flange sizing: the least sexy part of pumping, but your first step to finding success with breastfeeding

yes, i said it — flange sizing is SO unsexy. it’s measuring, it’s logical, but you want that milk flowin’ right?! that’s the fun part, the part of pumping that we all look forward to!!!

i will say this only once, my friend — YOU HAVE TO MEASURE YOUR NIPPLES. omg i never thought i would have to write this sentence out, ever 😂

snag my free flange measuring tool here, especially if you want to get the feels like this 👇🏼

• “because of you i’m a 17!!!! had been using 24 and 21 flanges!!!! thank you!!!”
• “as soon as i measured myself and switched, my output literally doubled”
• “no more pain, shorter pumps, more milk! crazy stuff.”
• “my nips aren’t on fire! (seriously had to shield them in the shower…they were that sensitive all the time) and i’m pulling my regular volumes in almost half the time!!”

if you do not have the correct size to your body, you can probably expect to experience —

• pain + discomfort while pumping
• not feeling empty of milk after pumping
• you’re pumping for more than 25-30 minutes and still feeling “full”
• reduced milk supply or not being able to produce enough to feed your baby
• recurring clogged ducts + mastitis
• nipple trauma, bruising + nipple sensitivity

FLANGES + SIZING Q&A

Q: for elastic nipples, what do i do? my size has been constantly changing, please help!!!
A: typically for elastic nipples, silicone flanges can work better than hard plastic flanges! there is more give and fluctuation with silicone, which allows for your nipple to swell and expand inside the flange tunnel.

Q: i’m 3 months into exclusive pumping + beginning to feel pain — could my flange size have changed?
A: actually YES!!! i recommend remeasuring your nipples for the most accurate flange size every 3 months. because your body can definitely shift, lose fluid and change. you’ll probably find that your nipple size will decrease instead of increase as time goes on!

Q: why does size 24mm come as a standard size for breast pumps if most pumping parents use sizes smaller than 19mm?
A: i honestly wish i had a better answer for you, but here’s my theory — 24-28mm are sized that are used for lactating dairy cows, and (i’m guessing men) don’t want to do the research on what sizes women wear most often. because if we’re being very honest, women’s healthcare is embarrassing.

what i will say about this sizing issue — i love that Pumpables is creating more customizable options for parents. you can choose your flange size in their liquid shields in 15mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, 25mm and 29mm! we LOVE a focus on the smaller sizes like most women’s bodies actually need!!!

Q: my areola keeps getting pulled into the tunnel, i’ve tried so many sizes, what do i do?
A: i don’t worry so much about your areola being pulled into the tunnel. with some folks’ anatomy, it is hard to tell where the nipple stops, and where the areola starts. what is more important to me is that you are comfortable, your nipple fits as close as possible to what you exactly measure (this is usually comfortable for most folks), and you are expressing your full supply!

RECOGNIZE THE RED FLAGS

there are a few things to recognize and know about when folks maybe in the hospital, or another lactation counselor are helping you pump. and please please hear me when i say with love — there are some really amazing folks within the lactation professional community. some of my closest friends are LCs, and i have learned so much from them!!! but we can also acknowledge that not all professionals know how to flange size, and especially for exclusive pumpers who need to pump every day, multiple times a day.

having the wrong flange size for one pump every other day is different than using the wrong size 6 times in a single day.

1. no pumping session is watched or observed
2. no nipple measuring tool is used
3. a 24mm or 21mm (or any size for that matter) flange is recommended automatically
4. adding on 2-4mm to your measured size

most often, the most comfortable flange size (and the one that produces the best milk output) is the size that you measure as close to! for example, if you measure your nipples at 17mm, it is best to first try 17mm, and then adjust as needed if it doesn’t feel right. adding on any amount of mm without needing to can be more painful for a lot of parents!

NEED MORE FLANGE FITTING SUPPORT?

it’s okay if you’re having trouble and need more help! flange fitting is very specific to your individual body, and it isn’t an exact science. sometimes it is more subjective — which is why i’m here to help!!! here are my favorite two options where together we can hone down the best flange measurement for you —

FLANGE FITTING CONSULT = $39 | more details | book your session here
this is only flange sizing, if this is all you need support in! you’ll send me over a few videos via WhatsApp, along with some photos of where you are measuring on the ruler tool. then we’ll meet virtually on Google Meet for 10-15 minutes to chat any last minute questions or concerns about that size.

1:1 PUMPING CONSULT = $129 | more details | book your session here
this is your one-stop-shop for all your concerns! we for sure chat about how to use your breast pump + its settings, flange sizing, and pumping schedule. but this is where we talk about your supply when you return to work after maternity leave, relactation or weaning down a pump session for you to get some mental clarity back. this is YOUR session to receive the best support that you need in this moment.

---

related blog posts that i think you’ll seriously love —

• when is the best time to measure your flange size for the most accurate and comfortable pumping experience?
• the ultimate guide to using your wearable breast pumps to keep up your milk supply
• why you need to stop thinking of foremilk as “low-fat” and hindmilk as “high in fat”

what flange size were you sized at? was it correct?
xoxo, Bethany | Certified Lactation Counselor | Your Overproducing Exclusively Pumping Mama