Breast pump flanges are available in a wide range of sizes, which indicate the size of the smaller tube that pulls in the nipple on the narrow end of the flange. Measuring your nipple base can help determine the right size.
The flange is the part of the breast pump that comes in contact with your body when placed onto the breast and nipple, forming a vacuum seal with the areola. It’s shaped like a funnel.
The flange draws your nipple into the tunnel of the breast pump where milk is extracted. The flange also helps to create the necessary suction to extract milk by forming a seal.)
When you purchase or rent a pump, it typically only comes with one or two sizes of flanges. If you need another size flange, which many people do, you can order it from the pump manufacturer or some baby product stores. Make sure that whatever breast pump flange you might purchase is specific for your pump.
Read on to learn more about how to find the right breast pump flange, how to know if you have the right size flange, and more.
The process of finding the right breast pump flange can actually take a while and require testing several different sizes.
Before you test out any flanges, check to see if your preferred breast pump has a measuring guide for flanges. Many manufacturers have their own specific guides. If you can’t find one specific to your pump, you can go by the measurement in millimeters across the base of your nipple.
Keep in mind when measuring for your breast pump flange that the flange’s measurement is based on the diameter of the nipple where it meets the areola and not the areola itself.
A common mistake is measuring the nipple at the tip instead of the base. Doing so may give you too small a measurement and result in too tight a flange.
An ill-fitting flange will not suck the milk effectively and may leave a lot of milk in the breast. This can lead to reduced milk production, discomfort, and bacterial imbalance.
How to know if your breast pump flange fits
Even if you’ve measured everything perfectly, the final answer to knowing if you’ve found the right flange is going to come when you place it on your breast.
A flange fits correctly when:
- your nipple is
centered in the tube - no parts of your nipple rub against the sides
- little or no areola is pulled in when the pump is turned on
On the other hand, a flange is not fitting properly when:
- you experience nipple pain during or after the pumping session
- you notice your nipple is becoming discolored, chapped, or otherwise injured
A pump that is suctioning your breast correctly will mimic how a baby would suck. Your nipple needs to be able to move in and out of the flange’s tunnel to do this.
If your nipple can’t complete this movement easily, it’s going to be injured by friction when the suction is turned on, and the pain is only going to get worse each time you pump.
After placing the flange on your breast, you’ll first want to check the flange’s fit without turning on the pump. Once the pump has been turned on, if the flange does not fit properly, the compression and rubbing can cause the nipple to swell and otherwise change shape.
After this happens, it can be challenging to find the right flange, so it’s best to wait until you’re fairly confident about the fit before pressing the power button on your pump.
Keep in mind that your breasts can continue to change their shape over time, as you go through pregnancy and even through the postpartum nursing period.
It’s important to have the right size flange so that your nipple won’t rub, pinch, or be constricted in painful ways while you pump.
In addition to breast and nipple pain, using the wrong-sized pump flange can impact the amount of milk you are able to get out of your breast.
Because different brands of pumps have differently shaped flanges, you may discover that some pumps fit or work better with your body.
Following the instructions from the manufaturer or measuring the base of the nipple can help you to find the right breast pump flange.
Using the correct size should cause minimal discomfort. The incorrect size can cause pain and affect how much milk you are able to extract.
Contact a doctor or a lactation specialist if you are unsure about the correct flange size or if you would like advice on choosing the right breast pump for you.