alot easier! I'll keep trying! And I've very proud I've stuck with it so far.

Bailey81

Normal. I loathe it. I think we're entitled to feel however we want about things when our bodies are involved, no judgments. Good for you for hanging in there.

Your MIL can go suck an egg.  

Lisadi

 It is wearing to burn that many calories and be tied to the baby so many hours. There was one particular session that stands out that went on and on and I started singing "99 bottles of milk on the wall" to LO. If I get more sleep, it's usually not as bad.
 6 months is still a long time, and anything you can do for you LO is great.