Quick PSA re: pumping

[santoki77]

Hi everyone. I don't know if you're going to breastfeed, pump, use formula, or a combination but after almost 3w of exclusively pumping, I should have gone with my gut and bought a different size flange size. Standard pumps come with a "medium" flange. I always felt too much of my areola was getting sucked into the tunnel and I wasn't getting a good suction. Also, I would leak onto the hands free bra which is a super pain (especially since is have to wash it every few pumping sessions).

So I did the Google/YouTube thing and found the following helpful links

youtu.be/YW0HblxDBis

www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/assets/file/PF%20chart.pdf

Only your nipple (and minimal areola) should be pulled into the tunnel and you shouldn't have leak issues. since I bought the smaller size (yeah, although my breasts are getting bigger, I have smaller sized nipples; breast size does not dictate flange size. The nipple does!), I've been getting more effective pumping sessions and minimal leaks I should have bought them sooner so save yourself some aggravation, ok?

[wormgerm]

Thanks for the heads up! Can't believe your guy is already 3 weeks old and you're already 3 weeks postpartum! I hope you're feeling better and better every day.

[Widget123]

Good tip, I agree with this 100%! When I switched to a size small flange it made a huge difference for me too Amazon sells parts like these as much as 50% off the product website.

[bendherova]

Good tip! I had to buy different sized flanges too! (bigger, womp womp)

[megd893]

Thanks for the helpful tip! I'm planning on mixing BF & Pumping/Bottle from day one so this is a great read.
Glad things are feelign more effective for you!!

[lalamomma]

Interestingly with DD because of her cleft we were having latch issues (didn't totally realize it at the time) but I actually liked pumping while it lasted. It was the only time I felt like she really was eating well. Which was true (we didn't know not then, it took awhile to figure it out. I wish we had a better cleft educated team to help).
One thing I learned and wouldn't do again is try to "save" money. Buy a good pump, and make it easier on yourself. All my friends who are successful with it say that too.

[tahitiandreamin]

I pumped for 14 mo with DD and I found that the shield size made a huge difference with regards to comfort. I also found that because I pumped for so long that I ended up needing bigger sizes as time went on.

Congrats for sticking with the pumping. It's tough work!

[noeliav]

For extra fun, you may need two different sizes, one for each breast.
I have one of every size now, lol.

See a lactation consultant if you can. She will be sure you have the right fit for you and your boobs.

[Widget123]

That is interesting tahitiandreamin. I pumped for 16 months-ish for DD and that wasn't the case for me. (RE: Needing different sizes as time went on.)

TMI noeliav. Just kidding

[ajm11]

This is great advice! I needed a large and I am so thankful for the lactation consultant at the hospital who set me up with the correct size. I would have had no clue they even had different sizes.

[islandgirl14]

May 4, 2015 8:59:30 GMT -5 noeliav said:

For extra fun, you may need two different sizes, one for each breast.
I have one of every size now, lol.

See a lactation consultant if you can. She will be sure you have the right fit for you and your boobs.

This is exactly what I was going to say as well! I had a really tough time figuring out what size I really needed to be at, and the LC was able to help me determine what size I needed to be at. Turns out I needed to go up a size!

[wormgerm]

Should I bring just my flanges to the hospital to see if they fit me? I don't want to bring my whole pump because they provide that if needed. Or should I wait to see if I have issues and then make an appointment with LC?

[junch817]

Yeah are you guys bringing your pump to use, or using the one from the hospital?

[islandgirl14]

Definitely not bringing my pump junch817. The hospital grade pumps are so much nicer anyways, plus it's one lest thing to have to worry about!

wormgerm, I'm sure it can't hurt anything to bring your flanges... I remember the kit had I think two different size flanges, which at the time I delivered, one of those two fit me. It was over the next few weeks that I thought it seemed to small... so, I don't know if I was fit wrong from the get go, or as time went on and my boobs changed sizes, if that's when my flange size change occurred? I'm not sure!

[wormgerm]

Ok so new question is will my nipples ever stop growing? Sounds like they just grow and grow and grow. It's going to look like I have clementines poking out of my bra when the wind blows.

[noeliav]

Widget123
Oh are we not doing TMI anymore?

My nipples are the same size, but for some reason, I would get a better pump response with one size on one and another on the other. Boobs are weird, man. lol.

For those asking, I'd take the pump (if you have one) to the LC. Couldn't hurt, could help and whatnot.

[missk0411]

May 4, 2015 10:46:24 GMT -5 noeliav said:

Widget123
Oh are we not doing TMI anymore?

My nipples are the same size, but for some reason, I would get a better pump response with one size on one and another on the other. Boobs are weird, man. lol.

For those asking, I'd take the pump (if you have one) to the LC. Couldn't hurt, could help and whatnot.

