These are the products that I recommend most commonly in my practice. I will always recommend specific sizes, quantities and types for each patient. I am not affiliated with any of these companies and am not compensated by them for my recommendations.
These links, however, are affiliated with amazon and we do receive a small amount if you purchase through these links. All amounts go towards my 501c3 The Boston Lactation Center which will have a clinic for free clinical care for Masshealth patients.
Spectra Flanges:
13mm Spectra: https://amzn.to/3KrHfT5
15mm Spectra:https://amzn.to/3rVP5y6
17mm spectra: https://amzn.to/3rXvf5B
19mm spectra: https://amzn.to/3OI7tDF
21mm spectra: https://amzn.to/47escGi
If you need another size, you can get these connectors and they will work with all narrow based flanges listed below:
Narrow base flanges (Medela):
All flanges (10mm-34mm): https://amzn.to/45IGmhq
Bottles:
Dr Browns:
Dr Brown’s nipples go from Ultra preemie, Preemie, Transitional, and then level 1 slowest to fastest for newborns. I prefer the narrow bottle over the wide so babies can form a better seal.
Dr Brown’s narrow bottle: https://amzn.to/3OcNRWs
Ultra Preemie Nipples (for airway disorders or very small preemies):
Preemie Nipples: https://amzn.to/45eROAU
Transitional nipples: https://amzn.to/3OER6Yq
Evenflo Balance Bottles:
Lanisoh bottles (go with Pigeon SS nipples. The original nipples are too fast.)
Pigeon SS nipple: https://amzn.to/3rQERih
Lansinoh bottle: https://amzn.to/3q9RAMP
Bras:
Gratlin Plus Sized nursing bra:
Kindred Bravely nursing bra:
Products I do NOT recommend:
Bottles:
MAM– This is a compression bottle and does not encourage a proper sucking pattern.
Comotomo- Not for infants under 4 months as it is way too fast. I love how easy they are to clean, but they are very fast and the rigidity of the silicone makes them difficult to latch onto for tiny mouths.
Avent Natural- The natural response nipples are the new ones and have been shown to be defective. The shape of this bottle encourages a latch just on the nipple which isn’t great if baby is nursing.
Pacifiers:
MAM- encourages a flat tongue position and incorrect waving motion
Orthodontic pacifiers- In general are not great for long term use as they don’t encourage a proper sucking pattern. Chicco physioforma is the only exception, for tongue tied infants with high palates, for occasional use (car rides, diaper changes, etc)
Pumps:
Wearable pumps should not be your only pump if you can help it. I compare them to a sports/race car. They are fun, they do the job, but they are not good for every situation and aren’t great daily drivers because they aren’t made for that purpose. The motor tends to be weaker on these pumps and many of them rely on inserts to decrease the flange size. I find that people do best when they have a flange that is hard plastic, fitted properly, and lightly lubricated.
If you have a wearable pump, I say to use it in a 2:1 ratio with a regular pump like a Spectra with the Spectra being 2 pumps and the wearable being 1 if you were pumping 3 times a day.