Why your choice of breast shield is key to successful pumping

Why your choice of breast shield is key to successful pumping

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Why your choice of breast shield is key to successful pumping

Make sure to use the right breast shield size. It is an essential component of effective pumping, helping to optimise milk flow.


Understanding your breast anatomy

Breasts come in all shapes and sizes, and can change throughout your breastfeeding journey.1 The size of your breast might not correspond to your nipple size, and each of your nipples can be different sizes too.

Understanding breast anatomy Breast anatomy diagram

 


What happens when you breastfeed or pump

What happens
Your milk ducts increase in size by 68% during a let down. This is to accommodate all the milk flowing through them towards your nipple.

 

What happens
Your nipple diameter may increase temporarily by 2 to 3 mm. So your breast shield tunnel needs to be slightly bigger than your nipple.

 

What happens
Your milk ducts lie close to the skin’s surface. Pressing the breast shield too hard or using a tunnel that’s too small can obstruct milk flow.

 


Find our breast shield fitting guide at www.medela.com/fittingguide and read more at www.medela.com/pumping