Oh hun, what a shocking time That's a lot to deal with at once, and everything feels worse when you are sick

I don't know are these early days a test... if you survive it, you will survive the rest of mother hood.
That's an interesting thought. I wonder if it's true - maybe we'll have the answer once we've been through the teenage years with two boys!!

FIrst things first hun. Engorgement really, really sucks. A one-off full express helps lots of mums to feel more comfortable. I know it was a real life saver for me. You just express as much as you can from both breasts. They will refill but hopefully not as much. This also helps clear the lymphatic fluid that builds up in the early days. If you are still engorged after that, you might like to express before each feed until your breast is softer. Expressing before a feed until you get the first let-down will also slow the flow for the baby so could kill two birds with one stone.

Now the pain. Is there any damage to your nipples? If it is thrush, as well as the treatment from the pharmacy, rest and a good diet help a lot - the two things new mums have the most trouble getting. See if you can call in some favours and have people drop off some meals for you. Is there anyone who can look after the boys for a little while so you can sleep for a bit? Thrush and infection often go together especially if there is broken skin so it could be worth seeing a GP when you can if the pain doesn't go away soon. Also, remember thrush is fungal and easily spread so hygiene is extra important. Some mums wash sheets and towels regularly in hot water and/or vinegar to prevent cross-infection.

I hope everyone is healthy again soon so you can feel better, get some rest, and enjoy your little princess