I also think the fact that my mother was a breastfeeder also helped. Being the eldest of four, I have memories of her breastfeeding. I just thought you breastfed babies! I really do think it's a big thing.

When I had the whole cracked and split nipple (I call it a split as it was a very deep crack, but not sure what it really was!) with blisters, I never conciously thought of the bottle, I knew I breastfed my baby and there would be a solution to my problem. Hurt like heck for sure, I had the whole toe curling, eye watering thing on attachment. But to continue breatfeeding I had the option of resting that nipple and expressing, which would have still rubbed on the spot of the split. So I kept feeding through and it eventually healed. I have fed both babes over 2 and I am really proud of myself for following my babies leads...