How To Find Correct Flange Size

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A chest pump tin can exist very useful if you're breastfeeding. The device allows you to express breast milk and store information technology to ensure your baby is fed when you're autonomously. When choosing a pump, it's of import that the flange (likewise chosen a breast shield) fits y'all properly. A flange that doesn't fit tin can chest soreness and injury likewise every bit reduce the amount of milk you produce.

The Standard Chest Pump Flange

The breast pump flange is the part that connects your breast to the pump. Milk will travel down the breast shield tunnel to the canteen or another collection device.

Information technology's a good thought to check the fit of the pump flange from fourth dimension to fourth dimension. All breast pumps come up with at least one average-sized breast pump flange. The average flange is betwixt 24 and 27 millimeters (mm)—which corresponds to the size of your nipple—but not everyone who breastfeeds will fit these sizes.

You tin can get smaller or larger flanges depending on the material: plastic flanges range from 21 mm to 36 mm and there is a 40 mm glass flange available.

Why Size Matters

Not having the right size chest pump flange tin can cause problems. For instance, you might not be getting the nigh amount of breast milk possible which can atomic number 82 to blocked milk ducts. A poor fit tin can too crusade nipple impairment, similar rub marks and cuts on the nipple.

Many people discover a deviation well-nigh immediately after finding the right sized flange. Using the breast pump is more comfortable and the amount of breast milk that they are able to pump begins to increment.

How to Tell If Yours Is a Good Fit

Nearly every breast pump manufacturer will offering a size guide for breast shields. Make sure yous review them before buying a breast pump. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends researching the manufacturer's flange size options. You should also find out whether you'll be able to order a dissimilar size if you detect that yous demand ane.

The size of the flange you need is the size of your nipple. You can measure yours using a ruler or measuring tape. Be certain to measure the diameter of the nipple solitary—do not include the areola.

When you lot get your pump, you can tell that the flange is a proper fit if:

• You are not experiencing pain in your nipple.
• Your areola should have little or no tissue inside the tunnel of the breast pump.
• You do not experience areas of the breast that still have milk inside (which indicates the uneven removal of milk).
• You practice not run across a white circle at the base of the nipple, nor should your nipple blanch.
• Your nipple is centered in the flange and moves freely in the tunnel of the breast pump.

When You lot Need a Different Size

If y'all don't take the right size, you lot will desire to see if your breast pump came with other flanges or if y'all will need to order new flanges.

If you go up in size, you might be restricted from using some of the softer plastic flanges. Some breast pump manufacturers take smaller flanges that can fit within the average-sized flange.

Most breast pumps but come up with a 24 mm size flange and manufacturers oftentimes only offer the more than common sizes (24 mm to 29 mm). The other sizes might also be bachelor, and they are sometimes sold as role of a set of various sizes.

People with other size needs might have to buy from a source other than the one that produced the pump they utilize. People are oft worried that the new flanges they buy from i manufacturer or company won't fit the pump they have from some other. While it can be a bit tedious to "mix and match," about pump and flange combinations volition work fine.

Finding Help

A lactation consultant can be of bully help if y'all're not sure what size flange yous need, or if you think you lot might demand a different flange. If you exercise non already have a relationship established with a lactation consultant, there are several places you tin expect for i.

Start by calling the hospital where you gave nativity. It's typical that they volition have someone who is registered with the International Lath of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBCLC) that can assistance yous make up one's mind the event with sizing.

You lot tin can also attempt a local store that specializes in breastfeeding products or inquire your friends, family members, or parents that are part of your play or daycare grouping who breastfeed if they accept recommendations.

A Word From Verywell

Finding the right flange for your breast pump tin can make your feel less painful and more productive. Information technology tin exist frustrating to find the right size for you, just there are resources that tin help—and getting the perfect fit volition be well worth it.

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Verywell Family uses merely high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to back up the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to acquire more nigh how we fact-check and keep our content authentic, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Becker GE, Smith HA, Cooney F. Methods of milk expression for lactating women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;ix:CD006170. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006170.pub5

2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Choosing a Breast Pump.

Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com/ways-to-tell-if-your-breast-pump-flanges-fit-2758354

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