Hi MKT - I'm breastfeeding - 9 weeks now, and am loving it. Its so easily once its properly established. There is nothing better than being able to stop your screaming baby in their tracks by feeding them straight away, without having to prepare a bottle, warm it up, feed the baby, sterilise it, then start all over again. (formula doesn't mix with cold water very well, so has to be heated before it will mix, also you are supposed to make up a feed at a time these days, as and when you need them to avoid contamination). Bottle fed babies also get a lot more wind from the bottles, which to me means more crying!
I express as well (I did it from 5 weeks to avoid nipple and teat confusion) and this works really well for me. My lo latched on straight away when breast feeding, and we've had no problems, he is the most contented little baby, and I really loved sitting in the dead of night with him snuggled up close to my body. I had all the 2 hour feeds etc, and they weren't as bad as it sounds, also when you are breastfeeding a hormone kicks in which sends you straight back to sleep after - its like feed..zonk!! I get more sleep now than I did before I was pregnant!!!! My lo is sleeping for about 9/10 hours at night now, so has dropped the night time feed, so the worst is definately over. My friend expressed right from the start as her baby couldn't latch on. She was up all through the night expressing so her milk continued, feeding the baby from a bottle, sterilising, then starting all over again. She has now managed to get her baby to latch on and exclusively feed direct from the breast. (her baby is the same age as mine) - amazing, she's done so well to keep going!
There's also the cost - one friend worked out that it saves about ??40 a month to breastfeed. Every little helps! For me, it saves the confusion of the formula aisle which looks very scary! Yes there was a bit of pain, maybe about 6 days - where it was 'wince' every time he latched on, but the benefits to him and me seem so worth it. I just go upstairs if I need to breastfeed when someone is there, or use a muslin to protect my modestyI hope that helps hon, I would say try it if you can, or try and give your lo your colostrum anyway, thats an achievement in itself! But as said above, don't let anyone make you feel guilty whatever you decide!!Good luck!! xx