Is there a Perfect Flange Insert Fairytale Ending?
From Cinderella to Goldilocks, men and women have gone through a heck of a lot to find the perfect fit, the perfect porridge, and the perfect fairy tale ending. And when it comes to choosing a flange insert for your breast pump, it is frustrating when “These Lozaeve inserts feel too hot… and this Nenesupply insert feels too hard, but maybe this Maymom is just right?”
Does this struggle remind you of trying to find the right inserts for your pump? You are not alone in that. We always focus on the size of the insert (since sizing is the most important start to pumping), but inserts are not standardized, and each one has different qualities.
How do we Pick an Insert for you to Start with?
We look at:
The size of the flange insert: This is measured in millimeters, and the size you need is based off of the fit for your nipples in a particular pump. This is unique to each person. If a particular brand of insert doesn’t come in your size, it’s safe to say right away it won’t be the fit for you.
Length of the insert: We need it long enough for your nipple to safely stretch in.
Texture: We look at the texture of the insert and what that means for achieving your goals - is it a grippy silicone that holds back stretchy tissue, or a silky silicone that allows gentle movement without friction?
The fit of the insert in the flange: Inserts are designed to reduce the diameter of your pump flange. Not every insert works well with every flange, and a poorly fitted insert can ruin a pumping session.
Which pump you are using: If you are using the Elvie OG with gentle suction, the Lozaeve insert may be entirely fine despite being much shorter that the average insert. Many people would find the same insert with a stronger suction pump like the Willow or the Baby Buddha to be just asking for a mushroom nipple due to missing length.
How do you figure out which brand of insert to try?
This is where some tricky flange insert calculus comes in to play (math is cool).
Let’s get you ready to figure this out with a little crash course on the attributes of each insert so you can narrow down your options.
Step 1: What should you be paying attention to?
While the basic anatomy of a flange insert is fairly universal, the attributes of these different brands produce different results.
The Rim:
The rim of the insert is the part that will be in contact with the areola, and it needs to be fitted well to the flange.
Shape, width, and flexibility of the rim will allow different inserts to fit well in different flanges. If the insert is a poor fit for the flange you are using, it can either stick out, which may cause irritation to the areola and poor pumping, or it may slide into the tunnel preventing a comfortable session.
Tunnel Length:
Tunnel Length is the actual physical measurement of the tunnel that indicates how much room the nipple has to stretch safely. The concern with tunnel length is that if the nipple extends past the insert and is elastic in nature, it can mushroom causing issues with pain and nipple damage. The needed length is dependent on the length of the nipple, the elasticity of the nipple, and the suction strength and pattern of the pump.
Tunnel Length is also a concern when it comes to fitting into the pump flange. More shallow flanges like Elvie, or the Freemie Low-Profile Cups, need a shorter tunnel on the insert, or suction will be blocked or reduced. Longer flanges like the Willow can accomodate longer inserts without issue.
Step 2: Look at the attributes of each insert, and what that means for pumping with them, to help you differentiate between them:
Original Freemie Inserts:
These inserts are made of a firm, but flexible, traditional silicone material, and are Y-shaped like a traditional flange. The rim of the insert is fairly wide, and it is shaped in a manner that heavily influences the flanges this insert works for.
These inserts are long enough to accommodate most nipples without issue. They have a slightly grippy texture, and the broad rim is helpful with holding back more elastic areola tissue.
Low Profile Freemie Inserts:
These inserts are relatively new on the market, and are a particularly unique design. They are made from a firm, smooth silicone material, and the rim, while broad, is fixed in a flat position.
The tunnel length is similar to the Original Freemie Inserts, and most nipples do fine length-wise with these inserts.
The unique flat shape of the rim does change the fit of the flange overall, making the area from the top of the flange to the tunnel for the nipple more shallow. This allows for easier alignment for some people. With elastic nipples, this can help to pin back the excessive pull on the areola quite nicely, but some may find the flattened shape reduces milk production.
Willow Brand Inserts:
Designed for the Willow Pump, these inserts are made of a thin, flexible silicone material, with a scalloped rim that virtually disappears against any flange without issue.
This retains the shape of the flange while reducing the flange diameter. They have a smooth, silky texture, and while they are similar in length, the gentle curve of the insert rim means that the fit encourages more of a stretch in the nipple and areola than some other inserts.
