Finding the right fit for your pump flange can be tricky, especially if you have elastic nipples. In this post, I'll help you understand how to find the right fit, even if your nipples are extra stretchy.

What Are Elastic Nipples?

Elastic nipples are just nipples that stretch more than usual. This matters because when you use a pump, it stretches your tissue more than usual. As the pump pulls your nipple into the flange, it gets longer and skinnier due to its stretchiness. This stretching can pull more of your areola into the flange, making it challenging to find the right fit.

Understanding the Impact of Pump Suction

The stretchiness of your nipples will depend on the suction level of your pump. The higher the suction, the more it pulls, making your nipples stretchier and pulling more of your areola inside. This makes it trickier to figure out the right fit.

Finding Your Perfect Fit

Just like trying on shoes, you need to try different sizes to find your perfect fit for the pump flange. Thankfully, there are different shapes of flange parts available to accommodate different bodies. The right fit allows you to get the most milk with the least amount of work, without causing pain or damage to your body.

Common Mistake: Misinterpreting Pain

Many people think that if the pump doesn't hurt, it's the right size. But as they try smaller sizes and it starts to hurt, they believe the size is too small and go back to a bigger one. This is a mistake. When the flange is too big, it pulls in a lot of your areola, pinching a large area which doesn't hurt much. As you go smaller, it pinches less of the areola, which can hurt more. So, if it starts to hurt, you might need to go down one more size until it stops pinching your areola altogether. If your flange has visible space between your nipple and the sides, like in the picture on top, it's too big. The one below is way too big. You want your starting size to be more like the flange on the bottom picture. 

Types of Pumping Pain

There are two types of pain with pumping:

1. Pinching Pain: This occurs because your areola is getting pinched.
2. Chafing Pain: This happens when your nipples rub along the side of the flange.

To solve pinching pain, you need a smaller size that doesn't pinch your areola. To prevent chafing pain, lubricate the inside of your pump flange with coconut oil, nipple cream, or ointment. Oral care sponges like these work great for this. 

Using a Fit Kit

Create a fit kit with a couple of different sizes. Experiment with them over a week to see which size allows you to collect the most milk. Here is another blog post about how to make a fit kit for your body, and a link to a ruler that you can use to measure your nipples.  Remember, your size may change over time, so monitor yourself for signs of pain and damage frequently and adjust your fit kit as needed.

Conclusion

Finding the right pump flange fit for elastic nipples requires a bit of trial and error, but it's worth it. By understanding how your nipples stretch and using a fit kit, you can find the perfect size that maximizes milk output and minimizes discomfort. Keep experimenting and adjusting to ensure the best results for your pumping journey.