I'd take the pump too, just so that they can check the fit.  They looked at what my nipples looked like while the pump was on which helped get the right size flange.  The told me most women were a large (like me), but maybe they were just trying to make me feel good.

[sidneyvicious]

May 4, 2015 9:13:34 GMT -5 wormgerm said:

Should I bring just my flanges to the hospital to see if they fit me? I don't want to bring my whole pump because they provide that if needed. Or should I wait to see if I have issues and then make an appointment with LC?

I brought mine to my BFing class, and the LC offered to check the flange size for me afterwards. She also encouraged people to bring them to the hospital and said they would do the same for people there.

I was glad she did this because I ended up needing to order a smaller size -- which wasn't easy with the Ameda pump. I had to call the company to figure out what to order. One less thing to worry about later!

[billyhorrible]

Maybe my hospital is special, but we were told specifically NOT to bring our pump. You can request the LCs (all the nurses are LCs) to show you how to use a pump, and if you do that, they bring in the hospital grade pump and fit you for the flanges there and give them to you to take home (because they can't reuse them) so you end up with a free set.

[lalamomma]

May 4, 2015 12:59:06 GMT -5 billyhorrible said:

Maybe my hospital is special, but we were told specifically NOT to bring our pump. You can request the LCs (all the nurses are LCs) to show you how to use a pump, and if you do that, they bring in the hospital grade pump and fit you for the flanges there and give them to you to take home (because they can't reuse them) so you end up with a free set.

Ditto This

[santoki77]

So I didn't bring mine and they gave me ameda flanges bc they use ameda. Early on I said I thought the flanges were too big but the LC said they were fine. I asked if they could order me smaller ones but they couldn't. I figured not to pursue since I'm only using in NICU a few times a week. The Medela flanges are 1mm smaller and seemed to work but since I was still frustrated, I bought the smaller sized yesterday which had really seemed to help.

BTW no need to bring the pump and carry yet another thing to the hospital

[noeliav]

May 4, 2015 12:59:06 GMT -5 billyhorrible said:

Maybe my hospital is special, but we were told specifically NOT to bring our pump. You can request the LCs (all the nurses are LCs) to show you how to use a pump, and if you do that, they bring in the hospital grade pump and fit you for the flanges there and give them to you to take home (because they can't reuse them) so you end up with a free set.

Oh, yes. No to the pump to the hospital. Yes to the pump to the private LC visit (if you have the pump and if you're doing a visit).

[maddib]

santoki77 how is little Elliot? And how are you doing now? I hope everything is well and I know we would all love to see pictures of your sweet baby!!

[santoki77]

May 4, 2015 19:24:27 GMT -5 maddib said:

santoki77 how is little Elliot? And how are you doing now? I hope everything is well and I know we would all love to see pictures of your sweet baby!!

Thx for checking up on us maddib. I didn't want to inundate the boards with updates and pics but I'll post and update shortly

[maddib]

May 4, 2015 19:29:51 GMT -5 santoki77 said:

May 4, 2015 19:24:27 GMT -5 maddib said:

santoki77 how is little Elliot? And how are you doing now? I hope everything is well and I know we would all love to see pictures of your sweet baby!!

Thx for checking up on us maddib. I didn't want to inundate the boards with updates and pics but I'll post and update shortly

Post away!! I am anxious to hear about and see little Elliot! And how mamas doing too!

[sidneyvicious]

May 4, 2015 12:59:06 GMT -5 billyhorrible said:

Maybe my hospital is special, but we were told specifically NOT to bring our pump. You can request the LCs (all the nurses are LCs) to show you how to use a pump, and if you do that, they bring in the hospital grade pump and fit you for the flanges there and give them to you to take home (because they can't reuse them) so you end up with a free set.

Are the flanges interchangeable with the different pump brands?

[billyhorrible]

May 4, 2015 22:05:23 GMT -5 sidneyvicious said:

May 4, 2015 12:59:06 GMT -5 billyhorrible said:

Maybe my hospital is special, but we were told specifically NOT to bring our pump. You can request the LCs (all the nurses are LCs) to show you how to use a pump, and if you do that, they bring in the hospital grade pump and fit you for the flanges there and give them to you to take home (because they can't reuse them) so you end up with a free set.

Are the flanges interchangeable with the different pump brands?

I don't think so.  At my breastfeeding class they were recommending Medela because that's what they use in the hospital, so if you got a Medela pump, you could take advantage of the free flanges.

(I think Hygeia might use the same ones, because they were also recommending that brand at my breastfeeding class)

[santoki77]

In most cases, they are not interchangeable. There are usually subtle differences in sizing and style. I have 2 sets of pumping parts: ameda bc the hospital uses ameda and I can pump at the NICU (parts provided bc hospital) and Medela from my pump at home