Hi There,
I had a girl in my antenatal club who had the same problem. She found latching hard for the first 3 weeks and expressed a lot to start with feeding baby EBM from a syringe then a bottle. (I had to do this too for other reasons.) If you keep trying for the latch too as practice eventually and with some help you should get there just fine. I found that my local NHS community midwife unit were fab and really helped me out. I transferred to one as soon as DD was born as I didn't get the breastfeeding help I wanted in hospital. It was almost 1 on 1 care in there absolutely fab. They will let you transfer if you insist! I wanted to get it sorted before I went home as I knew otherwise it would never happen.
I really hope it all works out for you! Below are some helpful links and numbers.
Emma x
NCT website: www.nct-online.org
NCT Breastfeeding Line: 0870 444 8708
La Leche League website: www.laleche.org.uk
Laleche 24hr Helpline: 020 7242 1278
From www.kellymom.com
Women with flat or inverted nipples cannot breastfeed.
Not true! Babies do not breastfeed on nipples, they breastfeed on the breast. Though it may be easier for a baby to latch on to a breast with a prominent nipple, it is not necessary for nipples to stick out. A proper start will usually prevent problems and mothers with any shaped nipples can breastfeed perfectly adequately. In the past, a nipple shield was frequently suggested to get the baby to take the breast. This gadget should not be used, especially in the first few days! Though it may seem a solution, its use can result in poor feeding and severe weight loss, and makes it even more difficult to get the baby to take the breast. If the baby does not take the breast at first, with proper help, he will often take the breast later. Breasts also change in the first few weeks, and as long as the mother maintains a good milk supply, the baby will usually latch on by 8 weeks of age no matter what, but get help and the baby may latch on before.