Debating whether or not to buy a breast pump

GeminiJordan · July 2014

This is my second pregnancy and I am really hoping that breast feeding works out for me and baby this time around!

Last time around when my son was born he was tongue tied and couldn't latch on to breastfeed. I ended up renting a breast pump from the hospital but stopped after a month due to extremely painful mastitis.

What are the chances of me having this problem again? I don't want to spend $300 for a breast pump if I'm going to have to stop after a month again.

flcl · July 2014

Not sure what your chance of having another baby with a tongue tie although tongue ties are hereditary. (Almost everyone on my MIL's side has it and my DS ended up with it as well. We had it corrected very early on and that helped with BF.) As for the pump, did you check with your insurance to see if they would cover it?

Peanutz21 · July 2014

agree with PP - please check your insurance company first! last year under my insurance only a breast pump rental was covered. for 2014 my company switched to a new insurance and i was able to get my own pump mailed to me for free - i only needed a prescription from my OB

by law i believe your insurance is required to cover for at the the very least a rental:

https://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/assets/file/ACA - General QA rev012113v3.pdf

mcgeeva · July 2014

If not covered by insurance I would wait to see if you can bf at the hospital and maybe rent the hospital pump for a month to see how it goes before investing in an expensive pump?

Guennie · July 2014

Agree with what everyone else is saying. Insurance companies are required to cover this now. Some require that you have your baby before you can get the pump, though, so check into it. I had to rent one while waiting for mine to arrive.

I'm sorry you had such a hard time with your first attempt. My baby had a severe latch so I've had to EP. I went through two rounds of mastitis. It took a lot of dedication for me to get through those first few months but eventually things got a bit easier and I haven't had mastitis again. Best of luck to you!

andrea0418 · July 2014

I would wait and see if baby gets a good latch established in the first few day.
My insurance covered a pump but truthfully I wouldn't have needed it. Ds refused a bottle and only ever drank straight from the boobs. And he still loves them!

GeminiJordan · July 2014

Opps! I forgot to add in my post that my insurance company doesn't cover the breast pump or even the rental, it's weird though because under my benefits it's says that it covers the pump, so I'll keep calling! I probably will see what happens at the hospital, I'm a SAHM so I shouldn't really need to pump all that often but if baby can't latch on there would be my only reason to.

Guennie · July 2014

There are some insurance people not very knowledgable about this change since it's relatively new. I would call and ask to speak with someone very well versed in your benefits. Different companies have various ways of going about it, but they have to cover it.

I am also a SAHM and I really wanted to nurse but it just didn't work for us. I'm super glad I had the option to pump so I could still breastfeed. I hope you don't need it but if you do it will be helpful to know beforehand how to go about getting it. It can be a real headache.

basil2 · July 2014

If BF is going well you don't need a pump before 3-4 wks (I use mine only to pump for when I go back to work). Research insurance and purchase options, but you may want to wait before purchasing.

mcgeeva · July 2014

I know for a fact my insurance company does not cover the rental based on my husband's company. So not all insurance will cover. Our's specifically says they will only cover a pump only if your child has medical issues where you have to provide milk through a tube. So no even with the new laws - it's not in every case.

Guennie · July 2014

mcgeeva said:
I know for a fact my insurance company does not cover the rental based on my husband's company. So not all insurance will cover. Our's specifically says they will only cover a pump only if your child has medical issues where you have to provide milk through a tube. So no even with the new laws - it's not in every case.

Do you have a grandfathered plan? It's my understanding those are the only plans exempt from the new rules. Maybe the op has a grandfathered plan as well.

melaport · July 2014

It might be worth purchasing a manual pump to have on hand if you aren't planning to pump regularly. You could even keep it in the box and return it. Most but not all insurance plans cover a pump. If it says it does I would call back and speak to a supervisor. My insurance doesn't cover pumps. I purchased a manual in case I needed something immediately and then around 6 weeks when I was ready to start pumping I returned the manual (never used it) and got the double electric.

mcgeeva · July 2014

Guennie No clue. I called again january 1 hoping things would change but was told the company had the right not follow the womens care act.

reb84 · July 2014

I would wait to see if BF is working for you and baby before buying a pump. Our insurance doesn't cover a pump either unfortunately, but I still have mine from my first. My question is, what do the ladies who get a pump covered through insurance do with their pumps if BF doesn't work out? I think insurance COs should have a wait period before covering a pump.

Hollyselby · July 2014

My daughter had tongue tie and I had to use a nipple shield in the hospital to get her to latch. The LC gave me a manual pump before I left the hospital. I had to order the electric pump after her birth and it was going to take a few days to get in. A local pediatric dentist was able to fix her tongue tie and help me with her latch a couple days after we left the hospital. I tried the manual and it works well. The only downside is you can only do one breast at a time.

harmonicbabe26 · July 2014

Sing2phins said:

reb84 said:

I would wait to see if BF is working for you and baby before buying a pump. Our insurance doesn't cover a pump either unfortunately, but I still have mine from my first. My question is, what do the ladies who get a pump covered through insurance do with their pumps if BF doesn't work out? I think insurance COs should have a wait period before covering a pump.

Why? Some moms need to pump right away. I was one of them.

Same here. I would have been screwed if I couldn't have access to a pump right away. I didn't have the option of getting a hospital one.

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