Breast pump question!

firstcomeslove2013

Hello all! As some of your know, I inducing lactation for our little squinter (due in December). I have started my protocol, and will start pumping in September. Our LC said we need a hospital grade pump.

Can anyone weigh in on the difference of a hospital grade pump vs a regular pump?

Any other induced lactationers out there use a regular pump? It's like $60 a month to rent one from the LC plus $45 for the parts but my sister will give me her pump to use for free...I just want to do what's going to give me the greatest success.


Thoughts?

healz413

From what I understand, you should definitely use a double electric pump. If your sister has a good double electric for you to use, that should be sufficient. We will be using a Medela Freestyle, which is a double electric. Our lactation consultant also said hospital grade but we decided it worked better for us to buy a pump than rent one and we have heard of a lot of people using Medelas for induced lactation.
According to @Manada, obamacare now mandates that breast pumps be covered. I don't know if this is the case for you or what your insurance will cover, but it would be worth looking into if you haven't already.

valeriegp

Yes, ACA will pay for a pump up to a certain cost. I ended up paying about $26 for mine 18 months ago. But, with most insurance they will only pay for certain ones. I'm not sure it they'll cover non-bio mom for the pump, but maybe your partner could get it through her insurance. I ended up with an Ameda Purely Yours from insurance and a Madela Freestyle (I think that's what it was called) from a friend. I'd recommend the Madela if you'll just have one.

firstcomeslove2013

Thanks you guys...I might need to work out some sort of different arrangment than what the LC suggested. I appreciate everyone's input! Keep it coming!

ATXmommas

My insurance provided either $200 worth of rental fees or a choice of a free pump from a very limited selection, but I could only receive a pump after I gave birth.

My story - I ordered the Ameda Purely Yours from insurance, but ended up renting a hospital grade for a couple months to help with supply issues. Before I returned to work, I realized that the Ameda (non-hospital grade) didn't work well for me, so I ended up purchasing the Hygeia Enjoye. My options through insurance weren't that great.

I love the Hygeia, but I've never heard anyone say anything bad about a Medela - I know many people who have used the Pump In Style model. I chose the Hygeia simply because it is a green option (it's a closed system pump) and has great reviews.

My thoughts - depending on what type of pump your sister has, you may/may not want to use it. Here's why - if its been used a lot, the motor will be run down and may not work as efficiently. Also, open system pumps are not intended for more than one child and there is some risk of contamination. Closed system pumps can be used for more than one child. I believe all Medelas are open system.

You could temporarily rent a hospital grade pump until after the baby is born and then try the pump C can receive through his insurance (assuming he had to wait until the baby is born), but I know that's an extra expense for a few months. Or start off with your sisters pump while your are just using it to stimulate milk production if you think it's sufficient for that purpose and then get a new pump later.

I would go ahead and look into your insurance coverage now and see what your options are.

Oh, and remember that any pump can turn into a hands free pump with a pumping bra! I love my Simple Wishes pumping bra.

KH826

Well, seeing as I am currently pumping and bumping, I will share my experience so far (all 5 days of it! Haha). So I have been pumping since 12 hours postpartum since our little guy was in the NICU and had to unfortunately be on formula to help regulate his sugar. So I started pumping to try and stimulate my milk to come in, but also so that we could start mixing breast milk in with the formula as soon as I could produce some. At any rate, I wasn't planning to start pumping on day 1, so I have kind of been thrown into the deep end. At the hospital I used a Medela Symphony 2.0, because that is what they had. Since coming home yesterday afternoon, I have been using my Lansinoh Affinity Pro (which I got for free from my insurance carrier). I was really nervous that my "free rinky dink pump at home" just wouldn't cut it after using the hospital grade pump for the first 4 days. I will note that my milk is still not really in though. The most I can get right now is about 1 oz per pumping session. However, with that said, I so far see no difference between the pump I used in the hospital and what I have at home in terms of results. That obviously could change, and my Lansinoh may not be cut out for the long haul if I become an exclusive pumper, but at this point it is doing just fine for me. I was able to order it from insurance (I have Aetna) when I was 20 weeks pregnant, and they shipped it to me when I was 36 weeks. I had my choice of 3 different pumps when I ordered, but now I don't remember what the other two were. I picked this one because the reviews online seemed the best and it is super small and portable for taking to work. I look forward to reading more from some of the pro pumpers here - I hope to learn something!

