For the love of Flange Size

Have you ever been told to measure your flange size for pumping? GOOD! You should absolutely measure your flange size.  Let’s talk about what that means and why!  There is so much information out there about whether you should or shouldn’t. Go smaller or go bigger. What shape (they have different shapes 🤔)? What texture? The list goes on…

I’ll start with my personal story. When I pumped in 2016 and 2017 for my oldest daughter, I pumped with a 24mm flange size for my Spectra. Back then, smaller flanges weren’t really a thing. I always wondered why my nipples came out of the tunnel of the flange looking much larger and feeling very uncomfortable and I would have to pump for up to 30 minutes to empty my breasts. Now, I know that it was because my flange size was way too large.

Once I started my journey to become a lactation consultant, I took a pumping and bottle-feeding course in the very beginning. It was a total game changer for me and the clients I was working with.

While there wasn’t evidence-based research on using smaller flange sizes, there were lots of moms and many, many lactation consultants successfully using smaller flanges with their clients to get more comfort and better results with pumping.

Fast forward to last year, 2025, and there is FINALLY published research on using a smaller flange size with pumping. Click here to view the study!

What does a flange sizing session look like?

In my office, I have 5-6 different shapes, 2 different textures and sizes from 9mm up to 21mm (everyone has a 24mm flange size). We will use your pump with my flange sizes and connectors. First, we will measure your nipple using a ruler to determine about what size we should start with. Based off of your breast shape and tissue, we will start with a shape and size and adjust your pump settings to comfort.

The goal of pumping is for it to be comfortable and you should see milk sprays with your letdown. We will adjust shapes, sizes and settings as needed throughout your session to achieve comfort and milk sprays and we will go through a full pump session, about 15-20 minutes.

A full pumping consult will take up to 1 hour, as we discuss your goals and needs first then go through the full pump session.

What happens when we are done with our session?

Once we determine which shape and size work best for you, I will send over links for you to purchase what you need. While I don’t currently carry flanges in stock, most moms can get them pretty quickly off of Amazon.

What about flange inserts?

I don’t generally recommend using flange inserts except for your wearable pump. In general, if we can find the best fitting size and shape, breast tissue responds well to the hard plastic material that flanges are made out of.

Occasionally, I work with a mom who is having a hard time with hard plastic flanges and in that case, we can try silicone flange inserts, cushy silicone flanges or even Pumpables.

Final Notes…

One of my favorite parts of pumping consults is when a mom says “I didn’t know pumping could be so comfortable” or “I didn’t know I could actually make this much milk in such a short amount of time.”

If you are curious or you are struggling with pumping like I was in the beginning, reach out here to schedule a full pump session in my office in Woodstock, Georgia. I am in-network with some insurance.

The goal: Pumping should be comfortable and you should see milk sprays! Let’s try to make pumping the best it can be!