A question for all the pumPing mommies out there--how do you know what size breastshield is right? Should any of your arreola be inside the narrow part where your nipple goes? I started pumping a bit and my areola at the base of my nipple gets a little swollen each time from being pumped. Is that normal? Still trying to get the hang of all this!
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Sounds like you may need a bigger shield. What kind of pump are you using? You can get bigger Medela ones on Amazon, I think.
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I ended up having to buy two sizes and test it out. The one that came with the pump (Medela Pump In Style) was too small for me because only the nipple was being suctioned. You want part of your areola to be suctioned. Otherwise it'll hurt!. I went up a shield size and it felt so much better, plus I was able to pump out more milk.
The one true way to know is that your nipples/areola shouldn't hurt after pumping. If you're unsure, go up one size and see how it feels!
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Im using the medela pump in style with a medium shield. If i use a size large, wont more of my areola be pumped in where the nip
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ple goes? I thought less was better...?
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it sounds like your shield is too small. i had to go up a size because the ones that came with the pump were too small. here is a chart on the medela website that might help:
http://www.medela.com/IW/en/breastfeeding/good-to-know/right-size-of-breastshield.html
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Ah, yes, I think I misunderstood you. This may help:
http://www.exclusivelypumping.com/2009/04/29/correctly-fitting-breast-shields/
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Hmmm, maybe your shield is too large? I would recommend buying one size up and down and see which works for you. I think they were like $6 for a pair (at the baby store near me) so it's worth the investment, especially if pumping is hurting. For me, I definitely had to go one size up.
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You should also try applying a bit of lanolin to the areola before pumping, it reduces friction and allows the nipple to move more freely within the shield. The swelling could be more caused by the friction than the size of the shield.
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I was going to suggest the same as @MsMini. Instead of lanolin I used either EMAB's natural nipple butter, Motherlove's Nipple Cream, or just plain olive oil. It help pumping be a lot more comfortable for me by adding that lubricant.
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