I've dealt with pain this time from the get go (baby #4). I kept thinking I'd never make it to 6months, I have. When he was 4mo old I went out and bought formula!!! I used all my coupons. The formula is still sitting there, although I did open 1 up and give him a bottle at night of the formula to give my nipples a break. By morning I could deal again. My #2 and #3 never had a drop of formula, my #1 was ff due to bfing problems (as in no one told me he was tongue tied until he went to the orthodontist 2 years ago at age 6).
A very wise woman told me, "You did the best you could with the information you had at the time." She was completely right w regards to my ds1 and ff, I did do the best I could do with what I knew at the time. I tried bfing him for 11 weeks and one day I realized it was over before it began. It still hurts my soul to this day. I was suffering PPD and it didn't help that bfing didn't work out.
I felt like a failure on so many levels -- the c/s, the nursing, reading depressed moms make depressed kids... I also did not have a support network or a doctor who cared. The OB stated to me I was not trying hard enough.
I think you are luck to have a supportive doctor. If you need PPD meds, then don't feel badly about them. If you need to supplement your supply, it's okay, some breastmilk is better than no breastmilk at all. My very own mother told me this when I didn't want to even try to bf my 2nd child. Don't feel badly about doing what you need to do to cope and manage.
My 4th baby became FTT at 5 mo old. We've been through the ringer. I learned to pump. I pump all day and nurse at night and in the morning. I pump to fortify my breastmilk with more calories to bring his weight back up. When I don't have enough for a bottle, I add formula to it.
He just got teeth on the bottom and I realize his latch is still a big issue. He was tongue tied, I had it clipped at 10 days old. His tongue is short, it has never come out to his bottom lip or further as my others did. Now he has teeth, I can feel his lower gum line on my nipple and realized he still isn't sticking his tongue out far enough. No wonder the last 6 mo have been riddled with pain and soreness.
Well, he has started solids and loves them. I am giving him the best calorie and nutritent dense foods I can. And he had cut his intake of bm by 1/2. I can keep up with his demand for milk now very easily.
I believe I have done the best I can with the information I've had. Do your best, know you've tried everything offered to you, and at the end of the day know you are doing what is needed for your baby to grow and be healthy.
I feel fortunate, 1 child of 4 was easy, my dd. What is with these boys of mine???
You can do this. Good luck. We're all rooting for you.
: We struggled for months to get on the breast - you can read my experience 
Follow Mothering