No, really, it is. It worked for us and was easy and yeah, it's cheaper and a nice way to bond. But, if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. There's no reason to beat yourself up about it. .I hate that boob nazis all over the world beat women down for making the choice not to breastfeed- or for not making that choice, but not being able to breastfeed.
You do not have to go to 14 lactation consultants, try 30 different herbs, pump every hour, and cry over 1oz of milk. It's ok to give up. It really, really is.
Breastfeeding is nice, and there were times in which I loved it and couldn't imagine doing anything differently. It's convenient, because I don't have to haul around bottles or formula. And dangit, the poop really does smell a TON better before they start solids.
But it's time consuming. It's emotionally draining. Your body no longer belongs solely to yourself, and neither does your time. You are on baby's clock- for many, baby eats every 2-3 hours until he or she weans. This means that you MUST be available to them every 2-3 hours...and that's from the START of the nursing session. Normal babies (not crazy reflux babies like mine) can take up to an hour (or more, if they're REALLY lazy or growth spurting or teething) to finish nursing. This means that you have MAYBE 1-2 hours in which you could do something other than nurse. Like sleep, or eat, or take a shower.
And that's if you have an easy, relaxed baby who will let you put them in a swing or something while you do that. If you have a high maintenance baby that must be held all the time, you discover babywearing and then you REALLY have no time to yourself because baby is strapped on you or in your arms 24/7.
Breastfeeding takes a lot out of you. And it is TOTALLY ok if you don't have that to give. Hell, I'm not even sure I have that to give, but I do it anyways because Little Dude never would take a bottle. If it had been harder, like I'd actually had trouble getting him to latch or issues with supply or an unsupportive family, then yeah, I'd have probably quit after the first couple of weeks when I was sitting there with a child who WOULD NOT let me put him down so I could grab a sandwich, hysterical in tears because he was nursing ALL DAY LONG.
I hate when moms feel like they have to mention "he's formula fed. We tried breastfeeding, we did x y and z and I put myself through hell and I hate myself for it, but it just didn't work out." WHY? Why did you put yourself through that? Why would anyone put themselves through that? Breastmilk isn't THAT much better, if it is at all. Please, please please, all you mamas who are out there, or who aren't mamas yet...PLEASE take care of yourselves too. Baby will grow up just fine with formula, promise. My 3-year-old niece is smarter than a lot of 5 year olds I know, tall and thin as a reed, and beautiful and thriving and she was breastfed for MAYBE 6 weeks before my sister couldn't stand it anymore.
Don't feel bad. Don't beat yourself up. Do what you have to do. Love yourself, Love your baby, Love your family. That's the important thing.
