One hour after my son was born I tried breastfeeding him. Started on the left side and wasn’t quite comfortable holding him that way yet so I switched to the right side a few minutes after. He latched great and stayed there sucking for 75 minutes. My nipple CRACKED. Left side never did. Been EBF for 9 weeks now.

Boobs were so sore and around 2 weeks we gave him a binkie because he was using me at one... he got nipple confusion and wasn’t latching easily anymore so we took the binkie away completely. He started latching again but it was definitely a different latch. My right nipple with the crack, cracked even more and the left one just got super sore and irritated looking. I would cry the whole time he ate on the right side because that crack was so awful. At 4 weeks I caved and bought nipple shields, the Medela ones, and we gave him a binkie back. Used the shields on both sides because my left nipple is a different size than my right. My crack is starting to heal but isn’t completely closed up yet. 5 weeks of using the shields😕😕 I’ve been trying to feed him without it on the left side and he latches for a second but gets pissed quickly because there’s not a rubber thing being shoved into his mouth, but a small nipple. I really want him to be able to eat without the shields... it was really hard for me to get the shields even though I was in agonizing pain and now I feel like it’ll be forever!! I plan on hopefully getting 18 months total.

Are there any tricks to help transition back? I know they say only use it on the side that’s hurt, but he was already having confusion because my left nipple was smaller than my right one. Adding the shield to the right only made the left seem so small, almost nonexistent. Please help😭