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I don't have any experience since my LO is younger, but maybe it's just a phase? Like a nursing strike kind of thing? Hang in there, she still needs and loves you, even if she's being a fussy eater!

How old is she? She may just be spreading her feedings out.

Oh, I feel your pain! Deflated is the perfect word for it, i felt at times like i was mourning the nursing experience i had dreamed of. My LO (now just 1) never seemed to like nursing - she bit, pinched and scratched, she pushed me away and god forbid I try to nurse her when she wasn't hungry! And she didn't take bottles either! When she's done, she slams her hand into the breast, rolls over and jumps off my lap without a backwards glance!
Things that were a factor for us - reflux, food intolerances (she's got multiple food protein intolerances, but dairy and soy are worst), oral thrush, funny latch.
Things that worked for us to improve nursing - reflux meds and strict diet for me to deal with intolerances (though she remained a difficult nurser), nursing in a dark room, nursing when she was sleepy, nursing at night. Time.
Time was the biggest factor - around 8 mo she started loving nursing - once she could ask (sign) for it when SHE wanted it. She's a very, very determined child who knows what she wants.
I don't know if this helps at all ... PM me if you'd like more info about any of it!
We saw 8 lactation consultants (yes, 8!!) and finally at five months I saw a lovely one who told me straight "this is the way it is and it might not ever change, and its nothing to do with you and your relationship with her". That actually helped, I stopped resenting and despairing the situation and just let LO do her thing... I'm glad I persevered as we have had some lovely moments nursing... Though I'll be honest, there have been plenty of frustrated moments still.
But oh, I'm right back there with you reading this post. Hang in there... I found I'd live and die with the quality of each feed - good feed and I was ecstatic, bad one and I was miserable and dreaming of weaning... Good luck x

How often is she eating? Maybe she is ready to space them out more.

@SSLM - no trouble at all!I'm just sorry you're going through this!

I had a fast flow on one side too - I always started on the "good" (slow) side so LO didn't get too angry with me!

I also had trouble each time she was ready to space her feeds a little more, it's really really hard to relax and trust the baby that they know what they are doing! But they do. I think. Maybe!

Maybe try spacing a tiny bit, wait 3 hrs 15 m? See what happens?
My LC encouraged the use of feeding zones - we designated 90 min windows, 5 times a day, where I would offer the breast if she didn't finish a feed - but then she had to wait til the next zone. That helped me relax that P was getting enough to eat.
Veeeerrrry different to my firstborn - a little boy who wouldn't have ever left the boob if I'd let him!

@sslm: she might not need 7 feeds. R gets 5 or 6 a day.

@sslm: I totally feel you. Neither of my kids were particularly fond of nursing. It didn't help that I didn't like it either. I still made it to 7 months with my first by my pure stubbornness. I just forced my son to eat when I thought he should. As a result he was RIDONKULOUSLY fat. Haha. I think he was fine (and as a 3.5 year old now he's definitely thinned out, it's a struggle to keep weight on him now!) but when my daughter came along I trusted her a whole lot more (as a previous poster said) and sure enough, her nursing sessions were short and spaced very far out compared to how I fed her brother. And she hasn't fallen past the 99th percentile in weight. I moved to exclusive pumping with her because I was still not happy nursing, and it's really the same-- I never went over an 8 oz bottle for her (some of my son's bottles were 10 oz!) and she's still 99th percentile in weight at almost 13 months.

I would say just do what seems to make sense for both of you and only worry if she starts to lose weight! Your ped will let you know if you have a reason to worry!

Oh sister. This post really hits home for me because there have been many times where I swore my LO didn't like nursing. I worried she wished I would just give her a bottle since the milk comes out faster. But now at 8 months she's a boob monster and I worry how I'll ever wean her! Its a phase (a long one but a phase none the leas!). Don't feel rejected!

@sslm: we are in some kind of a transition here, too. I've had a fast let down for awhile, but figured out how to work with it, mostly using the Kelly mom info. Now I think T is spacing out her feedings more...I'm so used to offering it every couple hours that it is really throwing me off! Our ped recommended trying to space it out more too, to try to resolve a possible foremilk/hind milk issue.....we'll see how it goes.

Also, I'm glad you posted weeks because I've totally lost track!

Mine never really cared for it. We lasted 8 months and then I became an exclusive pumper when I couldn't take the rejection any longer

I'm in the same boat...she doesn't really like nursing or bottles!

My Lo is similar...he's not a comfort nurser and gets his business done and then wants off my lap! It does make me sad sometimes, but I second nursing when they're sleepy...I get more cuddles that way.

Also don't stress about getting to 7 feedings...you Lo might be ready to drop one or two! Follow her cues.

As for me, I nurse even tho Lo doesn't sento love it because I think it's good for him...probably the first of many things that will follow that pattern!

@sslm: I think I posted like 6 new "WTF NURSING?!?" HB posts in the very beginning. I have never in my life before this experienced something so demoralizing on one hand and so pride-filled on other.

Good luck, mama You're doing great. ANd no matter what you will choose the best choice for you and your little family.