You can protect yourself with your shield, even if you use it to attack.

<php>echo “<b>Prerequisites:</b>”;</php> BAB +1, must be proficient with at least one type of shield
<php>echo “<b>Benefit:</b>”;</php> When you perform a shield bash, you may still apply the shield’s shield bonus to your AC.
<php>echo “<b>Normal:</b>”;</php> Without this feat, a character that performs a shield bash loses the shield’s shield bonus to AC until his next turn.