Love or Hate Pumpin Pals? Spectra OEM Flanges vs Pumpin' Pal Flanges

We get this question a lot.  Are Pumpin' Pal flanges worth it? Moms tend to either love or hate their Pumpin' Pals.  While there can be a variety of reasons, the most common reason is fit that can cause irritation. loss of suction and less milk output rather than a higher milk yield enjoyed by the moms who love them.  If you want to try Pumpin' Pals you will need to pack a little patience and expect that there is a learning curve because unlike any others I have seen they are angled like the baby's mouth which when used correctly does often result in more comfort and higher breast milk yield. 

Let's compare to Spectra which is a top choice with mothers today.

Difference in Sizing

Spectra OEM Size	OEM Inner Diameter	Pumpin’ Pals Size	Angled Inner Diameter	Practical Fit/Feel
16 mm	~16 mm	2XS	~17–18 mm	Slightly looser than Spectra 16mm — good fit if 16mm OEM is snug
20 mm	~20 mm	XS	~21–22 mm	Looser than Spectra 20mm — size may feel loose on many moms who use 20mm
24 mm	~24 mm	Small	~25–26 mm	Noticeably looser than Spectra 24mm  — may feel loose on moms who use 24mm
28 mm	~28 mm	Medium	~29–30 mm	Slightly larger than Spectra 28mm — good if comfort over vacuum strength is the goal
32 mm	~32 mm	Large	~33–34 mm	Larger than Spectra 32mm — extra comfort, less suction seal than OEM 32mm

                                      

Difference in Design

The Spectra OEM BPA-free plastic will feel and react differently than some of the Pumpin' Pal flange sizes.  XXS, XS and Small are made from silicone which is optimal for moms who have elastic nipples that get pulled too far into a normal flange tunnel.  Size medium, large and x-large are made from the same type of BPA-free plastic but the angle of the flange is often more comfortable especially when you learn how to use them.  Since they use a connector to attach to your pump, you can change the angle of the flange so moms who have nipples that face upward or even downward, can adjust the flange to meet the needs of their anatomy.

Difference in Price

A standard OEM flange is around $14.99, while the Pumpin Pal bpa-free flange is around $19.99.  Extra cost is for the silicone since it is more expensive to make which is $24.99 and the adapter to use with OEM valves and backflows is an extra $10 if you add it on to your purchase.

Moms who love the Pumpin' Pal flanges often have a more comfortable pumping experience and higher milk yield.  Moms who don't often don't give themselves enough time to learn to use them properly.  Pumpin' Pal offers an IBCLC to help with sizing and Lactation Connection offers a flange size credit to moms to help them get another size if that end up being the issue.  

Are they right for you?  Now that you know more about the sizing, you might try purchasing one size.  Know that these are hygienic non-returnable items but as long as you know your size, it is less expensive than buying a three size set.  If you are not sure about your size, purchase a nipple ruler to help you decide.

Here's to a more comfortable and prolific pumping experience,

Tanya

Sterilizing and Cleaning your Pumpin' Pal Breast Pump Parts

One question moms ask is about cleaning their breast pump parts, specifically after-market parts that have been purchased to enhance their pumping experience.  A customers favorite is the Pumpin' Pal Super Shield because this pumping accessory allows for a wider range of breast flange sizes and also allow mom to sit back and pump due to its angled design.  But once the investment has been made in these, you do want to clean them properly to prolong the life of your breast pump parts.

Below are the recommendations from the manufacturer.

"Pumpin’ Pal Super Shields are made of BPA-free medical grade polypropylene and High Grade Platinum Silicone. Both can be boiled (do not let them sit on the bottom of the pan!) and steamed using a steam bag but that should only be done prior to first time use.  Caution: If microwaved too long to the point the water is steamed away, the parts may melt and become deformed. A couple of minutes of steam is plenty. From then on these products should be hand washed like china or a glass because you can easily clean all surfaces, unlike bottles and tubing.

They can be cleaned in a dishwasher on the top rack, but they will last much longer hand washing with warm water and a grease cutting dish soap as most automatic dishwasher detergents can etch the surface causing them to become “foggy”. In other words, you can clean the parts in the dishwasher, but we do not recommend it and we do not replace parts that are damaged in the dishwasher. Do not use any chemicals such as bleach to clean or sanitize the flanges."

In other words, sterilizing for 2-3 minutes in either boiling water or microwave steam sterilizer is appropriate before the first use.  After that, hand wash to prolong the life of your Pumpin' Pal super shield.  The good news is that these are easy to clean and often give you a much more comfortable experience when pumping!

If you are pumping multiple times per day, you can purchase the Pumpin' Pal Super Shields in individual sizes instead of a three size set.  The Pumpin' Pal Spectra Adapter and the Pumpin' Pal Silicone Super Shield Collar can also be purchased as replacement parts for your convenience.  Many moms like to have three sets  for work so they only have to clean them once per day.

Happy Pumpin'

Tanya

www.lactationconnection.com