Koren, I am just catching up with my mail so you may hear from others  before 
mine.
I understand your frustration but shields do have a place and can be the  
tool that keeps a dyad breastfeeding who might otherwise given up or only pumped  
and bottle fed.
My rule of thumb is; no mother should receive and use a shield until she is  
at least 24 hours postpartum.  This gives the baby opportunity to lick,  feel 
and possibly latch to mom's natural nipple.  I encourage moms to  express 
their colostrum to give to their newborn be it by dripping onto the  baby's mouth 
or the baby licking it off.  Colostrum in the first day is too  difficult to 
come through the shield.
Long term use of a shield is not necessarily a bad thing.  Some dyads  take a 
long time to wean and some never wean off the shield.
I do not recommend pumping while a mother uses a shield but I follow them  
closely to monitor weights and assist the mom when and if weaning.
Hope this helps.
Ann Perry, RN IBCLC
Boston, MA

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