@bb3vj3n honestly, I know a few people around here getting it covered through insurance but always different loops to jump through. I didn't know it was a thing last time I bought a pump.. so we just went to Babies R Us and bought the first one we saw on sale & I hated it (Avent single electric). H has really good insurance.. so calling them is on my list this week. We're with Manulife & if I remember to call and get more info, I'll update!
@bb3vj3n, oh that sucks! I would call again at another time. Sometimes depending on who you talk to you'll get a completely different answer. Can your health care spending account cover it? If you have that?
@crossfitbabybump, I don't think there were any restrictions on what type we got. I actually bought 2. I first bought the Avent, out of pocket, and had registered for it. I HATED it and highly do NOT recommend it. The night my milk came in, I was ridiculously engorged. I tried to pump and could not get any any milk. Called my sister in tears and she brought over her Medela Pump in Style. I tried it and immediately got milk. After I was used to breastfeeding and pumping, I tried the Avent again, still got nothing!!!! I ended up buying the Medela single electric Pump in style and absolutely loved it! Highly recommend! I've heard many people recommend Medela as the brand to get!
PISA with my first two and worked fine but I am very curious about this one https://nayahealth.com/store/naya-essential-breast-pump/ this time around. The flanges that are soft and fluid backed seem really sensible and interesting - compressing like a natural baby instead of pulling. Has anyone tried it?
@becausescience I LOVE the simple wishes hands free bra! I will say I am a normal (and this is before pregnancy with my first and before nursing my first) I was a DD (I think...if not bigger ha) I am now prob DDD?? I haven't measured and probably wear too small of a bra but who has the time to go get the right size? haha I will say the Simple Wishes works well for big breasts too...I had gone through 2 Medela hands free bras when the zipper literally busted open on both ugh... then read some women on a facebook group re the simple wishes and I would never go back!
Now with my cup size out there, I have used the freemies an countless occasions traveling for work and they work. I would say the only thing that is difficult is making sure your correctly lined up nipple wise in the hole of the cup and make sure your bra is tight enough to keep them in place. I would wear a regular bra on these trips (not nursing or hands free) seemed to be tighter. I have been sitting on train/plane mostly so movement wasn't an issue but I could see if your walking or moving a lot with big breasts I could see them coming our or moving around. DEFINITELY practice with them also after pumping at home. It may be my blonde hair but there have been times pouring them out into the bottle/bags that I tip it the wrong way and its a mess and a waste Maybe try with water first this time around and I may mark the end on the outside with a marker to be sure the right end is up when pouring out.
I highly recommend the book "Work. Pump. Repeat." by Jessica Shortall. This was SO helpful before returning to work and how to manage/plan pumping. It addresses traveling for work, teachers schedules (which I cannot imagine and give them SO much credit!). Good read and very informative!
I used a Medela PISA with my first two kids. I still have one of the PISAs and all the accessories that it came with. I'll be getting a free one through insurance (I also have Cigna!) when I'm 28 weeks. I haven't decided which one I want yet though. I don't think I want a 3rd PISA. I might use a Spectra this time -- I've heard good things about Spectra and Hygeia.
Does anyone have experience with using a car adapter for the Spectra S2? I've decided I definitely want a Spectra, just trying to decide between S1 and S2 (only difference is S1 has a rechargeable battery). The S2 is covered 100% through my insurance, or I can upgrade to the S1 for $100. I found a $10 car adapter, which is really the only reason I'd consider upgrading to the S1 so I could use it in the car. Obviously, $10 sounds a whole lot better than $100, but I've read some people have found their pumps aren't as powerful through the car adapter. Any thoughts?
@stlbuckeye132 I used a car adapter for my Spectra and it worked great. I maybe had to bump it up one level to increase the suction, but I really didn't notice a huge change. How often will you be pumping on the go? I only used the car adapter once a day, but if you'll be pumping in the car a lot I'd probably spring for the S1 just in case your car battery dies or something.
Me: 30 H: 30 Dx: PCOS Married: June 2013 TTC#1: January 2015 BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16 TTC#2: June 2017 BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
Thanks for the insight, @becausescience! I'm really not sure how often I'll pump in the car because I'm a FTM and totally clueless! I don't know how often I'll need to pump, but I don't see myself using it more than to/from work, if even then.
@megpeg I got the Spectra based on the recommendations of literally all the moms I know. My cousin just had her second baby 9 months ago and says it's so much better than the Medela. I'm just taking her word for it.
