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It sounds like your major hurdle (having to pump while at work) is gone now, no? So you'll just be nursing from here on out? IMO nursing is so much easier than dealing with bottles/buying formula...but breastfeeding for 5 months is awesome so either way, great job mama!

Also as for being the only one to put her to sleep, I definitely hear ya! Lo will take a nap for anyone but I always put him to sleep...I try to remind myself that these moments are fleeting and soon I'll wish I could tuck him in at night!

no advice since I EP and supplement with formula but I can sympathize. I'm at 1 pump a day now and can't wait to just be done, I'm so over it! You've done so great at making it this far with your stressful job situation so just do whatever makes you happy. H will thrive no matter what you decide!

Just a thought, but nursing doesn't have to be an everything/nothing equation. Your body will adapt to whatever amount of nursing you choose to do or feel is right for your family and baby, whether that's all, some, or none. Have you thought about just nursing her when both of you feel like it? And stop pumping if that is stressful and yucky for you! Sounds like she will take formula, so no worries there. I'm just not sure if I should read your initial comment as, "I'm so done nursing, period" or "I'm so done with these things about nursing." If it's just that you're over some aspects (not being able to share baby care tasks as easily, pumping, etc.) then you should still be able to breastfeed some if you want to.

I think if you can power through the next month or two things will get A LOT easier especially since you don't have to pump any more.
We have supplemented from the get go due to supply issues and when we're out I tend to give her formula unless we're somewhere I can BF in private or in the car.

I think once you're not working, some of that stress will go away.. You shouldn't be so worried about pumping because you'll be around your baby a lot more. I know for me, I work so I'm pumping, but we nurse exclusively on the weekends, and I'm always so relieved for those times. I never pump on the weekends, even if I leave LO to go do something and miss a feeding. You're already supplementing, so I would just enjoy your nursing sessions, pump if you feel like it, and stick with it if you can for a little while longer. You're doing a great job!

I would say a happy medium looks however you want it to! Maybe not the most helpful answer, but I'll try to clarify. Your body will make whatever milk H tells it to. If you choose just to nurse once a day in the morning, your body can adapt to that. It will take time, and you shouldn't try to get there "cold turkey" because you will end up engorged and uncomfortable and might get sick (mastitis, etc.) but if you scale back the amount you are nursing and pumping, you will get there. I guess what I was trying to say is that you can do whatever works for you, and you shouldn't have to think about it as "either I nurse OR I do something else." It can just as easily be "I nurse when baby and I want to, and the rest of the time we do something else." You are just starting the weaning process (away from breastmilk) at a different time than some mothers do, but the process will look and work the same way. Here are some additional resources: http://kellymom.com/ages/weaning/wean-how/weaning-partial/ and http://www.artofbreastfeeding.com/?p=27 (for this second one, just use the applicable information, not the complete weaning stuff, unless you choose to go that route). So, decide what your ideal nursing situation would look like (when are you doing it? where?), and start eliminating pumping and nursing sessions until you are there. And also remember, if your "ideal" situation needs tweaks from time to time (let's say she gets sick and you and she want to nurse five times that day instead of two) you can totally do that, too. Just remember that your supply will get lower, and so she will need to be taking in some calories from another source (so formula, or later on perhaps solids).

I struggle with pumping for sure. SO annoying. But as far as nursing, I think it's been easy for us. A nurses every 3 hours like clockwork so it hasn't mentally affected me as much as the early months. Is nursing a difficult option when you're out? I know that's the one stressor for us when making plans to go out, but once I figure out where we can nurse, I'm good to go! I would HATE to have skip a nursing session then pump it out! YUCK. 6 months was my first long term goal as well, but now that we are a week away-- I can't imagine stopping! Oh and just to add, we started solids this past wknd, that will be coming up soon for H too so maybe the next few months will get easier as far as feeling the boob is always the answer!

Regardless, 5+ months is great, and I think you should do what is best for your and H's well-being!! She's a happy, healthy baby-- no matter what you decide to do I think it's OK!

@PrincessBaby: I found EASY to be really sucky lol. My LO does so much better on AESY She sleeps much better and longer on a full belly and I don't feel like I am constantly feeding her. She's not really hungry when she wakes up from her naps, so I've just been nursing her before her naps and its working better for us.

I think that BFing when you want to and doing a bottle of formula when you don't (i.e. bedtime) is a nice compromise. I find formula feeding incredibly easy, so I get the appeal! I think if you think if you will regret quitting, then don't! But happy mama = happy baby, so if quitting will make you happy... do it! I have really grown to love the simplicity & ease of formula, so I'm really glad it worked out this way for us. Either way, you'll have a beautiful healthy baby!

Personally if I were you, I'd power through and try to make it a little longer... it does get tiring and it's hard having your baby completely dependent on only YOU for food (I couldn't leave him for more than 3 hours unless I wanted to pump and like you I hated that!). But I had to make a choice to accept that breastfeeding wasn't about me or my happiness, but about my baby. It made him happy and healthy!!! And when I did face some complications with very persistent thrush, it was hard to keep a positive attitude, but I knew it would be worth it. But I know not all moms can or want to keep that attitude... it really depends I guess.

I mean it doesn't sound like you're actually *unhappy*?? just tired??

I think, based on what you said, the worst part is over now that you'll be done working for awhile!! I didn't mind it so much as a SAHM

@NovBaby1112: AESY works for us too.

J and H are the same exact age and I'm a little weary of breastfeeding as well. I think pumping is the hugest pain, so hopefully without working for awhile you can mostly avoid that. I sometimes have fantasies of quitting, but then, I do love that time to snuggle with her. I love that when she's fussy or fighting sleep, nursing is a surefire way to soothe/relax her. I'm pretty sure I'd miss it if I didn't do it at all... esp. as she gets older, more wiggly, & less cuddly.

Make whatever decision is best for you though!!!!!!

@PrincessBaby: I'm on the same page as Mrs. Twine, it doesn't have to be all or nothing. If you are concerned about not giving the nutritional benefits, then just cut down to one or two nursings a day. I only exclusively BF until about 5.5 months, but he still had some breastmilk every day until he was 14 months old. We started by supplementing with formula during the day, taking away one feeding at a time and ended by only nursing first thing in the morning and before bed. You are still committed to those feedings, but it lightens the burden during the day. I never would have lasted over a year if I wasn't just doing those 2 feedings.
Also keep in mind that H will be starting solids soon so her nursing might go down.

@PrincessBaby: i've many days where i am tired of it. the main reason being that, like you said, you never get a break. I told DH that if I could BF 5 days a week and he BFs the other two, it would be easy peasy to make it to make one year (my goal) and beyond. Obviously that won't happen, so i just power through. I am on mat leave for a year, so that's my goal. by then i am hoping to keep going until he is ready for regular milk and skip formula altogether, but i will evaluate that when the time comes.

I am so glad to hear you are feeling some peace and happiness right now with your decision! And I am totally jealous of your night. I tried to go rescue some chives out of a manure heap. We'll just leave it at that. Sounds like you are heading down a path that will work for you and H. I love it.

@PrincessBaby: Whooooo! I love that you went for a wine walk.

@princessbaby: so glad that you are feeling closer to a happier medium. I have been a happy formula feeder since 3 months, but lately I've been wondering if I could have kept one or two nursing sessions a day. With some PPD and a colicky baby I just couldn't handle BFing every two hours. It really never occurred to me that maybe I could have had both! It's just part of your journey with LO, wherever it takes you.