I was however looking forward to purchasing the soft shields. I will not switch from Meleda , because I have had good results with both. I do however prefer the soft sheild when it comes to comfort. I cannot imagine what could have occured that you do not make this product available anymore. I hope that you come up with a similar product in the very near future.

very easy to use! I recommend it to all moms!

I have trouble breast feeding and also work full time so pumping is a must. Being able to find a breast shield that fits to my size and shape has made a huge difference! This is my third baby that I will be using my pump for and although it has been through a lot it is still awesome! Wouldn't use any other kind!

WHAAAAATTTT????!!! Where are the Soft Shields, please? Why did they go away? I'm somewhere between the 21s and the 24s and the Soft Shields were PERFECT...I wish I'd known they were disappearing because I would've stocked up! Come on, Medela, a lot of us are missing these babies - PLEASE bring them back. These work OK for me but the Soft Shields were by far the best....

I miss the Soft fit shields.

I have to use the XXL flanges. I think that's mostly because the hard flange is so unforgiving and all those sharp angles! Soft flanges get more milk out because they actually massage the nipple and surrounding breast tissue. I would love love love a larger (like 30mm) soft shell flange, or even one without so many angles i.e. more cone shaped.

I liked the soft fit but.

I used the personal fit for a long time until I found the Pumpin' Pal flanges and they are as good or better than the soft fit. They aren't soft, but they feel much better than the regular hard personal fit.

I pumped exclusively to feed twins for a year using your soft fit soft shields. I recently have a new singleton and am FLOORED that you have discontinued this product! I did try the same size hard plastic flange above and am sorry to say it is painful and gets little to no milk out. I can hand express more and more comfortably than I can using these plastic torture devices. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE bring back the soft fit version -- they were a godsend!!

With the US breast feeding statistics on the rise, I would have expected a large company to have at least poked around the market to see what is keeping people from purchasing more of their products and using them effectively. Please consider in your next line of development either an adaptation or a specific product for those of us who even with stimulated nipples cannot comfortably utilize your 21mm design.

I'm SO disappointed that you don't offer the soft fit shields anymore! I just dug out my $250+ breast pump because I'm expecting twins in 3 weeks and came here to order replacements and am UPSET I can't get what I want! I haven't pumped in 2+ years and now find out you don't make them anymore?!?!?! Listen to your loyal, repeat customers and bring the soft fit shields back!!!

I ordered a medela pump from my insurance company because I heard with the soft shields you get the best milk output. I can't get squat from the hard shields and I KNOW I'm making milk!!! I can't return my pump because it's been used now, and I'm ticked that they took the soft shields off the market. What am I going to do when I go back to work, allow my baby to starve?

I started pumping again with my second child in March of 2013 and came on the site to purchase new shields only to find that you no longer make the soft shields. I was forced to purchase these and they do not feel as good and don't pump as much out as the soft ones. I would think that you would have continued to make the soft ones since they warp after so many uses...it's a no brainer for the company to continue to produce these, I can't imagine how much money you are losing by not having the women who like them continue to purchase them when needed. I am making my old ones work for as long as I can . They still are more efficient warped than the hard ones. Please bring the soft shields back.

I hate the hard shields. They feel absolutely terrible. I will not invest in your company again until you re-evaluate how well you're ready to take care of your customers.

I have only one set of the soft shields for my Freestyle and came here to get more. I have tried the hard shields and while they worked for pumping they were not comfortable at all. Please bring back soft shields!

I must reiterate the other requests - SoftShields are by far the best shields that you have offered to-date. The hard plastic shields just don't work as well. Yes, the SoftShields had problems with warping after some use/washing, but they still were much better. I am lucky that I bought ten before they were no longer readily available, but others were not so lucky. Please bring back SoftShields!!

When is Medela going to make a shield that is smaller? They make a 16 mm nipple shield... what about a 16 or even 18 mm pump breastshield? This is ridiculous--lots of ladies need them but there is no help for anyone with extra small lady parts. We want to pump and continue to breastfeed our babies too! PLEASE MAKE A SMALLER SHIELD!!

I haven't actually bought or used one of these, BUT, I was going to buy a new shield from the store last week. Well, I investigated the shield before buying it and found that it was HARD. Uck. I knew I wouldn't like that. My old shield is still in good condition, so until Medela brings back that the softer shields, I won't buy one of the new, hard ones! If you bring back the softer ones, you'll have a happy customer (and it looks like several other happy ones too!)

I am VERY disappointed as those provide better suction and are much more comfortable. Please bring back the soft breast shield!!!!!!!

The hard ones aren't nearly as comfortable as the softer shields and they are so much more unforgiving and rub a lot more. I've experimented with sizes but they still do not feel even close to as nice as the softer ones I used with my older child. Felt a lot more natural with the soft ones, now with the hard ones I feel like a dairy cow!

The new shields are very hard and uncomfortable. Not happy there are no more soft shields.