Hi welcome to our forum
To reply to your question is simple. Some of us use rings as a means to protect against too much pressure on the ribs while others use the rings to aid in suction. It really is a question of need. You can try without and if you have issues, by all means order the rings. I din't use the rings as I pump more slowly which allows for more time with less pressure. I hope this helps, and I'm sure others will chime in also Good luck to you and your noogle journey. Hugs Joni, or aka Mama J :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
