Hey darling Mel, just sending you some love, support and encouragement.

I have inverted nipples but have never used nipple shields. LCs would always offer them to me but I just really strongly felt like I didn't want to complicate things (they are already complicated enough).

I found that when I was really full it was too hard for DS to attach. When your milk first come it it's like trying to fit a basket ball into a little mouth.

Perhaps try hand expressing a little off before a feed to see if that makes it easier to attach.
This was a huge issue for me, especially with inverted nipples. Poor little things, it was like trying to get them to attach to a brick wall.

My best tip is to just try to shove as much nipple into her tiny little mouth as possible. I always aimed to get their lower lip as close to the edge of the areola as possible. If I concentrated on doing that, the rest seemed to fall into place.

DS was pretty good but I struggled with DDs poor attachment (and cracked nipples) through the first few weeks and it want really until about the 4 month mark that it all started to click and become comfortable and easy. I don't mean that to sound like it will be forever before it feels OK, just that she is so, so little, this is the hardest bit and it will get easier.

Lots and lots of hugs and a bit of luck too