DS is 2 weeks and 4 days. I tried breastfeeding from the start and it seemed to be going well but then I started to get sore nipples which cracked painfully and DS does this thing at every feed where he crosses his arms over his face and 'hits' me in the chest so this was also very painful. We also had latch problems as my nipples are big. Since 2 weeks old I started expressing using a Tommee Tippee electric pump but now have a blister on one of my nipples where it hits the side of the pump when expressing. This also happened using my friend's Medela pump and also when using my manual pump. Hand expressing is not an option for me. I simply don't want to as it is too time consuming and I can't get it right. Also suffering with blocked ducts although I don't think it is mastitis yet, but I have achy, flu-like symptoms which I believe are related.
I have decided I would like to EFF him and want to dry my milk up. I am getting so miserable having painful boobs and nipples, I can't pick my baby up and hold him close because my boobs are too sore and I am starting to feel jealous of DP because his time with DS is unsullied with pain and soreness.
We have been to breastfeeding support groups and received some good advice on how to attempt to continue breastfeeding but I am past this point now (none of it worked - I blame my bloody huge nipples) and truly believe EFF would be better for my health and in turn the health of DS - he doesn't need a stressed out crying mummy and I feel this could lead to PND if I don't sort it out quickly.
So, does anyone know how I can dry up my milk? I have googled it and come up with a load of results about breast binding but that sounds painful and ineffective so I want to know if anyone here has done this successfully and how?
Thanks, and sorry for the long back story, I am still trying to justify it to myself that this is the best thing to do really, it has been a very painful time physically and emotionally recently and I'm in a bit of a state.