One of the most important things when it comes to pumping is getting the right size breast shields. The standard flanges that come with your pump may not be the right size for you.

Many pumping moms need a different breast shield size than the standard size that comes with your pump.

Breast shields that aren't the right size can cause pain, issues with milk supply (since milk isn't being removed effectively), and clogged ducts.

If a breast shield is too small, the nipple can't move freely in the flange tunnel. If it's too large, too much of the areola is pulled in to the flange tunnel.

It's possible for your flange size to change over time.

Your breasts may need different size breast shields.

If your nipple goes almost to the end of the flange connector, you may have elastic nipples. Silicone flanges or inserts may help.

If you think you may not have the right size flange, you can try measuring your nipple with a ruler, get sized virtually, or just try a bunch of different sizes to see what works best.