My baby boy is being breastfed, but he won’t latch straight to my nipple. He has no problem latching on to the nipple shield and eating away with that, and he’ll also eat really well with my milk pumped and in a bottle, but I’m feel discouraged. Should I switch to formula if I can’t feed him straight off my nipple, or is he okay with feeding from a shield and bottle when need be?

His pediatrician says he gained weight (6lbs 15oz in the hospital and his one week check up he was 7lbs 3oz) since he’s been born so it’s obvious that the breastfeeding is working, but idk I always saw breastfeeding as something that was a breast only type of thing. I just feel bad that I have to use a shield in order for him to eat.

To ease my anxiety and worries, did any of you moms have to rely on the nipple shield for your LO? I’m so happy that he’s getting my breast milk, as I really don’t wanna rely on formula, but the nipple shield and pumping as his main way of eating is okay, right?