Although studies focus on the technical causes of weaning -- low milk supply, sore nipples, a nipple confused baby -- the real reason many moms finally decide to call it quits is because they are frustrated beyond comprehension.

Any combination of problems can cause even a committed mother to reconsider her decision to breastfeed. Living with a baby who wants to nurse all day while your nipples are sore and you are sleep deprived is a recipe for frustration. If mothers have inaccurate information, it leads them to believe there is something terribly wrong with themselves or their babies.

"Because Max was so fussy, everybody was telling me it was what I ate," recalls Rita Hoover of Geneva, Ill. "So, I was down to the blandest diet." Agonizing over every piece of food she put into her mouth easily led Rita to become frustrated with breastfeeding. In reality, breastfeeding was going fine, but Rita was working with outdated information.

Having accurate information and a good support network are vital steps to minimizing frustration. There are very few babies who can live up to unrealistic expectations set by relatives, friends and neighbors. Most babies do not sleep through the night when they are 2 months old, nor do they coo happily for four hours between feedings. Mothers who expect this type of behavior from babies are bound to be disappointed.

On the other hand, having low expectations can cause problems also. Julie Stock, IBCLC, author of "The Breastfeeding Answer Book," says many mothers believe breastfeeding is going to be difficult for the first four to six weeks, so they live with a lot of problems that could be solved easily. These problems continue to grow until they are unbearable. "If the frustration is because of a breastfeeding problem, that has to be dealt with," advises Stock. Mothers can contact a lactation consultant in private practice or at a local hospital.

La Leche League leaders are also available in many communities around the world. "If it hurts, let's talk about how to make it not hurt," says Jen Unger Kroc, a leader in Batavia, Ill. "If she's unhappy about how it impacts her life, let's talk about that. Talk about how to nurse in public so she doesn't feel like she's stuck at home all the time. Let's help make it better for the mom."

If a breastfeeding professional is not available, it is vitally important to find good written information. "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding," published by La Leche League International, is a great starting point for mothers who want accurate information about breastfeeding. Although some doctors distribute booklets and videos published by formula companies, their information can be inaccurate or misleading.

Even mothers who have no concrete problems become frustrated due to lack of sleep, which is a normal part of life for any parent with a new baby. "I think fatigue is a big factor in frustration," says Leanne Feuerborn, a certified lactation consultant at the Well Child Center in Elgin, Ill. For this reason, she encourages moms to view breastfeeding sessions as a chance to take a break. "Stop by the kitchen and get a snack. Sit down and put your feet up," she says. "Yes, the baby is nursing, but you are taking a break."

Eating well is an important part of taking care of yourself while breastfeeding, and it does not mean fixing a four course gourmet dinner every night. Feuerborn suggests that moms grab an apple or a piece of cheese to munch while their baby is nursing.

Some moms even create a special spot for nursing, where they have a book to read, a phone for calling friends, a pitcher of water and anything else they might need while breastfeeding.

"Hang in there, because it gets easier," suggests Kroc to mothers whose biggest problem is fatigue. "Babies get more organized, more efficient at nursing, and fall into more of a rhythm instead of the newborn nursing all the time around the clock. Moms also get more comfortable with the techniques of breastfeeding and are able to integrate it into normal daily living as time goes on."

When living with a baby who wants to nurse frequently, Mom can learn to breastfeed lying down or while sleeping. This is also an essential skill for mothers who like to sleep late. "I remember wonderful, lazy mornings cuddling and snuggling and nursing in bed until 9 and 10 o'clock with my precious baby," recalls Kroc. "I loved those times. They are very sweet in my memory."

It is also important for mothers to realize that babies will not breastfeed as frequently when they get older. Newborns can do little more than lay there and look at the world around them. A 3-month-old can hold a rattle, a 6-month-old can crawl and a 9-month-old is usually getting into so many things around the house that moms find they miss the days when their babies were content to lie in their arms and nurse.

Weaning may not be the answer for a mom who is tired from taking care of a baby, because bottle feeding will add more chores to a mother's schedule.

When mothers have babies who are generally fussy, breastfeeding is often blamed by well-meaning friends and relatives. While breastfeeding is seldom the cause of a baby's fussiness, the best answer may be to hand the baby to another caring adult for 20 or 30 minutes while the mother takes a walk or a hot bath. Taking time to exercise or relax are invaluable tools in combating fatigue, as well as frustration.

Finding supportive friends is also important. Nursing moms often find La Leche League meetings a good source of information and support. "There is going to be at least one person at every meeting who has had the same experience as you," says Jan Friedland of Aurora, Ill., who struggled with sore nipples in the early days of breastfeeding her now 7-month-old son. "It's what got me through the really rough times and knowing that day or night there were people I could call."

Jan said it is especially important to stay away from the advice of people who have never breastfed, and keep looking for help until the problem is solved. "Even if you have to hang up the phone and call someone else and hang up the phone and call someone else," she says. "Those first couple weeks - they sure can be hard, but it's worth it."

Want to see more? Breastfeeding and Guilt Sore Nipples Breastfeed.com MomsTalk Discussion Board About the Author: Deborah Boehle is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and writer living in Illinois.