It can be so frustrating when you find a piece of information down the track...when it is too late which could explain your situation. You did such an amazing job for your little one despite your problems. We all just need to sit around the campfires a little more with our tops off. See who's got what. Occsionally there is a mis-match between the size of baby's mounth and the nipple, and the good news is that, indeed, in time (and usually quickly) your baby's mouth will grow to fit your nipples. Having said that, nearly all nipples work fine to feed a baby. Not long ago I went to see a mum at home who was expressing and bottle feeding because it was sooooooo painful to her to feed - she hadn't fed her other children. She seriously had the biggest nipples I have ever seen (and I've seen a lot!) But when she went to get her baby - he had a beautiful big mouth and soon she was feeding painfree.
Many women are told their problems are because they have *flat nipples* - this drives me mad. Small nipples, flat nipples, big nipples - they all work find. Problems that exist are usually not caused by the nipples. But sometimes if there is a size mismatch reassurance that you can feed the baby, and when he grows a little breastfeeding will work fine can be useful