I need some advice re dealing with pain with early breastfeeding. I'm really struggling... my DD is now 9 days old and for the last two i have fed her expressed BM from the bottle. I can't face the pain of breastfeeding and keep anticipating the pain of the feed before she latches on. I had even taken to bitng onto a flannel as she latched each feed. I don't seem to feel this 'let down' that I keep hearing about - it just stays relatively painful throughout - although the pain does become more manageable after a little while. I've had the latch checked by everyone and his wife and they have all declared it to be absolutely fine, and she appears to drink from the nipple with ease. I'm scared that if i don't sort this out then she will miss out - it can't be good for her to be held rigidly throughout the feed (due to the pain i'm feeling) with her mummy weeping and swearing as she latches on. I'm in quite a lot of pain as well following a pretty horrid labour and EMCS (, natural start to labour but slowed down, failed induction, stuck at 5cm, EMCS, severe blood loss that resulted in my womb being removed and checked for haemorrage and 4 unit blood transfusion, stayed in hospital for 6 days - 3 on HDU) and feeling very fragile and tearful at the moment.
also - My boobs fill with milk so quickly after i have expressed and are ragingly painful wthn a couple of hours - will that calm down in time?
I just feel like i am failing her by not being able ot feed her from the nipple - I'm worried she is missing out on bonding. I dread her rooting and it makes me reluctant to hold her at the moment because i feel so guilty to not offer her the nipple that she wants. I don't have any problems with expressing apart from the time factor - but easily am able to express about 100 - 120ml about 4 times a day..
Any advice that you may have will be greatfully received..