Pumping

So, as I stated in my last post, I've begun exclusively breastfeeding my baby. Because of this, I've also started pumping again. I've come to the conclusion that my poor baby's tummy cannot handle the formula since she really hasn't had as bad tummy pains and gas, then I had my grandma watch her so I could go see a movie and so she gave her a bottle of the formula I packed, she calls because we forgot the gas drops and I hear my baby screaming in the background from pain. She was raising her legs, scruntching up her body and screaming in pain. :/ Anyways, so I started trying to pump again, once a day, so she'd have food in case I needed to get out of the house or in an emergency. It took a few days and buying bigger shields for me to be able to pump out two ounces. It's not as much as I was hoping for, but it's better than nothing.All I can say is 'thank God fot the Medela breast pump!'

Breastfeeding

Let me start off by saying that this is my opinion and if you do not share the same views on what I'm about to say, that's perfectly fine too.
That having been said, I love breastfeeding. I think it's a natural and beautiful way for a mother to bond with her child and healthy too. However, I did not always feel like this. When I first got pregnant, I decided to breastfeed as a way to save money on formula, plus I'd always heard it was healthier than formula. When my baby girl was born, I just assumed she'd know how to breastfeed and that she and I would be pros in no time. Boy was I wrong. I felt so nervous and uncomfortable holding her to breastfeed her, I felt like any sudden movement would somehow hurt her, and she just did not want to latch. It took days before she would latch long enough to actually eat and even then, we both had some issues sucessfully breastfeeding. My breasts were engorged and in so much pain, they were warm to the touch, leaking, and it felt like my nipples were being lit on fire each time she latched on. Then I started slacking on how much I breastfed her and started letting her be bottle-fed more. Then, a few weeks ago, I realized how much I missed the closeness, the bonding, that I got from the constant breastfeeding. I started feeding her only from the breast except for one bottle of formula after her bath to help her sleep longer. A few days ago, I stopped the bottle completely. Don't get me wrong, breastfeeding takes up a great majority of my time and one of my nipples still hurts quite a bit at times, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Plus, it takes less time to get ready to feed her than if I were to get the water ready, then pour the formula, feed her, then sanatize the bottle, and when I look into my little angels beautiful face as she breastfeeds it gives me a since of unshakable love and pride to see how happy and healthy she is. 
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing mothers who cannot or choose to not breastfeed, it's their right to choose and in some cases, a medical reason prevents mothers from breastfeeding and I understand and respect that. That is the reason so many different types of nutritious formulas out there. Personally, I've found that Similac and Enfamil to be the best brands of formula even though they are quite pricey.