Maplewood Lactation

04/13/2026

Finding the right fl**ge fit is honestly half the battle when it comes to pumping. Most of the "standard" advice out there is actually outdated, so we’re going to use the Babies in Common Fl**ge FITS method. It’s a total game-changer. (See the guide and study: https://www.babiesincommon.com/fl**ge-fits-guide)

Here is the breakdown of how to get your fit right without the trial-and-error headache.

Step 1: Measuring (The Right Way)
Forget what you’ve heard about measuring the base of the ni**le. We only care about the tip of the ni**le.

- Measure both: Make sure to measure each ni**le individually. They can be slightly different sizes, and you might actually need a different fl**ge size for the left versus the right.
- The Rule: Measure the diameter of the very tip.
- The Fit: Start with a fl**ge that is exactly that size, not larger.
- The Goal: You want the ni**le to fill the tunnel without being wedged in. It should move freely back and forth. Only the ni**le should be in the tunnel - no ar**la - and your breast tissue should fill the cup of the fl**ge.

Step 2: The Five Shapes
There are six shapes/styles on the market. While the "Original" is what everyone knows, it’s VERY rarely the best fit.

1. Original "Classic": Looks like a martini glass. Comes in one-piece or two-pieces (requires a connector). I’ve only ever had about two clients do better with this triangular shape than the others.
2. Comfy: The same as Classic but has a soft plastic rim. https://amzn.to/47U6Yzt
3. Crater: Looks like a shallow bowl. https://amzn.to/4chgxex
4. Pano: Slightly oval with a wider opening (105 degrees). It has a soft pink rim around the outer edge. https://amzn.to/4tJIJMO
5. Saucer: Very flat and only comes in sizes 13, 14, and 15. Great for engorgement or when the breast is very firm and can’t fill the cup. https://amzn.to/3QC0jE0
6. Oval: Other brands make this shape (resembles the Medela Flex). It also has a soft plastic rim like the Pano. https://amzn.to/4c66oRI

*Note: Maymom makes the first five. The "Oval" is made by a few other brands (mostly on Amazon) but size availability varies.

Step 3: Compatibility & Gear

Important:
- Skip the silicone inserts. They usually just cause friction issues. Get a hard plastic fl**ge.
- Make sure you try pumping on each breast to verify the fit on both sides.
- These parts are compatible with Spectra, Motif, Cimilre, and Medela.
- None of these work directly with Baby Buddha, Zomee, or NCVI because their connectors are too wide without an adapter OR Spectra-compatible parts.

Where to buy:
- Maymom: Amazon, lactationhub.com, or bonnieknowsbreast.com
- Ivaronal (includes connector): https://amzn.to/4c66oRI- Baby Buddha/Zomee Kit: Get this kit but toss the fl**ges unless you’re that size https://amzn.to/3QA3ITS. It’s about $10 cheaper than other brands.

Step 4: Testing the Fit
How can you tell if the size/shape is right?
1. Comfort: Your ni**le fills the tunnel comfortably and glides easily. No pinching, no pain.
2. Speed: You should see milk start spraying within a minute (then hit your expression mode button).
3. Output: You will remove more milk with the right fl**ge.

My Recommendation
It really helps to try multiple sizes and shapes. I recommend buying two "Goldie Packs" from Maymom (these include a range of sizes):
- Get a set of Panos with your size in the middle if possible.
- Get a set of Craters with your size in the middle if possible.
- Get a set of connectors.

The best thing to do is work with an IBCLC like myself so you can try everything out in person. (I keep every fl**ge shape and size in stock.) Otherwise, you might end up with something suboptimal!

01/14/2026

Newborns often struggle with crib or bassinet sleep because their brains and bodies are wired for warmth, movement, and contact, and their sleep cycles are s...

12/03/2025

11/26/2025

Send a message to learn more

11/19/2025

There are differences in the type of support provided by Leaders and IBCLCs.
A La Leche League Leader:
is a volunteer breastfeeding counselor who has breastfed their own child, and supports breastfeeding in their community.
is accredited by La Leche League International and has fulfilled LLLI requirements for leadership including self-paced training and skills assessment. May offer a variety of support via in-person meetings, phone, text, email and social media.
is trained to help with the normal course of breastfeeding from prenatal through weaning.
will refer to health care professional for anything outside their scope or training.
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant:
is a health care professional who specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding.
is certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.
works in a wide variety of health care settings including hospitals, pediatric offices, public health clinics, and private practice.
is trained in a wide variety of complex breastfeeding situations. Completes required continuing education .provides a written care plan to the nursing parent."
Photo 📸 LLa Leche League USA
[Image: Close up photo of child nursing. Text: The Difference Between IBCLCs and LLL Leaders

11/18/2025

I was featured on Babies in Common's page!

We are thrilled to introduce our next lactation provider Danielle Tropea, MPH, IBCLC who works with families in Maplewood, NJ and via telehealth in Essex and Somerset counties. With over 1️⃣0️⃣ years of experience in hospital and private practice settings, Danielle provides personalized, compassionate care to support families through every stage of their breastfeeding journey. Whether you’re preparing during pregnancy, addressing latch or milk supply challenges, or navigating weaning, Danielle offers evidence-based guidance tailored to your unique needs and goals. Her approach prioritizes not only your 👶🏼 👶🏿 👶🏽 👶 baby’s well-being but also your mental health, ensuring that feeding plans align with what feels sustainable and empowering for you.

