Re nipple shields... I used them with DS2 and had great success, after a few weeks we moved to exclusive BF. When things went pearshaped with DD2, I asked for shields & was told very firmly that the LCs don't recommend them anymore, that she would actually get in trouble for giving them to me... in hindsight I wish I had just got them anyway!
So, not sure what kind of advice you might get about them... but, as in everything else, do what YOU think is best