To find breastfeeding exhausting and not especially convenient

[Namelessbabe]

Feeding is going 'well' in so far as weight gain etc goes. Bi

I had no physical problems breast feeding but found it so bloody hard psychologically. Started mix feeding about 4 weeks so dh could do some feeds. Was so much better

I know you've not finished posting, but I just wanted to reassure you that I found it very frustrating and even painful for the first 6 weeks and it was purely my stubborn streak that drove me to continue.

Once we got past the first 6 weeks it was much, much better. I EBF for 6 months and slowly weaned her onto food but she carried on with BFing until she was 17m, when she naturally lost interest and slowly stopped asking for it.

I don't know how letting them drink milk direct from your breast is less convenient than going downstairs, making a bottle up, coming back up, giving them milk, then when you've finished having to wash/sterilise it. Or doing all the prep every time you leave the house...
I know which I'd do next time round, if I'm able.
It does get better and easier.

Found it very tough initially but got better with time.

Once I got into the swing of it, it was easy. But I was very lucky. If I were to have another baby, I'd give it a go but I'd pack it in without a flicker of guilt if it wasn't going smoothly.

I really really hated it, gave up after 6 weeks, we were both so much happier. It's not right for everyone.

I hated it. My baby cluster fed from 11pm-5am, and my older child was awake from 6am. It very nearly made me ill. Never again.

The only reason I carried on was because I'm very stubborn, I couldnt be bothered to make up bottles and Mil said I wouldn't be able to do it and I so wanted to shove it right in her face.

Still going 7 months on and it does get easier but YANBU.

Did it for a year and it was 'easy', ie no pain ever, baby gained weight well etc. But the idea of doing it again makes my stomach drop. The feeling of your boobs filling up, then the leaking, the soggy bras, then trying to feed out and about with a distracted baby who pulls off and covers you in milk, or won't feed and is hungry again after 20 mins and you go through the same thing again. Urgh it's really not fun. I will do it again but will get them on a bottle as well from the beginning.

If I were to have another baby, I'd give it a go but I'd pack it in without a flicker of guilt if it wasn't going smoothly.

^^this! I BF until DS was 20 months old and looking back i dont know how i managed it because i really didnt enjoy it. I found it a bit restrictive too.

I've done both. Bf DC1 for a year, ff DC2. Ff is so much easier, no doubt - even taking into account washing bottles and sterilising them.

I honestly didn't think that would be the case. I mean, what can be easier than having milk on tap, at the right temperature, all the time? But of course that only works if you're with your child 24/7, and don't have to work - otherwise you've got all the sterilising and washing, plus pumping.

And feeding bras are a pain, as is not being able to wear normal dresses/tops that don't go with the feeding bras/sports bras/jumpsuits/ etc etc.

When I was bf I couldn't just nip out, even when DS was asleep, in case he wanted a feed. So I'd have to prep first by pumping, which makes nipping out for a run far less attractive.

That said, I'd have bfed DD if I could. I tried hard as I know it's the best option, but it's certainly not the easiest.

Can understand the exhausting part - although we did introduce an expressed bottle once a day to give me some sort of break.

Convenience - not getting you - all I needed was a muslin and my feeding cover initially - preferred it but ditched it around 9-10 months as it used to be waved around instead!! A box of breast pads and that was it.

I was lucky though and didn't have any issues.

I only did it for 8 months and like a couple of others have said, largely out of being stubborn.
I was knackered and yes I found it inconvenient, I didn't feel happy just to go out and feed if necessary. I never breast fed in public.
Although it gets easier I don't know if I would do it again.

I absolutely loathed it. It was agony, but it was more than that - I just really, really disliked it.

Gave up at 4 weeks and felt absolutely terrible for about 48 hours. Then I realised how much better ff suited me and DD and never looked back.

At the start it was difficult and time consuming - but got easier and easier. When I did switch up bottles at 6 months they seemed a lot of work compared to hone easy breastfeeding had become at that stage.

I found the first week difficult because I ended up with a bleeding nipple after 3 days. I had great support though and once that was resolved I quite enjoyed it and still do. I understand about you funding it exhausting though as I did too in the first few weeks when it felt like I was constantly feeding.
I've only found it to be an inconvenience in the early days of say when we were at church or with in-laws. But I quickly got over that and soon felt comfortable with feeding anywhere in various ways.

Still bfeeding at 19months and like previous posters have said, it gets easier and easier.

PS don't be afraid to ask for help

I hated it and began mixed feeding at 6 weeks.

DontBuyANewMum of course it's easier to breastfeed than go downstairs etc etc.

But it's also possible to nudge your co-parent and mutter "your turn" which, when your co-parent doesn't have tits, just isn't possible with BF.

I've done both, and they each have their advantages. But I've never heard a woman on here complain about how wrung out she is by bottle feeding, the only issue some bottle feeders seem to have is guilt, which is daft as the baby is still being fed.

First 6 weeks were awful. The next 14 months were much easier.
But if you want to ff then do it. The important thing is to feed the baby. Breast or formula.

Best help I got with breastfeeding was the midwife who insisted on showing me how to feed whilst lying down in bed. This was from day one. It was 19 years ago that this advice was given, and I'm guessing it wouldn't be routinely given today (if at all?) This enabled me to get some sleep whilst feeding, though I was never so totally sound asleep with the baby in bed with me. I don't know how I would have managed otherwise with three children under 3.5 years by the time DC3 came along.

Nothing to do with being reasonable/unreasonable.
Find your own healthy/happy balance and in any case remind yourself that that too shall pass

Too early. Give it a bit longer.
Then I am a bit bored of so many negative breastfeeding threads. Anyone who posts with a super positive view of BF is slapped down as smug anyway. Do what you like, I'm sure there'll be plenty of people along to tell you it makes no difference anyway

Yep. YANBU.

I'm 3 weeks in and finding it very tough. We've been mix feeding since week 1 and I'm trying to decrease the formula feeds. I can tell my OH thinks I'm mad to be persevering with feeding from the breast (although he'd never say anything, he's too polite and supportive).

The bottle feeds are just so much easier, quicker and reassuring (I know how much baby is actually getting), AND someone else can do them if necessary and give me a break. Plus we have a steriliser and even a machine that makes up the formula bottles. So there's really not much faff involved at all.

Think it may only be my stubborn streak keeping me going.

I found it hard going to start with but after 8 weeks or so it def got easier and more convenient in that I didn't have to worry about making up bottles if we were out etc. The early days are hard though but in my case anyway it did get easier and I can honestly say I was sad to stop in the end (at around 11 months.)