Flange fit? Pumpin pal?

MsCrispy

I've been back to work and pumping for about one month and I'm beginning to think that I need a smaller size flange. At work I use the Medela Lactina with size 24mm and at home I have an Ameda ultra with the size 25mm flange. The Ameda came with two sizes larger, but I think I need a smaller size.

From what I've read, very few women need the smaller size, so I'm not sure if I'm doing it wrong. Pumping isn't painful, but my nipples have been getting sore. From pictures I've found online, I believe too much of my areola gets sucked in. I've also been trying to increase my supply for the past month to no avail. I pump about 9 oz a day, which DD manages with, but would really prefer a little more.

I've also looked into the pumpin pal. Anyone have these? I like that I could use it with both the medela and ameda, so I wouldn't have to buy two extra sets of flanges.

McSquishy

I have the opposite problem.  I use ameda flanges and the 32 is too small, 36 is too big (I think). 

The pumpin pal looks really interesting... hmm.

BallerinaK

I don't know much about sizes, but I love my pumping pals. I can erlax more while pumping due to the angle of the flange, and it does seem to be less painful...not that I had much pain anyway, but I can increase the suction more than with the refular medela flanges.

Jcrab

My LC sells the pumpin pals, I have heard good things about them but haven't tried them. My friend EP'ed and loved them. GL

LollerCopter

I really like my Pumpin Pals, too. I ordered the set of 3 sizes just to be sure I had the right size. I had already bought 4 sizes of medela flanges, and they all hurt like crazy, even when it looked like I had the right size. I ended up using the medium and large pumpin pals with almost no pain at all. I was even able to use the XL ones, but the larges in the morning and mediums the rest of the day worked really well for me. If you have the medela connector system, they fit right in the connector without using the old flanges. I think with the Ameda the fit into the old flange.

AmyRI

Even the small size that Medela makes (21mm, I think) are too big for me. I use the medium pumpin' pals ones and I love them! They are way more comfortable than any of the Medela flanges I tried. They are very forgiving as far as fit goes, as well.

I ordered just the medium, since I knew they were going to be plenty big and saved the money on their set.

I don't think I pump more with them, but it makes pumping much more bearable so I can pump more often.

MsCrispy

Thanks for all of the responses! I decided to order the pumpin' pal set, so I'm hoping they work. I saw that they guarantee them, so I figured it was worth a shot.