Hun, you are doing a wonderful job of caring for your new little girl

The other posters have given you some wonderful advice already. The cracked nipples could mean that your DD's attachment needs a little tweaking - the ABA or a LC can certainly help with that. This article from the ABA website on Baby Led Attachment - Australian Breastfeeding Association - Baby-led attachment - might be helpful too.

If you would like to PM me with your location in Brisbane, I can give you the contact details of your local ABA group, and also the names of some good LCs that are nearest to you. Mums usually find that the earlier they get some bfing help IRL, the easier it is to get things back on track.

If you need to express for a couple of days to give your nipples a rest, then that is ok to do, although many mums find it harder work. If you want to continue breastfeeding, mums often find it best to feed the EBM (expressed breast milk) with a cup or spoon rather than introducing a bottle, which can interfere with breastfeeding in the early days.