My sweet daughter is 5 months and EBF, but I've had to use a nipple shield since day one because my nipples are flat and small, well she's finally gotten the hang of latching without it and today makes day 5 that we haven't used it (woohoo!!!) ...but holy crap my nipples hurt so bad! I never realized how much the shield was protecting them! How long before they toughen up and don't cause me so much pain?