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I never had any supply. I also had a lot of guilt, but breastfeeding was not supplying my daughter with the food that she needed. I was spending hours out of every day working on pumping and doing all kinds of crazy things to boost my supply. None of them worked. I ended up with severe PPD and anxiety, some of which stemmed from all of my stress about feeding my daughter.
I really don't think there's any need for moms to put so much stress on themselves to EBF. If breastfeeding is not working for you and making you miserable, then formula is a great alternative.

I worked my ass off at breastfeeding and had my lactation consultant tell me I HAD to introduce formula because I did not have sufficient supply and I was starving my baby. She only gained 3oz in 3 weeks before this decision was made. So then for a while I was doing the feed/pump/feed what I'd pumped last time/feed formula game and I hated my life. After a while of that the LC decided that my supply was likely not going to increase and I could stop killing myself pumping and just breastfeed and supplement as needed. Then my baby decided she hated breastfeeding and only wanted bottles, so we battled through that to get her back to the boob. Then she decided she ONLY wanted boob and refused bottles-- which was more serious because I only made half of what she needs and she was starving and screaming hungry all the time but I couldn't make more milk for her and she wouldn't take a bottle. So then I started EP'ing figuring if she never got boob and only got bottle she'd have to get used to it. And she did. So then I was EPing and formula supplementing for a while and omfg it sucked as a SAHM. But I did that for a couple of months until we found out our LO was MSPI and I tried cutting out all dairy and soy which seemed to work, but then I had some soy lecithin in a dessert (which isn't even supposed to be allergenic) and she started getting symptomatic again, and my supply was plummeting from lack of sleep and stress, and I just decided that it was not worth that much time and stress to give her not even half of her food in milk. Also this whole time I was dealing with "shocking" wounds (LC's words) from her initial poor latch before getting her TT fixed at 5.5 weeks. I'm almost 6 months pp and gave up breastfeeding 4 months ago and pumping 2 months ago and I'm still not all the way healed. Sooo yea. Formula FTW.

Couldn't make enough milk and was driving myself crazy pumping. It was a hard decision but once I got to it, I felt a huge relief and was glad I had let go of the madness

My milk was slow to come in after she was born. She had a touch of jaundice and was restless under the light in the hospital during treatments the first day, so I allowed her to be given formula so she'd have a full belly. It took a good month for me to have enough milk to satisfy her. Then eight months came, and although it was probably a growth spurt or a wonder week, I just couldn't handle how hungry she was, and my milk just couldn't flow enough for her, so I started supplementing again. By ten months it was all formula.

When it got to the point where I was deciding between comforting my crying baby and staying hooked up to a machine (he never latched despite many lactation consultant sessions), I said enough is enough. To me, being a good parent is about quality time spent with your LO and being responsive to their needs.

I also did a lot of research on the supposed benefits of BFing and concluded that they were way overblown. LO is now 2 and so happy and loving and bonded to both me and my husband (and smart, not that I'm biased) - no negatives except cost and some more spit-up at the time.

This website helped a lot: http://www.fearlessformulafeeder.com. It's not anti-BFing at all, just encourages being supportive of other parents no matter how they feed their kids.

@Pumpkin Pie: My milk was very slow to come in after my c-section. I nursed often and pumped a lot and eventually it worked out but then by 6 month my supply tanked so had to start supplimenting with formula. By 9mo LO was exclusivly on formula. I was so stressed and sad about it. I was really glad he got what breastmilk he did. Any breast milk your LO gets is so good for them, even if its only for 7 weeks! Just do your best.

Also I feel you on those long nursing session, my LO was always on the boob. Sometimes I think he was doing long feedings because I had a low-ish supply, but other time sI think he just wanted to be there for comfort- some newborns are just like that.

Have you contact a lactation consultant? I highly recommend it! Or at least get some support from a drop in breastfeeding support group or Le Leche League group meeting.

LO had very low blood sugar due to complications during delivery so she received formula after the first attempt at breastfeeding. I had inverted nipples and LO had latch issues. I ended up pumping for several months and supplementing with formula. We made the switch to 100% prescription formula when the GI specialist diagnosed her with food allergies (dairy, soy, egg).

With DS1, I was so stressed because he lost too much weight in the hospital so I was very anxious about how much he ate. I only lasted two weeks breastfeeding. Honestly, I don't think he got the hang of it and therefore I didn't produce enough. I felt like he was always eating and I was totally overwhelmed. I switched to formula and it worked out great.

With DS2, I lasted a week. It hurt so much. I couldn't handle the bloody nipples and pain. I did not look forward to feeding him. It wasn't worth it to me. I switched to formula and have not looked back.

Honestly, I did not enjoy breastfeeding at all. It did not make me feel more bonded to my boys. For me, it was just added stress. I don't think breast is best if mama is miserable.

I believe you need to do what's going to be best for your emotional and mental health (whether that be formula, mixed or breast feeding) and you have absolutely no need to feel guilty for making the decision that works for your family!

Having said all that, is there anything you think we might be able to help you with in regards to the bf'ing?

@Pumpkin Pie: we had a lip tie checked at 10 weeks and I was so hopeful it would be the thing that changed everything. The ENT said the same thing your dr said, yes it was there no he wouldn't correct it. I really think babies like that just need time for their mouths to get bigger I think that's why it got better for us at 4 months.

