Breast pump question

pattymcgillin

Just wondering how many mommies to be are waiting to buy their breast bump until after their delivery?  I am 37, almost 38 weeks and it is that last thing on my supply list but now I am thinking maybe I should wait to make sure I am producing and there are no complications with breast milk.

 

JilllyBean

I was going to, since you won't need it most likely for 34 weeks at the earliest. But I ended up getting one through insurance

davis0905

I'm 38 weeks and am considering buying one today!  I'm a STM, and I still have a manual pump that I used with my 1st child.  It may be sufficient, since I will only be working 1 or 2 days a week.  It is recommended for occasional use.  My friend has an electric pump that  is likely to be compatible with the parts I have for my manual so I'm going to take a look at it today and may buy it from her. 

That being said, it's really ok if you wait until after delivery.  Hopefully you will have a lactation consultant at your hospital who can help you make a decision about pumps and you can rent one from the hospital if you find that you have to pump right away...I know for us, it took a couple days for DD to learn how to latch (and I was clueless and didn't know what I was doing either!) and I had to pump a little bit of milk and put into droppers and we fed her that way until she was able to latch on. 

Aurora317

My insurance won't cover one until after baby is born, so I'm waiting. I won't need it for a month or so after delivery, until after BF is established, so I'm not in a rush.

leahaustin

I am buying mine probably just a few weeks before. Most of them have a return policy as long as you don't open it. So you can buy it, keep it sealed and then open it when you are sure you are producing/that you want to pump.

vcabbyw

Even though insurance covers it, I'm holding off. It's not a necessity to me. This may sound weird but I don't want the temptation. All of my friends failed breast feeding, and had started pumping after 2 days instead of letting their LO nurse around the clock. If we start to have issues, and my LC recommends pumping to increase supply then it'll be a quick trip to get one. But then again, I'm not returning to work.

jschmidt6

I'm 34 weeks and I have Cigna insurance and they paid for an Ameda pump. I just got it in the mail 2 days ago. They didn't need any upfront paperwork or dr. prescription or anything. Another thing I don't have to worry about checked off my list! I would get it as soon as possible so you can get any attachments or accessories you might want before your LO comes.

JUSTMENU4

i got mine free through my insurance. its the law now. you just call your insurance & they tell you how to do it. ususally you have to use one of their desired medical supply retailers. my insurance didn't have any other stipulations than where i had to get it from. i even got a double electric pump.

As far as when to get it, is up to you. I am using mine to pump for when i go back to work. I don't plan to start pumping until a few weeks before i go back to work. You don't have to rush to pump right away.

The great thing with my insurance is they let you get two a year. so if this one doesn't work out, i can get a new one

periwinklebloom

I just ordered mine. It's covered 100%, so I went ahead and got it. I am crossing my fingers that breastfeeding works out for me, and I'm going back to work in six weeks so I'll need it. 

shainatay4

My insurance covered mine. I needed it bad. My milk came in late. 

BelhurstBride

I waited. It was the only choice I had in order to get my insurance to cover it. 

You shouldn't be using it right away, anyway. In the rare situation that you *might* end up in the situation where you need to pump you should use a hospital grade pump.  

JMO307

I have Cigna insurance as well, but they told me I could only get a rental type one?  Is that the one you have???

Cocolamo1

I used a breast pump soon after my other two babies were born. With DS I used the hospital grade to stimulate milk production while I was in the hospital. DD had trouble latching when we got home, so I was very thankful to have my pump available.

vulpini

I'm still trying to figure out if my insurance will cover it.  They told me that my plan is one of the ones grandfathered in to the old laws and they only have to provide me with a pump if I'm separated from baby.  That rule will change for my plan in January, but I don't know if I will qualify then either because there might be time limits on how long after birth you can get a pump through them.  They are very good at making loopholes.