Celtic Moon, I've just had my baby and found myself in the exact same position as yourself. Madeline is now 4 weeks old and i've got her on formula, and she has been on formula since week 2. She's happy, healthy and putting on weight, and thats all i need to know. Like you, I tried and tried and tried to breastfeed Maddie but it was just not happening. I totally beat myself up about it, and everyone (midwifes, family) putting in their two cents worth did not help me at all, it just made me so upset, guilty and i felt that i had already failed as a mother. My advice to you is to stick to formula feeding, breast feeding is not for everyone, and remember there are a tonne of children in the world that are formula fed - i was formula fed and here I am today happy and healthy!! Of course I agree breast feeding is more beneficial to your baby, but what can you do. If it hurts like hell (and I totally know what you mean) dont force it. You have given it a good go, at least you did that. Trust me your baby will be fine on formula. And finally can I just add, it gets me so angry that people (especially the midwives) push it on others that they must breast feed otherwise harm will come to the baby, what a load of rubbish, do what feels right for you and bub ok! Knowing what I know now, i would have just FF right from the start