Breast Shield Fit For Medela, Ameda and Avent Breast Pumps: Every Body is Different
Do you need a larger breast shield?
Breast shields, flanges and funnels are different terms for the same thing:
the part of the breast pump that fits directly over the nipple and areola, the colored part around the nipple.
One study revealed that at least one-third of women using a breast pump
could use a larger breast shield.
When breast pumping, the vacuum causes movement of the nipple within the tunnel or cylinder of the breast shield, and you should see a gentle pulling movement in the areola with each pump cycle. The nipple should be moving freely, without touching the sides of the tunnel. If you do not see any movement of the areola or if the nipple is rubbing the sides of the tunnel, your breast shields are too small. After pumping you may see a ring of skin flecks within the tunnel, and you may feel that there is still milk in your breasts that needs to be expressed. You may experience discomfort immediately on the sides of your nipples or it may take several pumpings before you notice soreness. These are all signs of a poor fit.
It is important to note that nipple size can change when using your breast pump and can change over time, so you must evaluate your fit issues while pumping. However Ameda suggests, as a rule of thumb, that if your nipple is larger than a U.S. nickel (22 millimeters or mm) you will need a larger flange or breast shield than comes standard with your pump. The standard Ameda breast flange is 25 mm. The standard Medela and Avent breast shields are 24 mm.
Ameda Breast Flange sizes |
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| Custom Breast Flange without Insert | 30.5 mm | ||
| Custom Breast Flange with Insert in place | 28.5 mm | ||
| Standard Breast Flange | 25 mm | ||
| Standard Breast Flange with Reducing Insert | 23 mm | ||
| Standard Breast Flange w/Flexishield Areola Stimulator | 21 mm | ||
| The Ameda flanges and inserts are sold in a set, so there is no chance of buying the wrong size. | |||
Medela Breast Shield sizes |
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| Glass Breast Shield | 40 mm | ||
| PersonalFit Breast Shield | 36 mm | ||
| PersonalFit Extra Large Breast Shield | 30 mm | ||
| PersonalFit Large Breast Shield | 27 mm | ||
| SoftFit Breast Shield | 25 mm | ||
| PersonalFit Standard Breast Shield | 24 mm | ||
| Breast Shield Insert | 21 mm | ||
Avent Breast Shield size |
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| Breast Shield with Massaging Petals | 24 mm | ||
| Breast Shield with Massaging Petals Removed | 27 mm | ||
Super Shields: Another Solution to Breast Shield Fit Issues
The Super Shields for your breast pump by Pumpin Pal come in one universal size that will fit nipples from sizes 22 mm to 30 mm. (Please see update below.) The angled design permits sitting back in a more natural position. The Pumpin Pal sales page for their Super Shields is very low key. To gain a better understanding of how the Super Shields work, read the testimonials page and view the instructional video at the "video hints" link on their website. These Super Shields fit Medela, Ameda and Avent Isis breast pumps. Now even users of Avent breast pumps can have a larger breast shield. Other Sources: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (UPDATE 4 March 2008. I just received the following email from Pumpin Pal)
Dear Matia, |
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