New guidance on sizing a breastshield/flange

During a very interesting talk for the Gold Lactation conference in May 2022, Jeanette Mesite Frem IBCLC stated that many people should actually be using a flange size a lot smaller than the standard sizes provided by pump manufacturers. If used with a little lubrication from some coconut oil, apparently a smaller flange size will increase milk yield quite substantially. (Jeanette said lanolin or vaseline are too sticky).

She suggested measuring the diameter of the nipple and then trying sizes of that diameter, 2mm bigger and 2mm smaller and seeing what happens. This is totally different to what is suggested currently, which is to measure the nipple and add 2-5mm.

(This is what pump manufacturers currently suggest: https://www.verywellfamily.com/ways-to-tell-if-your-breast-pump-flanges-fit-2758354 )

Many pump manufacturers have 21mm as their smallest size, but the following inserts can be used with Spectra and Medela pumps and come in smaller sizes:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=maymom&crid=2YUWQJ1DVODQI&sprefix=maymom%2Caps%2C89&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Please make sure you don’t cause any damage or hurt yourself; if it doesn't feel right, stop and try another size.  

With thanks to Kathryn Stagg IBCLC for the summary above of Jeanette Mesite Frem’s suggestions. The illustrations below by JoJo Ford are from Kathryn Stagg’s book Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets.