GW hospital medela pump

[Anonymous]

Very specific question-- i'm delivering next month at GW and had a hard time with supply last pregnancy and needed to triple feed including starting in the hospital but needed 19 mm flanges so couldn't really produce much until i got home and mostly had to supplement in the hospital since not much was coming out. My lactation consultant encouraged using the hospital grade pump 5-6 times while there so i want to buy flanges in advance that fit.... but at least on my amazon search it seems like there's two types of medela symphony that require different flanges. Has anyone delivered at GW recently and know if they have the older vs. newer medela symphony? It's a non returnable thing so don't want to buy both or buy the wrong one. If you click this link it's the 3rd image down. When I delivered in 2022 it was definitley the older one but it's now 2025.

https://www.amazon.com/Maymom-2xOne-Piece-Bre...ps%2C480&sr=8-7&th=1

[Anonymous]

You can call the main hospital operator at 202-715-4000, ask to be connected to the newborn nurse, and ask.

[Anonymous]

^^newborn nursery, that is

[Anonymous]

I delivered late last year and I am fairly certain it’s the newer one. I think they gave me a pack with multiple flange sizes this time too but I didn’t use a 19 Mm so I’m not sure if that’s an option. They also have hand pumps if you ask!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can call the main hospital operator at 202-715-4000, ask to be connected to the newborn nurse, and ask.

good advice-- tried and totally failed- some grumpy nurse just said medela and i don't know which and hung up. aghh

[Anonymous]

I wonder if the breastfeeding center on 19th street would know or have a number for HW LCs they could give you. I’m sorry about the nurse hang-up at GW. That’s frustrating!

[Anonymous]

The pump itself is the same. It's the bags of sterile parts they can give you that are either the old or new model. If you have the old version, you can take that with you and use it on the pumps they will have there. I have the pieces for the old version you can have (if you get new tubing and the flanges that you need). I just don't know how we could connect since this is an anonymous forum. 🤔

[Anonymous]

op, are you aware of pump flange inserts?



also, fyi i've had three babies and lemme tell you your nipples change differently each time. at least for me, my nipples are bigger now than they were for the last baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op, are you aware of pump flange inserts?



also, fyi i've had three babies and lemme tell you your nipples change differently each time. at least for me, my nipples are bigger now than they were for the last baby.

oo this is good to know that it may not be the same each time- ah that's frustrating- did you measure in advance? i waited last time as i had no idea what size

-- yea tried flange inserts last time with a willow, so still have 17 mm, but don't see any specifically compatible with a symphony but can look more

[Anonymous]

The flange inserts you have for your willow will also work with the symphony. You just put them in the 24mm flange the hospital gives you.

I’m a lactation consultant and my best rec would be measuring yourself around 34/36 weeks pregnant using a nipple ruler. Whatever the base of your nipple measures at (15mm for example) buy a hard plastic flange in that size. The following link will be compatible with the pump kit they give you at GW, you’re just swapping out this sized piece and using the rest of their parts.
https://a.co/d/bZH0HfB