ETA: you are absolutely not doing anything wrong. The times they give are all averages. At that age DS would eat for 30 mins each side and never pop off on his own and then he'd be satusified for maybe an hour and we'd begin the process again. My advice is to do what you want I only made it through because I am incredibley stubborn but it ended up being worth it to me in the end. I hate the statement that it'll never hurt bc it does and it continues to for a long time. I had LC's act like I was just a wimp umm no I gave birth wo pain meds this just fricking hurts! Also he was almost 4 months before it started being 'easy' and I truly believe it's bc his latch finally got big enough and he was a pretty big newborn (8-3). I stuck with it because Breast is best and I believe that but I'm pregnant with no 2 now and I don't know that I'll be as insistent if it's not easier this time!

I had a very low supply and a raging case of PPD - not a good combination. After 2.5 months of bf'ing as much as I could and supplementing for the rest, I decided enough was enough (and yes, this was after my LC even said it just wasn't working out due to my supply issues). I wanted to enjoy being a mother and I decided that the "breast is best" brigade could suck it.

There are going to be people who question your decision to quit whether that's at 7 weeks or 17 months, so try not to let them stand in the way of your decision. Because at the end of the day, it is you who are responsible for feeding your baby and others do not know your personal struggles. I remember people would often say things to me like, "Oh yeah, it's normal to be breastfeeding 18 hours a day when you have a newborn" and I just thought to myself - sure, maybe it is normal. But maybe that is not best for my mental health, which in turn is not good for my baby.

So, good luck no matter what you do! I hope you find lots of support for formula or breast feeding both in real life and online. I know the early days are tough, but hang in there - it gets so much better. Cliche, I know, but SO true!

Pediatricians and even LCs can be wrong about the severity of lip ties. I would get a second opinion. By 7 weeks you shouldn't be in pain!

It took almost 6 months to enjoy nursing & for LO to stop preferring the bottle. Now nursing is an incredible bond we have and I am so glad we stuck it out, even though we supplemented with formula the whole time.

I formula fed because I didn't make any milk. BUT I will probably breastfeed my next baby by choice..... I'm going to try breastfeeding again but if its painful or difficult or the least bit stressful I will be whipping out the bottles straight away. I wasted too much of E's infancy crying over my boobs.

It was really hard for me to stop for all the reasons you mentioned, but it was super hard when I was on maternity leave and impossible when I went back to work. I had low supply -- baby nursed on and off all day (and I mean all day, literally sitting in front of the TV for 12 hours and never sleeping for more than 1.5 hours without needing to be fed until 6+ weeks). When I went back to work I only pumped 1/4th of what he needed during the day and was going crazy to make that 6 ounces so I let it go and life has been amazing every since!

@Pumpkin Pie: I started supplementing about 3 weeks ago because I ran out of frozen breastmilk to give LO during work days. Nowadays, I have the caregivers mix breastmilk and formula on days that I work, and on days that I'm home I will supplement him with 2-3oz formula per feeding (my supply took an unexplained dip around the same time that I ran out of frozen bm). I think we'll be done nursing in about a month or two. No guilt here. I can certainly relate to your mixed feelings but try to remember that feeding your LO should not be stressful for you (or painful), and at the end of the day, if he's fed (formula), loved, and happy then who cares if you give him formula?? Plus others can feed your LO too!
ETA: LO is 5.5 months old

@Pumpkin Pie: I know a medical professional told you a lip tie shouldn't get in the way of breastfeeding, but that's antiquated information. Current knowledge states that not only does a lip tie affect breastfeeding, it is nearly always associated with a posterior tongue tie. If you have cracked and bleeding nipples, pain, and a shallow latch, those are all signs your baby has a structural issue. My first DD did, and it was missed repeatedly by various pediatricians and LCs. It wasn't until I came across some research on my own, when my 5 month old baby flat out refused to nurse for an entire day and I was desperate, that I figured out what it was. I found a specialist and got her diagnosed and got her ties revised with laser. I can't tell you what a different baby she was, and how different breastfeeding was from then on. Sadly, because her issues weren't resolved for so long, my supply was just hit too hard due to lack of proper nipple stimulation while she nursed, that by 8.5 months I dried up, and switched to formula. If you're curious for some resources about tongue and lip ties, both of these doctors, one is an ENT and one is a Dentist, are wonderful and have great articles and blog posts on their websites explaining the whole thing:

Dr. Kotlow: http://www.kiddsteeth.com
Dr. Ghaheri: http://www.drghaheri.com

Best of luck with whatever you decide, and know that no matter how your baby eats, your LO will be just fine.

@Pumpkin Pie: How do you feel your supply is now? Still low or do you think you're dealing with a milk transfer issue? Have you done any weighted feeds with your LC?

I'm not sure if you've ever checked out the La Leche website but they have the most amazing forums, they can generally offer you quite specific advice or suggest helpful resources in your area - here's the link for the newborn forum:

http://forums.llli.org/forumdisplay.php?111-Breastfeeding-Your-Newborn-(0-3-months)

@Pumpkin Pie: i struggled so much to have my LO latch in the early days. I saw two LCs in the hospital, because he refused to latch AND he rejected the bottle (had to syringe feed for a couple of weeks...another story...). neither LC suggested a nipple shield to me, but thankfully a nurse did. It was the only way I got my LO to nurse in the early days, due to his teeny mouth and poor latch. I later learned that nipple shields are frowned upon by LCs, so that could explain why it was not suggested to you,too? I'd try it out if you're still interested in making it work. The shield sucks but it worked for me, and I was able to wean LO off by 8-9 weeks old.... Good luck to you! I also wanted to say that nursing has not really given me that magical bond to my LO either. I Guess I've bonded to him but I think bottle feeding may have also allowed me to bond with him in the same way?