- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
I don't have advice but I'm curious on this too! I'm only 12 weeks but I've already started looking and it's one of the things I'm confused on.
I wanted an Ameda one, but have a Medela Pump In Style with backpack. It works, but I've gotten milk in the tubes a bunch. Honestly, no matter the pump, pumping sucks (haha). I mean, I figure out ways to make it fun like do a superhero dance afterwards or tell myself "my boobs are magic." Anyway, that's my take.
I loved my Pump In Style it worked well and customer service with Medela is great. I also rented the Symphany when I was still on leave just until I was sure that breast feeding and pumping was going to work out. If it weren't thousands of dollars I would have bought one, they are amazing.
Medela Freestyle is my dream pump for my next child.
@TheFutureMcBride: Yea, the thought of vacuuming liquid out of my nipples is a bit scary!
@TheFutureMcBride: I never got milk in my tubes, but I had the brief case looking one instead of the backpack. I wonder why that would happen?
wow some people's insurance covers their breast pump? I would love that!! I may call up my insurance just to ask them lol
The name Pump In Style is hilarious. Because that is when I will be feeling the most stylish!!! As I am working on the dairy farm!
@bells: Yup!! My friend had her doctor "prescribe" one, and she got a great one totally covered!! And it was actually Babies R Us that suggested I call the insurance company before registering for one. I hope yours is covered!!
@MrsMeNow: I think it's that I have a strong let down sometimes. I haven't had it happen since I moved the yellow pieces to face away from me.
@heathaah: On my office, I put up a picture of a cow when I pump. It puts a little humor in it.
I would recommend renting a hospital grade one from where you deliver to get your supply really going before you switch to the one you end up purchasing. It cost me $30 to rent for the first month until my milk was fully in with good supply.
I agree with eeniebeans to check with the hospital to see if you can rent a high quality one. My sister who is a lactation consultant definitely recommends the hospital pumps. Pumps are so expensive that renting might still be cost effective, and might let you try different options if you don't have great success with a particular model. Sorry your insurance doesn't cover it!
I switched between renting the symphany and the PIS. I couldn't tell the difference between the two.
@heathaah: Mine will be covered with a prescription but only because I get medical assistance from the state, I'm not sure if my ins would cover it separate from that. But they cover the medela hospital grade one!
I know of so many moms using the medela and have only heard good things about it. Except that it can only be used by one person, so buying it used isn't a good idea. Although, you can find many craiglist posts where moms said they used it maybe once or twice, so that's an option if you don;t mind that it's been used hardly. Just get new accessories and sterilize all the other parts (like the tubes) by boiling them in hot water. You can even purchase new tubes from the medela website.
I don't have any advice on where to get one or the brand, but are they really that expensive? I just didn't think they were that expensive that you had to rent it from the insurance company. So let's say your breastfeed for 6 months at $30 a month per rental that's $180. Are they more expensive or that much more expensive that so many people want to rent?
Sorry to threadjack and congratulations on your pregnacy. I know you had a hard road and have read your story for inspiration as we stuggle.
@roxy821: The Pump in Style one we were talking about above is $300 at Babies R Us!
@heathaah- Ouch. Thanks. I thought they were around $150, that's why I had no clue why people wanted to rent them.
@miss-spunkin: Not going to lie, I am a Craigslist buyer and bought all new tubing and supplies. It saved me a ton of money.
The pump that I want is $350--I'm getting the Medela Freestyle Hands Free Pump. My friend got a new one in the box from Ebay for $250 so I've been stalking it and Craigslist to see if I can get one for cheaper.
@heathaah: I know this might sound weird, but have you looked at craigslist for one? In the breastfeeding class I took, the LC said that the one you really should have should be any kind of Medela pump, whether it's the hand pump or the electric one, because of how efficient it is.
I think what kind of pump to buy really depends on how much pumping you plan on doing. No matter which one you get, definitely get a double. It will save SO much time! I used this one for 6 months straight, after every feeding, and my son was exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months. I had a large supply of milk in the freezer from this small one, so it really depends on what you want if you should splurge on the PIS. This one cost me around $40, and when it started to go bad I emailed The First Years and they replaced the motor and various other parts. They also replaced all the tubing when my cat chewed through it, all free of charge.
When I was done exclusively breastfeeding, I got a small handheld pump just to alleviate engorgement, and it worked fine. It worked better on the go and I could still get enough milk to fill a freezer bag over the course of a day if I needed to. HTH!
@TheFutureMcBride: Hahaha that little visual of the sign cracked me up!
I'm thinking of starting with a Medela hand pump w/extra accessory kit and/or renting a hospital grade pump.
Then take it from there. I don't want to spend $$$$ w/o knowing if BFing will work out for me.
P.S. Good tip to check if insurance will cover it although I highly doubt mine will. I wonder though if anyone knows if I can use my FSA money for it?
Do pumps ever go on sale? If anyone ever sees an online sale, please make a PSA!!
I believe that Health Savings Accounts or Flex Spending Accounts can be used to cover the cost of pumps. Here is an article from the Wall Street Journal that talks about it.
http://blogs.wsj.com/juggle/2011/02/10/breast-pumps-now-deductible-irs-says/
I will keep looking to make sure but I work at our local health department and work with worksites to support breastfeeding mom's who return to work so I try to keep up with the news regarding anything breastfeeding.
I'm going to be using the Medela Freestyle. It's expensive -- I think it was $370 @ Buy Buy Baby, but my mom bought it for me for Christmas w/ a 25% off coupon, which saved a ton. I decided that I wanted the best store-bought pump possible, since I work full time and will have to pump a lot.
I'm not going to lie to you, I opened the box the other day, and that thing freaked me out! It has SO many parts, and it looks so confusing. I wish there was another way, but given that I want my baby to have breastmilk, and I can't quit my job or bring her with me, this is the only way. It seems like lots of people get the hand of pumping pretty quickly, so I'm sure I'll manage...
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| LammChop | 17 |
| fivemonthsnotice | 17 |
| Lyndzo | 15 |
| Mrs. Chai | 14 |
| ticatica | 14 |
| MissPumpkinPie | 12 |
| BellaDee | 12 |
| MrsOliveBird | 11 |
| garden_bride | 11 |
| aussiebee | 11 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| MadameTussaud | 7 |
| PandasWifey | 4 |
| KansasPrincess11 | 3 |
| KatyElle | 3 |
| BellaDee | 3 |
| JulesSchnooks | 2 |
| kfiorita | 2 |
| fivemonthsnotice | 2 |
| Mrs. Bonnie Blue | 1 |
| relaxedabout it | 1 |
Everyone told me insurance would likely cover my pump! But sadly, no. Even if the doctor says I need one, they won't help at all.
So....breast pumps...
What have you used? What should I look for?
Thanks!!