I know some will disagree but if your milk supply is pretty good do not worry about using nipple shields to get some much needed relief!
I really thought I would have to chuck in the towel with breast feeding as I just couldn't cope with the pain, added to that huge breasts, small baby, not very prominant nipples, one slightly flat, it was a latching breastfeeding nightmare. I was absolutely determined to carry on, but had to give her formula top ups because I just couldn't feed her, I was in agony! My husband bought half of mothercare any product that might help and in his little batch of things were some medela nipple shields! I had tried with some Mothercare ones in the hospital, the midwife had secretly told me to try them, (because apparently they were not allowed to advise the use of them.
) She had seen how desperate I was, they were crap, too floppy and didn't stay on right, don't use these!
Anyway after trying the Medela ones I had relief, she managed to latch and get a good drink so the presure was off of me to give her formula top ups. My nipples healed, and all was well! I used nipple shields for the first month (bought some Avent ones too and these work just as well). My baby had brilliant weight gain so the midwife was happy for me to keep using them as they clearly solved a huge problem, and as my baby grew a little bigger latching was easier so I started to try without them, got there eventually it was a gradual process over 3 months.
Anyway to conclude I breast fead my daughter until she was 15 months!!! I would have carried on but had to take long course of antibiotics (ones baby can't have) but I NEVER EVER would have been able to do this had it not been for nipple shields. I definitely would have had to give up. It really really annoys me that their use is not encouraged more by midwives and breastfeeding groups. Surely the best thing to help and encourage more breastfeeding is to prevent struggling mums from giving up and turning to formula. So many woman want to breast feed but give up because it is a nightmare of pain! For the love of ... let them have some relief and maybe in their own time they will learn the precious latch, even if they don't isn't a baby breastfead for 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months with nipple shields better than one formula fed baby with a sad and disheartened mummy?
Two people in this thread advise you not to use nipple shields, but please if it is a last resort thing and you are getting desperate, use them! it will all come together in time and as long as your baby isn't starving and is putting on weight fine there is NOTHING wrong in continuing to use them as and when you need them! The only time it is not advisable is if your milk supply is struggling, then you may have to grit it out a bit but even then there is an argument for many frequent feeds with shields (to get supply back up) or normal painful feeding less frequently but with stronger stimilation.
Good luck, you can do this! and you will look back on this one day and feel so proud of yourself :)
Oh and lansinoh is VERY good too and safe for baby! camomile tea bags are really effective amazingly so! ice packs help a little I found frozen peas worked well as you can fit it around the shape of your breast, although I think this might slow your milk supply so only do this after a feed, and of course in my oppinion! A good quality nipple shield!