Which flange size, shape or material is the most comfortable (but also gets out the most milk)?

1. Gently touch/tug the nipple to help it stick out a bit.
2. Use a tool with centimeters (cm) or millimeters (mm). Start with 0 next to one edge of the nipple tip. The tool does not
need to touch the nipple.
3. Turn on the pump on a low vacuum/intensity level and try pumping with 2 or 3 hard plastic flange sizes: one a little
smaller than the nipple, one about the same size, and one a little bigger than the nipple.

• Best fit or optimal fit: The sides of the nipple touch the sides of the flange tunnel and the nipple gently glides a little bit back and forth. It should also be comfortable and milk should come out easily.
• Too small: The nipple will not move easily in the tunnel and less/no milk comes out.
• Too large: It may hurt, make the nipple get bigger than it usually is (swollen) and less milk comes out.

Intensity of the pump (vacuum pressure/pull)
How strongly does the pump pull on the nipple?

The intensity of the pull of the nipple into the flange tunnel depends on the pump. Not all pumps are the same. Not all pumping parents need a strong pull when pumping. Once milk
starts spraying and there is complete comfort, stay on that vacuum level and play with the pump cycle speed.

Increase the intensity of the pull during the pumping session if it is comfortable and you see more milk sprays.

Pumping should be comfortable from start to finish – it should not be something to “tolerate”. Nipples should feel good when the pumping session is done. The size of the nipple (width) should be
about the same as before pumping (but the nipple may be longer after pumping).

The one that helps the most milk come out. The tempo is not only the speed, or cycle, but also the rhythm. Some pumps have simple tempos and others have options. Think of tempo like music for dance. Some tempos are faster, slower, or a combination of fast and slow. See what
works best for your body with the pump you have. Some pumps have more of a pull-release rhythm and others have more of a vibration.

Helpful Tips:

Tempo of the pump (cycle speed, rhythm, vibration)
What is the best tempo of the pump?

• Start on the fastest tempo and after milk is coming out for 20-30 seconds, change to a slower tempo – more sprays
should come out.
• If sprays stop at some point during the pumping session, change the tempo back to faster for 1-2 minutes and then
back to slower again.

There are people who stay on a faster tempo the entire pumping session—play with the tempo to discover what works best to get the most milk out but with comfort. Some parents may need to find a
different pump that works better for their body. A pumping session ideally would last 15-20 minutes.

The answer depends on many factors but the goal is to see sprays of milk during pumping. Drips and dribbles are fine for part of a pumping session but, ideally, sprays would be seen/heard for most of the
pumping session.

Helpful Tips:
Supply of milk (drips, dribbles; strong sprays are ideal)

How much milk should someone get when pumping?

• Many people find they get the most milk when they have the best flange fit. They may also get the same amount or more milk in a shorter amount of time when pumping than with
flanges that are too large.
• Hands-on pumping during pumping and hand expression of milk after pumping can help get more milk out.
• The left breast may make more or less milk than the right
• It’s normal to get more milk in the morning hours.

 

Please read the research

 

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/08903344241296036

 

 

 

Information taken directly from https://www.babiesincommon.com/