This would be a concern with more elastic nipples when paired with a stronger suction strength or pattern.
Onion Baby/Lianghazi/Lozaeve Inserts:
These are the shortest flange inserts on the market at a dainty 22 mm in length.
They are made of a smooth, soft silicone, with a thin rim that easily presses into flanges without altering the shape.
These inserts are popular for more shallow flanges like the Elvie as they are short enough to fit the flanges without requiring modification.
A challenge with these inserts is that with stronger pumps, and more elastic nipples, the tunnel length may just be too short. The lower edge of these inserts is somewhat firm, and for people who reach the end often report significant discomfort.
Nenesupply Inserts:
These inserts are made of a firm silicone that, while flexible, retains its shape and does modify the curve of the flange at the top of the tunnel.
The insert rim is somewhat firm and thicker than many, which can cause discomfort against the areola. A concern with this type of shape retention in an insert is that it can compromise the air seal, and in some pumps, that compromises suction and effectiveness.
BeauGen Cushions:
BeauGen Cushions are not actually an insert, but they are often used like inserts so they should be included in this discussion.
They fit a limited range of flanges from 21 mm to 27 mm, reducing flange size to 19-25 mm.
They have a fairly short tunnel length at 18 mm and are stretchy in nature, creating a situation where it can almost strangle a stretchier nipple.
The rim of the insert is flexible, but shaped, and does take some work to fit nicely against some flanges. They do cushion the pull of the nipple against the hard plastic flange which can increase comfort for some.
Momcozy/Iapoy:
These inserts are made of a thin, clear silicone that is fairly flexible in nature. The biggest advantage of these inserts is that they have a reasonable length for most nipples, fit the majority of flanges, and are clear to make checking alignment easy.
The texture is slightly sticky and may require lubrication to use comfortably, which may be an issue for stronger pumps and elastic nipples.
Maymom Inserts:
Maymom Inserts are one of the original inserts on the market, and they are made of a flexible, but firm, soft silicone.
The rim is fairly thin and fits well into most flanges.
These are technically the longest of the inserts on the market at 35 mm, but there is a small notch in the end of the insert designed to allow for no interference with suction with the original Freemie cups that reduces their functional length to 30 mm.
Imani Inserts:
Imani inserts are a thin, flexible silicone. The texture of the rim, and the internal tunnel, is somewhat grippy or tacky, with the outside being silky to allow it to slip into the silicone cups it was designed for.
The rim is very thin and narrow which creates the possibility of agitating the areola if it does not fit smoothly against the flange being used.
Step 3: Consider which pumps you are using and which inserts seem to work well for them.
Willow Pump
Willow Pump uses a unique suction pattern with constant suction. Inserts need to be long enough to accommodate the stretch comfortably, and need to avoid pinching at the areola/base of the nipple.
Elvie Pump- The Original
Elvie Pump OG has incredibly short flanges and requires inserts that sit flush so as not to disrupt how the pump seats against the breast, and the inserts can not block the suction holes.
Elvie Stride
Elvie Stride has longer flanges than Elvie OG, but not by much. Inserts need to be able to sit flush so the pump is well seated on the breast and the suction hole in the back has to be clear.
Plastic Wearable Cups
Plastic Wearable Cups come the closest to traditional flanges in terms of shape and function. The inserts should sit flush with the molded flange tunnel to prevent air leaks, and there should be no ridge irritating the areola.
Silicone Flange Wearable Pumps and Cups
The flexible silicone flanges conform to the breast and require inserts that do not inhibit this to prevent loss of suction.
How do you figure out which one to try?
This can best be determined by looking at the recommended inserts for your pump, that come in your targeted sizing, and then, deciding which seems most appealing to you. Budget and availability also heavily factor into the decision.
Much like the prince searching for the glass slipper’s princess, It’s not always an easy and straightforward decision, but we have narrowed it down significantly for you here to make things easier.
If you are overwhelmed or want the more targeted insight a professional consultation can give, make this much easier on yourself, and schedule a consultation. We will have you pumping comfortably sooner, and perhaps, you’ll get that fairytale ending of meeting your breastfeeding goals!
