10 Times I Wanted to Give Up on Breastfeeding, and How I Pushed Through

Burst | Nicole De Khors

The fact that breastfeeding can be hard as hell isn't news to any breastfeeding mama. In the six weeks since my son was born, I've wanted to give up on breastfeeding countless times. And in the months to come, I have no doubt there are more challenging times ahead, with hellish cluster feeding, brutal nipple soreness, and sheer breastfeeding boredom. Still, I'm committed to exclusively nursing my little guy for as long as possible. To that end, every time I want to throw up the white flag of surrender and go to bottle feeding, I work on ways to push through the difficult moments and stick with it. Keep reading for some of the toughest times so far on my breastfeeding journey and the sanity-saving strategies that help me keep going.

01
When I'm Exhausted and Wish My Husband Could Just Give Him a Bottle
Unsplash | Asdrubal luna

When I'm Exhausted and Wish My Husband Could Just Give Him a Bottle

I try and remember that my baby waking at night to feed is temporary. Soon enough, I'll miss this special time breastfeeding my sweet son in a quiet, dark room without distractions.

02
When My Nipples Feel Like Open Sores
Unsplash | Claudia

When My Nipples Feel Like Open Sores

Yeah, ouch. Instead of focusing on the pain, I take deep breaths and try to relax my shoulders and any other tense parts of my face, neck, and body.

03
When I Tried Pumping and Hated It
Pexels | Burst

When I Tried Pumping and Hated It

Even though it's convenient for many moms, I decided pumping isn't for me, at least right now. And that's OK. Remember: breastfeeding has to work for your life, not someone else's.

04
When My Baby's Cluster Feeding and I'm So Over it
Pexels | Rasmus Svinding

When My Baby's Cluster Feeding and I'm So Over it

Instead of giving up on breastfeeding altogether, I think about how he must be having a growth spurt. Or maybe he needs comfort, and then I feel good that I'm the one who can help him.

05
When I'm Breastfeeding in the Car . . . Again
Pexels | bruce mars

When I'm Breastfeeding in the Car . . . Again

Giving my son a bottle would be so much easier on the go. But since I'm breastfeeding, when he needs to eat, I often park the car, then go to great lengths to cover up. In these situations, I try to focus on the baby and not who is walking by the car and may be peeking in.

06
When I'm Bored, Tethered to the Couch
Pexels | Daria Shevtsova

When I'm Bored, Tethered to the Couch

To counteract the monotony, I started a new show (watch Succession; you won't be sorry). Now I have something to look forward to when we feed.

08
When I Feel Like I'm a Human Pacifier
Pexels | Pixabay

When I Feel Like I'm a Human Pacifier

When your baby is crying, it's easy to comfort him with your boob. But then it doesn't stop. Instead of making myself miserable, sometimes I stick a real pacifier in my baby's mouth and take a well-deserved break!

09
When It Seems Breastfeeding Is All I'm Good For
Unsplash | Dave Clubb

When It Seems Breastfeeding Is All I'm Good For

If I don't accomplish much in a day other than feeding my son, I remind myself that preparing bottles every few hours is also time-consuming. It's the baby that takes up time; not the way you feed!

10
When I'm Always Express Ordering Breast Pads
Unsplash | Dai KEI

When I'm Always Express Ordering Breast Pads

Breast milk is free. Breastfeeding supplies are not. But it's not as if formula is cheap, either, and it's easy to run out of your supply of that, too. Whenever I get frustrated with having to buy more things, I look at my little baby and am reassured that it's all worth it.