Hi all, to cut a loooooong story short I've had an absolute nightmare with breastfeeding since day 1 due to late diagnosis (and treatment) of tongue tie. During that time, in order to cope and continue EBF I was advised by breastfeeding support consultant to use nipple shields. After several visits from breastfeeding support and guidance from health visitor, even after the tongue tie was fixed when we try a day without the shields my nipples would be agony. Basically DD was still sucking too tightly and pinching making the blood drain and turn my nips white! Anyway, I was told since she's putting on healthy weight gain etc that I should just stick with the nipple shields and periodically when my nipples are healed to try again without them. Well this week I felt comfortable enough to try again, and I do think since she's grown her sucking is better and more efficient also. Well it's a battle! She's squirms, cries, squeals and won't stay latched until I concede and put the shield on. I've tried hand expressing so there's milk on the tip, tried different positions etc but she gets more and more frustrated. Any tips or advice on what else I can try would be really appreciated!
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She's 14 weeks, my concern she's too old now and set in her ways to adapt to feeding without the shields 
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@PurpleTygrrr thanks for the reassurance. I'm the same in that I really don't feel they have negatively affected my supply and my DD has been growing steadily and well. This might sound daft but at first I used to feel like I wasn't a fully fledged breastfeeder using the shields. You see these celebs doing their BFing selfies and think to myself "why can't I just do it easily like them?" Then it was made worse as my two friends who've breastfed 2 babies each said they didn't know why I kept using them and made me feel like a weirdo. One said she couldn't get how I was in pain as she inspected my latch herself and said it looked good. But in my experience it's not just down to the latch. I've now gotten over how they've been and it doesn't bother me. Now, I suppose it's mainly as I feel awkward and insecure with the nipple shields when it comes to feeding in front of people or out of the house in public. I'm not good at getting her positioned and getting the shield in place to start the feed in a discreet way. I get a bit flustered with embarrassment (which I really try not to do) and I feel like I'm flashing everyone and I am a shy person. The sterilising is a bit of a nuisance but like you suggest I should buy more then it means I can just do that once a day...good idea, thank you
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@InFrance2014 thanks for the advice. I actually found this morning for her first feed that during it she sort of pulled the shield off then latched straight back on so quickly. I was like hmm ok let's give this a go. She sort of kept sucking a few times then pulling up off the nipple but then latching back on. She did it for 7 mins then stopped to get winded. When she wanted back on though she got really fussy so I put the shield back on and we (peacefully) finished her feed. I'm taking it as progress though as it shows she can do it. But I think you're right actually, rather than quitting the shields cold turkey, perhaps I need to build it up with her, try it for some feeds or just part of certain feeds depending on her mood. Thank you 
@Mrsmomo thanks for sharing your experience. I suppose you're right in that it may take a couple weeks to get her weaned off them and won't just happen over night. I think my DD seems to be the opposite lol in that she's more willing at the start of a feed to go 'bare' rather than at the end. It's as if she gets tired feeding and wants the shield towards the end to make the sucking easier for her. Plus I think she likes that the milk sort of collects in the shield so she can sort of leisurely sip on it rather than gulp straight from the flow if that makes sense lol
@PurpleTygrrr thank you for the encouragement again . When you're out and about and feeding which type of top do you find easiest? And do you lift your top up or pull top down to get the boob out? I tried the other day in this blooming heat with a vest and a kimono thing, I managed to unclip bra, pull down vest whist sort of draping the side of my kimono over, it worked quite well
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@fruitpastille thanks , I asked for another visit from breastfeeding support but sadly they said I've had enough visits and they're too busy so instead talked it through with me on phone. I understand they were doing what they can to be helpful but it's all the same l've heard and read before. I think like you said it'll be one of things that'll come in time. I've got to the point now where she will latch on without the shield, but after about 5-10 mins she gets fussy and wants the shield again. Which is progress. This way actually helps with the nipple pain too as these little short spells without the shields doesn't hurt. I'm happy that at least she knows how to latch without the shields
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