Danielle specializes in advanced techniques, including precise fl**ge sizing for comfortable and effective pumping, and thorough tongue-tie assessment to address feeding difficulties. With a focus on balancing breastfeeding goals with mental health, Danielle aims to create feeding plans that nurture both you and your baby. As a mom of 2️⃣, whom Danielle breastfed for a combined 6.5 years, Danielle brings both professional expertise and personal understanding to her work. With a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a passion for equitable and compassionate care, Danielle is here to help make your breastfeeding journey as positive and fulfilling as possible.

Do you know about the Babies in Common Professionals Directory?⁠
👶🏼 👶🏿 👶🏽 👶 If you are a parent, parent-to-be, or someone who works with families who are feeding 👶🏼 👶🏿 👶🏽 👶 👶🏼 👶🏿 babies: then our Directory may come in handy🖐 for you, no matter where in the world 🌎 you are (or the person you are supporting is).⁠
🔎 Find lactation professionals who have taken one of our pumping-related courses and are committed to helping families get support with pumping, fl**ge fitting, and so much more. ⁠
⏰ From time to time, we'll be posting about Directory members so you can learn about the services they provide. ⁠
👁️ 👁️ Check out the Directory soon--and notice that it's an attractive format and providers are searchable by name, practice location, state/province, country...⁠
babiesincommon(dot)com/directory⁠
⁠ **gesizematters

10/29/2025

Come see a show!https://MichelleisaWolf.comGet Social!https://tiktok.com/ https://instagram.com/michelleisawolfhttps://www.facebook.com/miche...

10/12/2025

10/02/2025

SO TRUE! And I love the representation of mammary tissue as grape clusters. I use that analogy as well as broccoli.

Did you know your body actually changes with each baby you have? After your second (and beyond), your breasts develop more milk sacs—meaning you can often make milk more efficiently than the first time around.

Your body learns, adapts, and grows right along with your family. 💕 Pretty incredible, right?

10/01/2025

Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet]
Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006-.
Alcohol
Last Revision: November 15, 2023.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501469/

09/05/2025

Ni**le shields are made of soft silicone and fit over the ni**le to protect it during breast feeding. The most common reasons to use a shield include:
🗝Help a premature, weak, or uncoordinated baby latch
🗝Help a baby practice latching to a flat, inverted or retracted ni**le
🗝Help a baby with tongue tie stay latched
🗝Help a damaged ni**le heal

The down side of using a shield include:
📌Can lead to less stimulation of the breast which can decrease milk supply
📌Some babies have a harder time transferring milk from a shield
📌Some babies can have a hard time transitioning off the shield once they get used to it
📌Some people use the wrong size shield or are not placing it correctly which decreases its effectiveness

Tips when using a shield:
💛Always seek guidance from a board certified lactation consultant when using a shield. We want to know WHY you need it and if there are other solutions before using one (like position changes or getting a tongue tie clipped)
💛Make sure you’re using the correct size. Find the correct size for your ni**le by measuring the diameter of your ni**le. The shield should be 2-3mm larger than your ni**le.
💛If there is a lot of space at the top of the shield, size down.
💛If your ni**le pokes through the holes by the end of a feeding, size up.
💛Do not just place the shield on like a bandaid. This does not draw the ni**le in far enough for baby to get a deep latch. Roll the shield down to make a cup, place your ni**le as far into the cup as possible, place the shield on your ni**le and stretch the sides of the shield to pop your ni**le as far into the shield as possible.
💛Fill the shield with breast milk prior to latching to help baby associate milk comes from your breast
💛Wash your shield with hot, soapy water after each use
💛Buy two and keep them in a small container. The clear shield is HORRIBLE to find in the dark at 2am

**leshield **leshields **leshieldweaning

09/02/2025

While it seems counterintuitive, the emptier your breasts are, the faster they make milk. A full bread has no place to store or hold the milk, so milk production slows to prevent plugged ducts and breast discomfort. Cluster feeding on an emptier breast actually tells the body to make more milk at a faster rate!! Some incorrectly assume you have to wait for the breast to “fill up” before feeding your baby or for pumping while at work. This will eventually lead to less milk, as a fuller breast tells your body baby isn’t eating very often and to slow milk production. The more frequent you empty the breast, the higher the fat content in that milk and the faster milk is made. The longer often you wait and the fuller the breast, the higher the water content in that milk and the slower your body will make milk overall.

Watch the baby, not the clock. Breasts may feel really full between feedings in the first few weeks after birth, but they’re also not supposed to stay engorged. There will come a time when they stay soft and don’t feel full between feedings or pumping, so waiting for that as a cue to feed will also sabotage your supply. Don’t be alarmed when your breasts no longer feel full between feeding. You’re entering a new stage where you’ll still make plenty of milk for your baby as long as you’re routinely emptying that milk. Trust your body. Trust your baby.