You are now ready to use your breast pump but you don't know how to measure the size of your breast shield ? Breastfeeding and expressing milk should not be painful. Here are all our tips for effectively measuring your nipple and choosing the right size breast shield to express your milk and succeed in breastfeeding!
Breast shield and breastfeeding
The breast shield is the central element of a breast pump. It has an important role in the smooth running and continuation of your breastfeeding.
What is a breast shield?
Generally funnel-shaped, a breast shield can be made of silicone or plastic and have different shapes. This is the part of the breast pump that is directly touches the breast.
This skin/breast shield contact creates a tight seal with the areola, the brownish or pinkish part that surrounds your nipple. When the breast pump is working, the vacuum suction creates a vacuum that draws the nipple into the breast shield tunnel to allow the extraction of breast milk.
What is the nipple shield on a breast pump for?
The nipple shield on a breast pump connects the breast pump to your body. Choosing the right size breast shield is therefore one of the most important points. to successfully express breast milk, whether with a manual or electric breast pump.
However, many mothers do not use the most suitable breast shield size with their breast pump because many maternity or pharmacy caregivers are not specifically trained in breastfeeding and will tend to give you a breast shield size that is often too large.
However, a perfectly adjusted breast shield is the key to maximize your milk production, reduce pain and ensure a smooth draw!
On the other hand, a poorly adapted breast shield can cause an inefficient draw, of the congestion, blocked ducts and cracks, risking compromising your lactation. Don't let this happen!
How to define your breast shield size?
To determine the most suitable breast shield size for you, it is important to understand that the most important factor in ensuring a good draw is the way your nipple fits into the breast shield tunnel. And not as you would think, the way your breast adapts to the cone of the breast shield. The size of your breast therefore has very little importance.
In other words, it is the correct adjustment of the nipple in the breast shield which is essential for good drawing efficiency. And that is why we must measure your nipple to choose the right size breast shield.
How to measure your nipple size?
- To measure your nipple size, use a ruler or tape measure. Place it perpendicular to your breast at the level of your nipple.
- Then stimulate your nipple with your fingers so that it comes out and is very firm.
- Then measure the width of your nipple : that is to say the distance between its base and the top of the nipple. You should not include the areola in your measurement. According to a recent study, the size of the nipple is usually between 10 and 20 mm in most women.
- To obtain your breast shield size, it is generally sufficient to add 1 to 2 mm to this measurement. For example, if you measured a resting nipple of 19mm, your appropriate breast shield size would be between 19 and 21mm.
- Don't forget to repeat the operation on your second breast because the size of your two nipples may be different!
How do you know if you are using the right size breast shield?
After measuring your nipple and finding the right breast shield size for you, make sure your nipple fits comfortably in the breast shield tunnel. without the areola being sucked.
While expressing milk, the nipple should be centered in the breast shield and able to move freely without friction or pain. After each pulling session, your breasts should be lighter and more flexible, indicating that the majority of milk has been expressed.
If you notice that the milk is not flowing properly when expressing or that your breasts do not seem empty after expressing, this is probably a sign that you need to adapt the size of the breast shield if you don't want to compromise your breastfeeding.
How can I detect if the size of my breast shield is too small?
If during pulling your nipple rubs on the tunnel walls, the size of your breast shield is most certainly too small. In this case, we advise you to try expressing your milk with a larger breast shield.
Indeed, if you use a breast shield size that is too small, the milk ducts, located under the areola, can be compressed, which makes the passage of milk difficult and will make pumping ineffective.
Also, friction of the nipple against the wall of the breast shield can cause breastfeeding pain such as cracks or chapping.
How do I know if my breast shield is too big?
If during the draw part of your areola is sucked into the breast shield and it rubs against the walls, it is this time that the size of the breast shield is too large.
Of the pain, redness or irritation during or after pumping, can also be a sign that your breast shield is too big. Additionally, if you feel like not expressing enough milk, this can also be due to a poor fit of the breast shield. Try expressing milk with a smaller breast shield size.
If your breast shield is too big, it compresses the milk ducts near the nipple and prevents effective ejection of breast milk. And when milk isn't let down properly and stays in the breast, it sends a signal to your body and brain that it needs to be reduce milk production.
So imagine the long-term effects that the wrong size breast shield can have on your breastfeeding... so it's better to use the correct size !
Tips for choosing the best breast shield size
You will have understood that when you express your milk, it is important to empty your breasts correctly and completely, at the risk of seeing your lactation decrease quickly. Here are all our tips to make sure you choose your breast shield size wisely.
Adapt your breast shield size during breastfeeding
A good breast shield size is essential for a efficient and comfortable milk pumping. This is why it is necessary after a few months, remeasure the size of your nipples.
Because in fact, it will evolve over time and as your milky adventure progresses. We know, for example, that the volume of the nipple sometimes has tendency to decrease over time.
Therefore, it is completely normal to change breast shield size while breastfeeding. When you choose your breast pump, the ideal is therefore to opt for a model that provides several different sizes of breast shields such as the Emy Pump breast pump which includes 6 different sizes ranging from 15 to 28 mm!
Two breasts.. two different sizes?
The shape of your breasts and nipples will be different between your left breast and your right breast. It is likely that your nipple is the same size on both sides but to put all the chances on your side and optimize your draws, (re)measure always your two nipples !
Different sizes are the models of breast pumps
Just as there is a great diversity in nipple size and shape, there is also a very wide choice of breast pumps on the market.
But be careful, not everyone offers the same sizes and shapes of breast shields. And above all, some models are only supplied with one size of breast shield in the basic kit.
So check this information carefully. before choosing your breast pump : are there different sizes of breast shields? Are they included in the basic kit? Should you buy them extra?
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What if I can't measure my nipple?
In some cases, if you have a very light areola, It can be difficult to measure your nipple size correctly. But whatever the reason, if you have difficulty measuring your nipple correctly, you can start by try the basic breast shield provided with your breast pump and see how the pumping goes.
But the best solution in this case will always be to be accompanied by a healthcare professional trained in breastfeeding.
