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Don't feel bad, not everyone finds it to be some magical experiance!! It is super healthy, so I commend you that you've stuck with it. I wish I could tell you what to do to make it better....but I myself gave up! I started to realize that I just dreaded feeding times, and it made me miserable to the point that I was actually quite depressed. For us, formula has been a godsend. I'm so much more comfortable, and she's doing great. So if you do decide to switch - don't feel bad, formulas have improved greatly, and your daughter will still get all the stuff she needs. How long have you been b___stfeeding, though? Because while it's not for everyone, even people who do enjoy it usually say it took awhile to get used to it.

I agree with Jessica - some women never enjoy it! Please let us know how old your baby is, so we can get the full picture here, though. I too tried for quite some time, and finally just switched to formula. It was such a relief! And like Jessica said, it really has improved. Well, just my two cents there, but just wanted to let you know you're not the first woman to feel this way - and no matter what anyone says (because there alot of people that will try to make you feel bad for not b___stfeeding!) - you do what you need to do. Babies need happy moms!!

thanks for your responses and suggestions!!! Isabelle is going to be 8 weeks old tomorrow. i'll hold out a little longer and see if my feelings about it change. wow! that is a lot of caffeine jamie! did u drink that much when u were pregnant? i restricted myself to like 3 cans a day when i was and now only like 2 and i don't let myself drink any past 3, because i don't want it to keep her up at night, but sometimes i really really want some at night. i used to weigh what i weigh now a while ago, and it wasn't caused by pregnancy, then i lost like 40 lbs in a couple months and managed to keep it offf pretty easily for like a year (until i got pregnant). i felt so good, i miss that. anyway, thanks everyone!!

Nah, I limited myself to 2 sodas a day and no coffee while I was pregnant...lol...honestly, I drink the coffee to help me sleep! It's the warmth of it, plus it's an emotional thing for me - my mom and I used to always have a cup of coffee together before bed; now that I live on a different continent from her, keeping the tradition up is kind've like a little piece of home. But, anyway - I'm glad you decided to see it through. Give it to 3 months, and see how you feel. Also, I was thinking - what kind of a pump do you have? Could you maybe just get into a pattern/habit of how/when you pump, like 15 minutes in the morning when you first get up or something, with an electric pump?

yeah, i know what u mean. i used to love coffee, esp in the winteri'd get mochachinos with extra shots of espresso like it was my job! i use a manual avent pump. are electric ones that much better? i bet they're expensive, right? my girl doesn't even drink from a bottle when i pump anyway. she gags and cries but won't drink much. she does the same thing with the pacifier. i don't think i'd even be able to bottle feed if i wanted to.

I still have a cup of coffee in the morning and sometime a pop here and there. It doesn't seem to bother her. I love b___stfeeding! I don't mind it in public. If I have to I just find a quiet spot or park the van and crawl in the back and nurse while listening to tunes while the DH is in the store. I SO much like it better than pumping a bottle cus that just seems like a pain. I like having one hand free too so I can still stuff my face while nursing! Ha ha!

I never b___stfed in public. I never had to. With regards to loosing weight. Breastfeeding helps the uterus shrink faster than without. I also lost weight pretty fast with b___stfeeding. I also walked a lot with my child. I lost 40 lbs in 5 months.

hi shannon, i sometimes wonder if its worth it too, i mean of course its worth giving jasmin the benefit but mast_tis thrush and now this weird vasospasm in the nippe sometimes its a chore, but when its pain free i love it because i can see jaz is so comforted, also it will help when i go back to work for 3 days a week to make me feel that Jaz wont get confused whos mummy because noone else can feed her like me, i want to loose weight aswell but have to eat lots to fill her, otherwise shes fussy, i think ill do it till 6 months, or untill the teeth!!!

Shannon- I thought I was reading my post- LOL! My baby is 6 weeks old and I have felt the same way as you. TheRealLissi posted that she was giving up bf and switching to formula yesterday on the Infant Care forum. I have some formula that I got from the hospital and in the mail. I have been tempted to give Ben a bottle, but I haven't quite reached that point yet. I have wondered the same thing as you, though- when does this become enjoyable? I want to do it for at least 6 months. I hope I can hold out that long!

yeah i think i'm gonna start giving her cereal occasionally as soon as i can (4-5 months), but i think it'll only a a tiny bit at first while i'm still b___stfeeding. i'll try to make b___stfeeding her primary food source for as long as possible *sigh*

Hi Shannon! Hang in there. I really did not enjoy b___stfeeding in the beginning. I felt like it was all I ever did (it was) and it hurt for a long time for me, and we had thrush and oh my so many complications. There were times when I was up in the middle of the night feeding him just in tears because I hated it so much, and I wanted to love it. It took me a while, probably until about 3 months or so until I really enjoyed it. And now at 6.5 months I still have feedings that I wish were a bottle instead of the b___st. Overall though, I am satisfied with my b___stfeeding relationship and wouldn't trade it. Asthma and Allergies run in my family and these and many other things can help be prevented by b___stfeeding. I know it is best for his health and mine, and it is very rewarding for me now to know that I can provide that for him.

You guys are funny...finally I can admit to other people that I drink caffeine and beer even though I'm b___stfeeding without being judged! I drink usually a cup or two of coffee a day and two one or two beers almost every night. My mom has a freakout every time she sees me do it but my aunt, who is a lactation consultant, said i'm doing fine. Plus, I eat whatever I want to and my baby never fusses about it. I just make sure I don't skip meals, and don't drink hard liquor, because it makes me sleepy and I'm afraid it will cause me to not take care of my son properly. Good luck everybody!

I am 5 weeks pregnant and still nursing my 16 month old. I hated pumping so He rarely took a bottle. For me, it took about 4 monthes to really appreciate what I was doing. It is a hard demanding job, but so worth it. Once my baby started getting older and doing more it is amazing to look at him and think I have sustained this life. Once they are even older I think it gets even more special, and a lot easier. Once they start solids and you have more freedom, it is great. My son always rubs my neck or face when he is nursing. It is so special. they grow up too fast. I feel like it was just yesterday that my daughter was a baby and now she is in Kindergarten. I also have to say that I had a gla__s of wine every night while nursing both children( not anymore because I am Pregnant and my baby is fine! Good Luck. I Know it is hard, but hang in there. One day you will look back and savor every moment of it!

I say do both. Some b___st milk is better than none. I never had an ounce of b___stmilk when I was a baby and I seem just fine. I personally have stuck with b___stfeeding because we are on a tight budget. I also don't mind doing it so that has helped too. I work full time and don't b___stfeed in public (not that I'm against others doing it) so sometimes I run out of b___st milk and my good old can of formula is there to help me out. When your child starts solids they will still require about 28-35 ounces of b___st milk or formula a day so don't get too excited. I think once they are 9 months it goes down but I haven't gotten that far yet. Do what feels right for you!

What is the deal with caffine? I drunk tons and tons of coffee when I was pregnant with my oldest, loads of tea when carrying my daughter and tea and coffee while carrying my baby. I drink a lot of coke too. Even while b___stfeeding I drink a lot. Not as much as I used to but still a fair bit. I know you supposed to cut down on it but I have no idea why.

Too much caffeine can cause your baby to have an irregular heartbeat and make him/her jittery.