ATXmommas

@KH826‌ brings up a great point about the portability of a non-hospital grade pump. The hospital grade pump that I rented was a beast and not easy to move from room to room, much less transport outside the home when needed.

firstcomeslove2013

@ATXmommas‌ thanks so much! You bring up a lot of awesome points.y sister pumped a lot so I wonder how long her pump will likely last. I also need the pump to be portable so I'll have to ask the LC about portability. Also, thank you for using masculine pronouns for C...that is definitely his PGP.

I found a hospital grade pump on Craigslist but I am leery of that and worry I'll get scammed. @2MamazInSeattle‌ suggested this and while I've bought things on CL before...I'm just being a weirdo!

@KH826‌ I'm sorry you are having a frustrating time with pumping. Have you spoken with a lactation consultant?

ATXmommas

firstcomeslove2013 said:

 I found a hospital grade pump on Craigslist but I am leery of that and worry I'll get scammed. @2MamazInSeattle‌ suggested this and while I've bought things on CL before...I'm just being a weirdo! 

I would be careful about buying a pump from someone you don't know.  Don't think you're being a weirdo at all!  If you have any specific questions, just let me know.  I'll be happy to answer what I can.

firstcomeslove2013

I don't worry so much of the buying from a stranger, I worry about getting scammed. The pump is a hygenia so I will probably have questions for you!

2MamazInSeattle

I get worrying about being scsmmed, but honestly every baby thing I've gotten on CL have been from super cool people who were honest and totally normal. You do meet them, and see the product before you pay! Most were just families with LO's trying to recoup some baby costs. Also I tend to stick to neighborhoods I know, etc
Was just an idea. I love CL and have never been scammed...i think I've saved well over $1000 prepping for baby this way. So was just an idea!!

firstcomeslove2013

@2MamazInSeattle‌ I totally think CL is a great asset! We plan to get a lot of our CD on there and I think it was a great idea! I am just worried...I'm such a tightwad and I'm the WORST at making decisions!

2MamazInSeattle

@firstcomeslove2013 - haha! I get it, but I have faith in you!!! However it goes, you'll sort it out and the money will also figure itself out. Totally stressful I know. FWIW, if you wanted the very popular Medela FreeStyle, I have one from a good friend for $125, though it may be the same as your sisters, because my insurance will let me buy the same one for basically that price. She was just going to sell it on CL but if you are interested, FB me and we'll sort it out. It seems EVERYONE uses that one 'round here, honestly, everyone...I'm excited for your process and hoping your boobs do right by you and lil'squintz!

Karlamo

I induced lactation and use a Madela PIS which works great for me. My insurance paid for it. I told them I was adopting and no questions were asked. With inducing you are married to the pump. Before baby was born I pumped every 2 hours like clockwork. You need to be able to carry it with you as you'll be pumping in the strangest of places! Because you're pumping so much you need a good quality pump with a good motor. I think new is the way to go. It's a lot of money but you'll be using it literally 24/7 for months!! I also I recommend trying different shields to find the ones that fit best. I have lots of pumping experience. When the time comes please feel free to contact me. Inducing takes true dedication and determination but the payoff of feeding/bonding with your baby made all those months worth it.

ATXmommas

firstcomeslove2013 said:

I don't worry so much of the buying from a stranger, I worry about getting scammed. The pump is a hygenia so I will probably have questions for you!

That's what I was getting at - just not sure how you would verify that it is in proper working order. I wouldn't worry about sharing a hospital grade pump.

I think @karlamo has great perspective at using a pump to induce lactation. Glad she chimed in!

KH826

I need to retract my previous post! My "rinky dink" pump (Lansinoh Affinity Pro) that I got free from insurance -- the one I said was doing just fine and dandy for me... It kicked the bucket after only one stinkin week. Saturday night I was pumping at 3am and the motor just died. I ran to Babies R Us when they opened on Sunday trying to rent a Medela, but they didn't have any available -- they were all rented out. I called three other BRU locations -- same story. Well, just as I was about to begrudgingly buy one, my wife's friend came the rescue and offered me her barely used Medela Pump in Style. It works great and I have been getting more milk each time with it! I fully plan to complain to insurance, but all they are going to do is send me a new cheapo pump. Anyway, I just wanted to update my previous statement. I am now firmly on team Medela.