sprite just wanted to say I was also in a similar position. My ds is now 11 weeks old. For the first four weeks breast feeding was horrendous - non-stop and really painful.
We started using formula top-ups at 3 weeks because most days I fed continuously from 4 - 9pm and felt on the edge of a breakdown by the end of it. Nonetheless I cried every time he had a bottle.
We continued using formula top ups after feeds for about 10 days, and then after much advice from MN and (crucially) two sessions with a lactation consultant, we stopped using formula.
(I am NOT saying that there is anything wrong with ff, but I really wanted to bf for the first 16 weeks, as I will then be going back to work!)
What worked for me was:
- a great lactation consultant. She spent nearly 3 hours with me, watching us, improving the latch, showing me how I could co-sleep safely and listening to all my concerns. She also gave me masses of follow-up support (phone calls as well as a second visit). Made a huge amount of difference having expert advice, and a sympathetic ear. Not cheap but - for me - worth every penny.
- getting my nipples to heal by leaving them exposed to the air as much as possible (not dignified but it worked!) and applying Green People organic balm (Lanolin didn't help me at all)
- doing all feeds from 4pm lying down
- introducing a bath at 630ish, followed by a massage. DS loves the water, seemed to really relax him, making the rest of the evening much calmer. Also meant that I got 30 min break (my mother came over to do bath time).
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that - in my experience - there are no hard and fasts. I mixed fed, went back to ebf and now I am a month away from going back to work I am thinking about whether to stay ebf by pumping while at work, mix feed or switch to ff.
However I now feel much much more relaxed because I realise, as others have said, mothering is about much much more than feeding!
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.