What is a breast pump horn?
Put simply, the horn of your breast pump is the funnel-shaped plastic part that fits over your nipple as you pump. It's also sometimes called a flange or sheild.
Why do I need to measure my nipples?
Measuring your nipples and making sure that you're using the right horn size means that every pumping session is as comfortable, efficient, and effective as possible.
- If your horn is too loose, you'll find it difficult to pump all the milk from your breasts, which may harm your milk supply or make pumping unnecessarily painful. You don't want your nipples to pinch, rub or cause you any discomfort while you pump.
- If the horn you're using is too tight, your breasts can be constricted in ways that may lead to clogged milk ducts.
How to measure your nipple and required horn size
The correct fit is based on how your nipple fits into the tunnel of the horn, rather than how your breast fits into the cone of the horn.
- Before you get started, it's best to make sure that your nipple is full size. You can do this by gently rolling it between your thumb and finger or by putting something cold on it.
- Before you pump, you should use a ruler or measuring tape to find the diameter of the base of your nipple in millimetres. You should only measure your nipple on its own, don't include your areola (the outer edge around your nipple).
- Once you have your measurement in millimetres, add 4mm to this measurement. This is because it's better to have a larger breast shield diameter than your nipple base size so that when your breast pump is used and creates a vacuum, it'll make your nipple slightly larger. Having a gap of about 4mm between your nipple and the breast shield allows for your nipple to expand comfortably while you're pumping. So, if your nipple base measures 20mm across, the correct horn size for you is 24mm.
- Once you've measured one nipple, repeat the process with the other.
How do you know if your horn is the correct size?
- Your whole nipple should fit comfortably without much, if any, of the areola entering the tunnel before you start pumping.
- Your nipple should be centred in the middle and move freely in and out of the tunnel while you pump without causing rubbing, redness, or pain.
- Your pump should express most of your milk and your breasts should feel noticeably softer and lighter after every pumping session.
Too small: All your nipple rubs against the tunnel and none of your areola gets pulled in.
Too big: More of your areola is sucked into the horn and may rub against the edge of the tunnel.
Just right: While you pump, only a small amount of your areola is pulled into the tunnel, not too much or none.
