Barbara was lucky enough to speak with Dr. Lisa Anders about the state of flange fitting. This has become very controversial in the field of lactation. However, the research data does not support the idea that all pumping parents need smaller breast shields.
Lisa is an assistant professor at the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She earned her BSN from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2009 and her PhD in nursing from Marquette University in 2021. She has been a registered nurse since 2009, with experience in Labor & Delivery, postpartum, and the operating room, and has been an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant since 2018. Her research aims to optimize the infant feeding experience for parents who use breast pumps, with a particular interest in comfort, efficiency, and satisfaction.
- Anders, L. A., Mesite Frem, J., & McCoy, T. P. (2025). Flange size matters: A comparative pilot study of the Flange FITS(TM) guide versus traditional sizing methods. Journal of Human Lactation, 41(1), 54-64. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08903344241296036
- Gridneva, Z. et al. (2026). Maternal Experiences with Exclusive Pumping–An Online Survey. Healthcare, 14(10), 1361; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14101361
- Flaherman, B et al. (2013). Development of the breast milk expression experience measure. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 9, pp. 425-430.
- Chart from Flange Size Matters:
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