Everyone's stories are wonderful, I love reading them.

We just made the 3 month mark and I'm very proud.

I researched all there was to know about b/f before little missy was born because I was determined that this was the way I wanted to feed my baby. I had a (semi)elective c-section - bubby was very transverse - and she was given straight to me and put on my chest in theatre and then again in recovery. She took to boobie like a wee duck to water - and hasn't stopped guzzling since.
However, after the first day I got cracked nipples. Some of the midwives were just awful at helping me and showing me how to attach her properly, some of them grabbing my nipple and shoving it in her wee mouth until she started sucking. So after such a good start in recovery, the midwives on the ward ruined it for me.
I begged to see a lactation consultant and saw one on day 3, which is the day that my milk came in and I also left the hospital. She told me that everything was fine, to stick some hydrogel pads on my nipples in between feeds and all would be well.
All was not well. The cracks turned into holes and I had a hole on each nipple. I cried at every single feed and didn't leave the house when she needed fed as I did not have the confidence to sit through a feed in front of anyone other than DH.
I then developed mastitis, which was AGONY. But it quickly cleared with antibiotics and continued feeding. The pain continued and the holes remained as huge as ever.
I went to my GP about another matter and she asked me how the b/f was going. I broke down and told her that I had sore nipples, showed her than and she almost fell off her seat. She told me that i had to stop b/f. I told her that wasn't an option. She kind of glared at me and I told her again that it wasn't an option. So she said that I needed to express for a few days to let the nipples heal - from both breasts. Again, I told her that wasn't an option for me, I didn't want my supply to go down. So we compromised and I expressed from the right breast and fed from the least (although still very) painful left breast. And slowly they healed.
One of my friends who had been away overseas returned and we met for coffee and I was feeding Evie and she said "honey, you're latching on wrong". She showed me how to do it properly and IMMEDIATELY it felt right. I still had damaged nipples at that point but latching on the way my friend showed me, it didn't hurt at all.

So after seeing numerous midwives, a lactation consultant and my GP - it was my friend who was the most helpful. And since that day, we haven't looked back. And to be honest, i think one of the reasons I never gave up was because I knew deep down in my heart that I hadn't been given the best advice about things. Surely breastfeeding couldn't be this sore or hard - people do it every day!!!!
Throughout all of this, my baby girl continued to gain heaps of weight and is now 6.4kg and has the cutest, chubbiest thighs I've ever seen on a baby hehe. Gorgeous!

I love breast feeding and am really going to miss it when we're not doing it any more. Not sure when that will be, I'm just going to go with the flow and see how little missy takes to solids and maybe even decides herself that she doesn't want boobie.

Thanks for reading.
Sue x