These days, breastfeeding women have more choices than they ever have at their disposal than ever before. There is currently a whole business devoted to lactation and the process of expressing breast milk, with products ranging from manual pumps all the way through hands-free wearable pumps, size assistance, and breast pump accessories. The fact that pumping parents have so many alternatives can initially appear like a great thing. On the other hand, this can make learning how to pump and locate the supplies you need complicated and expensive.
Inserts for Breast Pump Flanges
Flange inserts are becoming increasingly popular because they are a quick and easy solution to make the flanges that come with your flange work for your body. This is one of the reasons why the popularity of flange inserts is growing.
Many breast pump flange inserts are made to address the problem of improper size for a particular brand of flange. Breastfeeding mothers frequently experiment with a variety of breast pumps. Others have had alternative insurance or modifications made to their insurance plans, which has led to different pumps being covered under their policies. If you have two distinct varieties of pumps, you will likely want two varieties of flange inserts to accommodate them.
However, things aren’t always as wonderful as they appear to be at first glance.
Friction
Friction is one of the most prevalent reasons for pain experienced by women who pump their breast milk. The flanges of breast pumps are constructed out of a rigid plastic cone. This conical shape is maintained throughout our bodies. There are two locations in which friction can create discomfort for a mother.
The first one is a stony ridge that is produced at the point where the tunnel and the cone of the flange meet. This characteristic can be seen to a greater extent in some flanges. Friction or irritation may develop if your skin constantly rubs against this ridge.
The second one may be found within the real tunnel of the breast pump’s flange. If your nipple tissue is rubbed against the plastic wall of the tunnel, it might be because your nipples are not correctly aligned in the tunnel or because you are using a flange that is the incorrect size. This might result in discomfort, skin irritation, and even bleeding in the long run.
Because these size inserts are made of the same hard plastic as the band, they may increase the number of sharp angles close to your delicate skin, which may cause further discomfort and suffering.
Movement
Because your flange inserts are constructed of the same plastic as the flange, there is a risk that they will shift or move as you pump because the two components share the same material. Your skin can become trapped between the breast pump flange and them if you make the slightest movement.
