I'd also try exclusive pumping for at least a few days, if not a week, to give your nipples a chance to heal properly and look at the QV cream (it's a clear cream, not a white moisturising cream) to help your nipples glide in the breast shields easier. Also, are you sure you're using the right size shields? The standard breast shields with Medela pumps, for example, are too small for a lot of women. I think they are a size 24. I need a size 30 shield and when my nipples were really bad, I even used a size 36 for a week as they were so swollen and damaged. The right size breast shield makes a huge difference.