Hi Kaye,

Please don't give up.  With everything your little one will be going through, breastfeeding is especially important for her.  The immunity she gets from your breast milk can help to prevent illness during this especially tricky first year.  Nursing can also be a source of great comfort and closeness for both of you, especially if you relax (easier said than done, eh?).  Consider it the best gift you can be giving her for now.  Soon she'll be off to kindergarten and you'll miss it like crazy!

My older daughter would nurse anywhere, anytime.  No distraction was too great.  My younger daughter had to be in a certain room with no noise or distraction.  It became the family joke (and was a total pain), but I don’t regret sticking with it.  It is the best possible nutrition for your baby.  If you aren’t proficient at expressing your milk, you may want to learn to do that before her surgery so she can still have breast milk if you aren’t there when she gets hungry. 

Lots of women have breastfeeding difficulties.  You are certainly not alone.  Have you considered a La Leche league meeting? 

Laura K