I'm having a hard time breastfeeding. My breasts are too large for LO and I can't seem to get her to latch without a nipple shield. When I do try to breastfeed, it's not only about the pain, but the compression of my breasts and then holding it up to not suffocate her.

I bought a manual pump thinking I would only need it to alleviate engorgement but now I'm starting to pump more often and because it covers a larger area, doesn't hurt as much as when I breastfeed her. Pumping is also more efficient and I can better regulate how much she's actually eating. Plus, I wouldn't have to use my hands so much (my pregnancy induced carpal tunnel will never go away like this)!

I'm thinking of buying a real pump and doing it full-time. Has anyone else done this and is there any concerns I should know about. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Note: I just started breastfeeding, LO will only be 5 days old today. Maybe I should just work on it more but the stress on my hands is enough to make me look for alternate methods.