@megpeg. I had a PISA last time. I now have a Spectra 2. Highly recommend the Spectra over the PISA. It is way more comfortable. You can buy bottle adapters and still pump into your Medala bottles. The Spectra is also a closed circuit system.
@megpeg +1 for the Spectra. It is so much better than my PISA. And when it got here, I took my rented Medela Symphony back because the Spectra was so much more comfortable and also pumped more.
Yesterday I pumped...the last time I did was 2 weeks ago...
It was an hour after babe fed. I got 100ml from both sides together (sorry, can't remember conversion to ounce)...then he woke up right after I pumped wanting milk. Well, he struggled because not much there. Lets just say we had a couple of hours of commotion. What should I have done?? Now I'm thinking I should have pumped right way not an hour later....and I could have given him milk from the freezer that I stored. Ugh. What a struggle last night. This am, he is super fed and happy.
So I've been pumping and feeding as much as I can and supplementing with formula because baby isn't gaining weight fast enough for what the doctor wants. Thursday was a very busy day and I did't pump as much, yesterday was better. Today I've been trying to pump every 2-3 hours and I just pumped and got almost nothing. 20 ml combined! Does supply go down that fast if you don't pump on schedule??
@fatstagnation it shouldn't go down that quickly just because of a few missed pumps. At least not so much that you cant get it back up. It could be stress from your busy day. I'd also try and really up your water intake and make sure you're eating enough calories.
@fatstagnation Are you pumping after feedings - you'll get less if you are. I second that it could be related to stress and making sure you're eating and drinking enough.
Me: 30 H: 30 Dx: PCOS Married: June 2013 TTC#1: January 2015 BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16 TTC#2: June 2017 BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
@ashleyf911 and @becausescience Thanks! Turns out I have a clogged duct deep in the middle and now I have "gravel boob" as I like to call it - feels like there's rocks in there! And probably stress etc. I'm not nursing much because latch issues, so I'm trying to pump before every feeding. Ugh. Also ugh - do I really have to wash the pump parts every single time?
Re: Breast Pumps, Accessories, and Pumping in General
https://m.toysrus.com/product?productId=30823796
With DS I only nursed in the hospital and started pumping as soon as we got home. I had great results with the PISA.
@crossfitbabybump, I don't think there were any restrictions on what type we got. I actually bought 2. I first bought the Avent, out of pocket, and had registered for it. I HATED it and highly do NOT recommend it. The night my milk came in, I was ridiculously engorged. I tried to pump and could not get any any milk. Called my sister in tears and she brought over her Medela Pump in Style. I tried it and immediately got milk. After I was used to breastfeeding and pumping, I tried the Avent again, still got nothing!!!! I ended up buying the Medela single electric Pump in style and absolutely loved it! Highly recommend! I've heard many people recommend Medela as the brand to get!
DD #1: 2012; MMC: 2014; DD #2: 2015; It's a boy! 3/31/2018
Now with my cup size out there, I have used the freemies an countless occasions traveling for work and they work. I would say the only thing that is difficult is making sure your correctly lined up nipple wise in the hole of the cup and make sure your bra is tight enough to keep them in place. I would wear a regular bra on these trips (not nursing or hands free) seemed to be tighter. I have been sitting on train/plane mostly so movement wasn't an issue but I could see if your walking or moving a lot with big breasts I could see them coming our or moving around. DEFINITELY practice with them also after pumping at home. It may be my blonde hair but there have been times pouring them out into the bottle/bags that I tip it the wrong way and its a mess and a waste
Dx: PCOS
Married: June 2013
TTC#1: January 2015
BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d
BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16
TTC#2: June 2017
BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
IVF baby girl born 7/2018
TTC 2013. FET 11/17 - BFP after attempt #6!
It was an hour after babe fed. I got 100ml from both sides together (sorry, can't remember conversion to ounce)...then he woke up right after I pumped wanting milk. Well, he struggled because not much there. Lets just say we had a couple of hours of commotion. What should I have done?? Now I'm thinking I should have pumped right way not an hour later....and I could have given him milk from the freezer that I stored. Ugh. What a struggle last night. This am, he is super fed and happy.
Dx: PCOS
Married: June 2013
TTC#1: January 2015
BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d
BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16
TTC#2: June 2017
BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
Also ugh - do I really have to wash the pump parts every single time?