what did you do with your pump?

amaite · October 2013

I am just about weaned from exclusively pumping. I plan to have another baby in a couple years, so I was planning on holding on to it. Now I'm having second thoughts. I know insurance companies are required to cover pumps, but does anyone know if that's for each baby? I don't want a new pump just for the sake of getting a new pump, but after 14 months of use, thousands of pump sessions, I don't know how well the motor would hold up for another baby, and I think with the insurance you have to get your pump within a certain amount of time after having your child? If I hold onto this one and don't get a new one right away with the next child, and then this one dies, I'd prefer not to have to shell out the extra money myself. I also hope I wouldn't have to exclusively pump next time around. So what do you think? Keep? Get rid of? What did you do with yours?

vvvvvfee · October 2013

am i the only one still pumping? just once a day at work, but i still am, at least for a little while.

i am definitely holding onto mine. i will clean it as best i can and store it at home someplace. i have a medela pump in style and i have heard that their customer service is great, so i'm hoping if something breaks on it they would be able to send me a replacement part and i wouldn't have to get a new one.

also, i've heard some insurance plans only cover the cost of a manual pump.

BatDaughter4Eva · October 2013

If you have a place to keep it, I'd keep it.

I will tell you what I wanted to do to mine. I WANTED to smash it like they did the fax machine on Office Space. (Someone insert GIF?) Buttttt I had borrowed it from my SIL so I had to give it back.

alrighthamilton · October 2013

I sold it for $50 at a Mom to Mom sale this past weekend. I'm not planning on more kids, though.

cedenton · October 2013

I rented mine from the hospital so I returned it when I finally admitted BF'ing wasn't going to work (3 months).

NeneCakies · October 2013

Keep it. One Medela PIS has been circulating one among us cousins for many years and is working fine. I'm about to send it to my sis who is due next. I'm replacing the transformer/ plug for her and giving her some new shields of course. The base unit though is certainly good for more than one baby!

amaite · October 2013

NeneCakies said:
Keep it. One Medela PIS has been circulating one among us cousins for many years and is working fine. I'm about to send it to my sis who is due next. I'm replacing the transformer/ plug for her and giving her some new shields of course. The base unit though is certainly good for more than one baby!

Used on a regular basis for more than just the occasional pump? For a good while I was pumping 8 to 10 times a day.

NeneCakies · October 2013

amaite said:

NeneCakies said:
Keep it. One Medela PIS has been circulating one among us cousins for many years and is working fine. I'm about to send it to my sis who is due next. I'm replacing the transformer/ plug for her and giving her some new shields of course. The base unit though is certainly good for more than one baby!
Used on a regular basis for more than just the occasional pump? For a good while I was pumping 8 to 10 times a day.

Extensive use. I successfully EP'd for 10 months after getting it from my sis - who stashed it in a closet for 3 yrs after she went for a whole year 1/2 BF and 1/2 EP and I don't even know the whole history of the pump before that but I don't doubt my sis can get another yr out of it with babe #2.

ETA: my aunt who gave us the pump was a lactation consultant before she retired. While the pump isn't hospital grade or anything, she knows we are still passing it around and isn't surprised it's still working for us.

Toni79 · October 2013

Mine is still sitting in my car. I just finished weaning from the pump at work about 2 weeks ago. I left it in there just in case I needed to relieve some pressure that first week and I haven't gotten around to taking it out. I plan to clean it real good and pack it away for a future lo. I pumped 3xs a day at work from 4 months until about 13 months.

My insurance didn't cover pumps at the time dd was born. The affordable care act was passed January 2013 so I think I might have better luck next time getting one covered. It would be nice to have a second - one to keep at work and one at home.

BTW - I'm sure most of you know that you are not supposed to use most commercial grade pumps between different users. Its because they are open systems wich means moisture "could" get into the motor and harbor bacteria. You can swap out the tubes, valves, diaphragms, flanges, etc but you can't clean out the motor.

Hospital pumps are closed systems (and moisture cannot get into the motor). Which is why they can be shared (you still have to replace the parts that come in contact with your milk though).

The only consumer grade pumps that I know that are closed systems are Ameda and Hygenia. I've got the Ameda Purly Yours which is a closed system. But the manual still says not to share. I'm not sure why? Other than the manufacturer wanting to make more money!

Sorry ... I'll get off my high horse. Everyone has their thing that they are passionate about and that's mine. Lol!

NeneCakies · October 2013

@toni79 while you make a good point, of which I was aware, I'm still going by my experienced aunt who had no qualms about the sharing. I don't know the stats but it seems the risk is low.

lynde129 · October 2013

I cleaned all the parts, threw out the tubing. Stashed the pump in the closet, and the shields, membranes, etc in a plastic bag in the kitchen where I store tupperware. I plan to buy new tubing and use it in a few years with #2, and if I can get another one through insurance I will have one at home, and one at work. I can not tell you how many times I left the shield pieces drying on my kitchen counter and had to hand express at work!

amaite · October 2013

Thanks ladies! I think I'll hold on to it.

Toni79 · October 2013

LucyD1029 said:

NeneCakies said:

@toni79 while you make a good point, of which I was aware, I'm still going by my experienced aunt who had no qualms about the sharing. I don't know the stats but it seems the risk is low.

I agree. I wouldn't buy a PISA from a stranger, but I'd have no issue borrowing one from a friend. I've never had milk back up into the tubing. Is that common? If bacteria grows, wouldn't it be just as bad for me as it would be for someone else?

Yeh I agree the risk is probably pretty low. Maybe I'd feel differently if I was offered one by someone I knew! Lol. My mom found a couple on freecycle and craigs list and I must have told her a million times I wasn't going to buy a used one online!

I'm not sure how common it is for milk to get into the tubing. I think its more so condensation getting in then it is milk flowing into the tubes. But I'm not sure.

As far as bacteria being bad for you as well as others. I've wondered the same thing too. That's one of the reasons I got a closed system pump.

piphigirl · October 2013

I got mine used, and am keeping it in case a friend needs it. The main friend who usually EBFs was going to try it for her second and then was hospitalized after her c-section. I think she got a hospital pump for that.

rp-chicago-mom · October 2013

It's in that car.

rp-chicago-mom · October 2013

Seriously, it's my sister's and when she has her rainbow baby, I will give it back to her with new parts and then when I have another, she will give it to me and by then, it will be dead because it will have worked for SIX babies.

latnprincess · October 2013

I kept mine. Its older and a hand me down from a friend, but it works!

My friend just got a pump from her insurance company. They were on a major back order and she wasn't able to get it when she needed it. So plan ahead if you're going to do that! I will probably get a new one through insurance when/if the time comes.

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