How to Know If Your Breast Flanges is the Right Size

Breast pumping is the best friend of every lactating mother. This allows the mother to go about her day; feeling satisfied that the baby is being fed the best milk.  Pumping is also an integral part of a healthy mother-baby relationship. It allows a steady supply of milk for the baby and gives some relaxing time to the mother. Working mothers can exclusively pump for the child without any fear, if they feel a drop in the supply; they can go for lactation supplement to boost supply.

For a good pumping session, proper flange size is absolutely crucial and must be given importance. Flange also known as breast shield is a shaft on the breast pump that fastens with your breast, creates a vacuum when squeezed and draws the milk out, collecting the milk in the bottle or pump. When buying one for yourself, keep in mind that it not only helps in expressing the milk but is user-friendly and comfortable. An incorrect size can cause sore nipples, decrease in milk supply and an unsatisfied cranky baby.

Why is Correct Flange Sizing So Important?

The correct flange size must be given its due importance as it can affect both the mother and baby. The first and foremost reason for breast pumping is to ensure a constant supply of milk for the baby at all times, right? A wrong sized breast shield can be a hurdle in achieving that. If the size of the flange is not a perfect fit then the breast milk couldn’t be drawn completely from the breasts, causing blocked milk ducts. Pumping is a great and known way to increase milk supply, but the right size flange must be the top priority. A poor fit can cause sore nipples, redness and cuts on the nipples due to the aggravated sucking session. A right sized flange makes the pumping process a whole lot easier and a breeze for the mother.

What is the Standard Size of the Breast Shield you Normally Get?  

Every mother has their own journey, problems, learning experience and solution to combat. In the same way they have different breast sizes, diverse ways of caring and have polarizing opinions about breastfeeding and food. But one thing they all can come together on the same page for is the fact about the right size of flanges. The standard size is 24-27 millimeters, which should be congruous to your nipple.

Accurately Measure your Nipple for the Perfect Fit  

In order to assess the proper size for the flange one needs to measure the diameter of the nipple, not the areola. Measure one side of the nipple to the other and add 1-3 mm to the result, depending on when you measured the nipple before pumping or after pumping. When you place the nipple in the flange funnel it should only have a room of 3-5mm to wiggle or move. Only the nipple should enter the shield without any interference from the areola. Mothers often get confused to understand exactly what part to measure. Well, measure from the button of the nipple, the part where the nipple is attached to the areola, the widest part. This will give to the accurate measurement for a great pumping session.

How to determine if the Size is a Perfect Fit?

Well, with mothers getting more aware of their options, every other breast pump company has a variety of breast shields to satisfy each mother’s need. They have a huge range to choose from, starting from 21mm-36mm. Although 24mm is still the standard size, you can check for the flange size chart before getting one for yourself. With the guideline mentioned above determining the correct size won’t be a problem anymore. Still there can be some change in the size and you can tell if the flange fits you or not by asking these few questions after using it only once.

The breast shield should flawlessly fit the nipple in the funnel and no part of areola should enter. Ask yourself that while pumping did you feel any pain or discomfort? If you do then it means that the size is not fit as expressing milk shouldn’t cause any discomfort or pain. Also check if the nipple is being scratched or rubbing against the walls of the tunnel? After the pumping session, do you feel your breast is uneven, with some areas still having milk pockets?

This indicates a wrong size of the flange that can cause a lot of problems. Many mothers feel that to increase milk supply they need lactation supplement but the fact is that a breast which isn’t fully drained sends the message to the brain that there is a decrease in demand which results in a decreased supply of milk. See if there is a white circle at the base of the nipple after pumping? Also look for any redness or soreness after you pump? If you answer any of the above mentioned questions in yes then chances are that the size of the flanges is incorrect for you.

Consequences of a Big or Small flange Size

If the areola is being pulled into the shield along with the nipple, chances are that the size is big for you. Although some people prefer a size up for more comfort but it can cause problems in the drainage of the milk, causing decrease in supply and mothers opting for lactation supplement to boost supply. On the other hand if the flange is too small, the problems will be doubled. First of all it will be painful to express, resulting in sore, red nipples. Secondly, the constant rubbing with the walls can make the nipples chafed causing discomfort and hypersensitivity.

If the size of your flange is not right, order a couple of new ones and trust me the right size of flange is worth buying. The breast pump is the real buy here, not the flanges, they are inexpensive, so don’t settle for anything less than perfection for you and your baby.

Summary  

Looking for the right size of flange will be all worth it. The experience of the breast feeding and expressing milk will become a lot easier and less painful. Put the time and effort in the process and I’m sure you won’t regret it one bit.