Speaking of support...kinda long

Your OB should've mentioned the nipple guards during your pregnancy.  My OB did a breast exam etc when examing me...I always assumed others do too...and if s/he did, s/he should have noticed it then. 

Hang in there...I know it's not working out as easily as we're all lead to believe...but you can only do so much and the important part is to have a happy and healthy baby AND mom. 

Oh, Sweetie...I could have written this post myself.  It put a lump in my throat because I had the same feelings.  The first time I BF after my LO's birth, she latched right on and went to town and I thought "this is going to be easy".  Then she ended up being jaundice and had to be under the bili lights and everything got derailed. 

I had specific wishes that she not have bottles or pacifiers because I wanted to get BF established before introducing those.  However, the doctor wanted to supplement with formula because I was producing hardly anything and they wanted to get her kidneys going.  I also caved and gave her a pacifier because seeing her naked with that mask over her eyes screaming was just way too much for me and the pacifier soothed her.  Only being able to remove her from the lights for 20 minutes at a time made it so hard.  I would try to BF and then had to give her formula and burp her all within 20 minutes and then pump. 

When we got home I would BF, then give formula, then pump.  The whole process took forever and by the time I was done, it was time to start all over again.  All I was doing was feeding and pumping and was so exhausted and hormonal.  I also have PCOS and had major production issues...I just could not make enough no matter how much I pumped so I gave up.

My LO is a perfectly health 13.5 month old who is thriving in every way and I STILL feel guilty that I didn't keep at it.  I don't plan on having any more but if I did, I'd try again. 

Hang in there...these first few months are really hard but it does get better!