4 Keys to Wearable Pump and Cup Success
Wearable Pumps and Cups are popular pumping choices. Wearable pumps are all in one motor and collection cup units that fit in the bra. Wearable cups are collection cups that attach to a motor via tubing combining the stronger and more efficient motors of a portable or traditional pump with the discrete pumping options of a wearable cup.
Both can be absolutely fabulous pumping options but they are tricky and more prone to issues related to how they fit your body than other pumping options! Many parents are surprised and frustrated to learn they need to do some legwork to get their pumps or cups working optimally and may need to adjust things with pumping overall that seemed to be working but are not optimized to maximize the benefits of the cups.
Check out the 4 keys to wearable pump success
Flange Sizing
We need the pump to fit the size, shape, and elasticity of your nipples, as well as fit your breast shapes. We need just enough room for movement, but not so much that areola is pulled in. If we go too large, there is an air leak that can overwork your motor and kill your parts and pump prematurely. These pumps don’t give a hoot what size you use with your other pumps. They demand the perfect fit for themselves and settle for nothing less. Start with bad sizing, and it may work for a while, only to blow up like a stressed out parent when you get in the car after acting ridiculous at a family event. Oh, and we have to achieve this fit while unable to see what the tissue is doing. This isn’t always simple but we have this down to a science if you want professional support! You can learn more about flange sizing here- we have all the information about measuring yourself, translating that to useful sizes to trial, and a free flange sizing course! https://www.genuinelactation.com/flange-sizing
Alignment
We have to assure the flanges are centered on the nipples and flush with the breast, and remain there, unchanged, for the 20-30 minute pump session. Misalignment causes blisters, clogged ducts, poor milk removal, pain and an all around crappy experience. You have to figure out exactly what angle your nipples point and how to dangle or hold the breast so it doesn’t wobble to and fro. We can give you techniques to try, and pointers and tips, but it honestly, it will take work and practice. This is the hardest part to nail down for the individual parents because you have to learn to work with your anatomy and it’s a learning curve only you can manage.
Bra Fit
We need your bra to fit like Cinderella’s shoe. It must support and hold firm without excessive compression. The band must be tight, and the cups just tight enough but not too tight. And, it needs to fit with and without the pumps or cups. It must not allow anything to sag, slide, or shift. It must allow the pump or cup to sit on the breast without pushing into the breast creating a quad-boob effect.
The bra shouldn’t itch, poke, or prod… but that’s not about the pumps, that’s about no one having time in their life for an uncomfortable bra.
Your Body’s Unique Response to the Pump
Most importantly, we need your body to respond to the suction pattern of the pump. We can’t control this factor at all outside of starting off nailing the first three and using the proven methods of adjusting to new pumps, flanges, and suction styles to train the letdown reflex. There is some amount of efficiency we loose with wearable options but with optimizing the things we discussed here we can typically get relatively close output.
So, what happens if you start out with things done incorrectly?
It really depends on the person. With some, we just fix steps one through three and work the process for number 4, and it’s fixed. Some people end up with damaged and bruised nipples, dropped milk supply, and we have a lot of work to do to fix it to save their journey. In some cases, it destroys the chances of using the pump as we need other tools to right the mess the situation has become. The longer you try to DIY a situation where it’s not working right the higher the chance you risk your long term success.
We give you all the resources to figure this all out! From DIY follow the steps to professional support with one-on-one answers and solutions in order to set you up for the best chances of success!
If you want a wearable to work, these are the things that will make or break it. It’s up to you to decide how to meet your goals.
