Breastfeeding moms - need your help

[Belle2667]

My DDIL is breastfeeding my granddaughter and needs a pump. I know she's interested in an electric double pump. I've offered to purchase this for her, but I don't know what to look for and they all seem to have additional costs re: bags and such.

So...I'm looking for some advice. What are important characteristics to be looking for? Easy clean up? One-handed use? FDA approval?

If you use(d) one, what did you love/hate about it?

Thanks!

 

[golfgal]

Medelia

 

[MrsPete]

Before you buy anything, check into what her health insurance will buy. Mine bought me an excellent hospital-grade breast pump. I can't remember a name brand, and I know it wasn't a typical big-name that you see advertised. They sent me to a hospital supply store to get it, and I didn't pay a penny for it.

 

[akcire]

OP-Have your DDIL call her health insurance company to see if it will be covered. I am pregnant with my first, and was just told they would cover X number of dollars toward a pump. I am to purchase it from a retail store and submit a receipt; however my neighbor (also pregnant) had to purchase hers at the hospital gift shop to be covered (different insurance). She did not have, nor am I expecting a child with any medical issues, this is just something they have begun to pay.

Additionally, the IRS just changed the tax treatment of a breast pump and supplies. Now I can use FSA money for any amount over the cost the insurance company will cover. This has changed my idea of what I will be buying for myself. If you google IRS and breast pump you should be able to find the article; I read it as a link on a pregnancy & breast feeding forum.

 

[starann]

The 2 big brands are Ameda and Medela. Either will be about $250-300.

I agree about checking with her insurance co 1st (mine covers nothing, which is ironic as I work for a hospital that supports breastfeeding!).

I'd have her go online, look at both and see which one she likes better. Or even go to a store and see them (Babies R us carries both). Most people LOVE the Medela, I have never used it. I use the Ameda and LOVE it.

 

[ontariomonkey]

Medella Pump in Style or Symphony

 

[starann]

OP...I jsut saw we are 'neighbors'............Hello!!!

BRU currently has a coupon out for 15% off breast pumps. Look on their website to see if it's there, if not I have one I won't be using and can get to you!

 

[golfgal]

My DDIL is breastfeeding my granddaughter and needs a pump. I know she's interested in an electric double pump. I've offered to purchase this for her, but I don't know what to look for and they all seem to have additional costs re: bags and such.

So...I'm looking for some advice. What are important characteristics to be looking for? Easy clean up? One-handed use? FDA approval?

If you use(d) one, what did you love/hate about it?

Thanks!

One tip, you don't want "one handed use" you want a double one so you pump both sides at the same time-HUGE time saving issue.

The pump has a bottle that you pump into and I got the playtex bottle liners to store the milk in the freezer. They were not at all expensive. Get some tiny rubber bands to close the bags too.

 

[MrsPete]

this is just something they have begun to pay.

No, my insurance bought me a breast pump for my oldest child, who will be 17 in a few weeks.

 

[mickeygirl14]

Another vote for the Medela...probably want one of the Pump-In-Style models. Great pump (used it with both my kids for a year with each child). These are easy to clean-up, they're double-pumps (do both sides at same time), can actually do free-handed with the right nursing bra and highly recommended by nurses & lactation consultants. I did find these wonderful steam bags that you could drop all the parts in (after wiping with the special disenfectant wipes that are also available), and then pop the bag in the microwave with a little bit of water in it and it sterilized the parts for you. WONDERFUL time-saver for working moms.

 

[golfgal]

No, my insurance bought me a breast pump for my oldest child, who will be 17 in a few weeks.

My insurance "rented" a pump for me when out twins were born and they are almost 16. If you had a 'prescription" for the pump for more then 3 months, they considered it "bought" and you kept it.

 

[sbsteel]

Our insurance wouldn't cover it last year (United HealthCare). OP, just make sure she will use it - it's a lot of money to drop for a good one. I bought a handheld one to help me with engorgement while I was shopping around for a nice double electric one. For whatever reason, I dried up when my baby was about a month old so I was very happy I didn't spend the money on a nice one right away.

My girlfried bought a Medela Pump in Style for when she returned to work and loves it!

 

[hedgehog2owl]

double pump, pump-in-style

buy extra of the bottles

 

[dzorn]

Medella Pump in Style or Symphony

Denise in MI

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Definitely a Medela, probably Pump-In-Style if she needs it for daily use. The Symphony is excellent, but it is hospital-grade, so very $$$$. Some hospitals will let you rent one, though. All pumps will have accessories to buy - you may want extra tubing, extra sheilds, membranes, etc. I use the microwavable steam bags for cleaning my pump. You will also want freezer bags for milk storage so you don't have to use bottles to store it.

 

[ilovejack02]

Loved my Pump in Style : )

Good luck to your DDIL !!

 

[DIS_MERI]

Both the Medela Pump in Style and the Ameda Purely Yours were effective for me (personally the Purely Yours was a little better, but that could be because my Pump in Style was 2 years older), although my last use was over 3 years ago (I did pump for about 30 months overall between 3 kids). You definitely want a double pump, it tends to help with letdown (although the best trick is to nurse baby on 1 side and pump on the other at the same time).

 

[epcotprincess]

I loved my Medela Pump In Style Advanced, and it was covered by my insurance provider. If it hadn't been, I would have gladly paid the $279 for it knowing how well it worked and how easy it made things for me.

 

[scrapquitler]

Before you buy, ask your doctor or local hospital about renting. Sometimes you can rent a hospital grade pump for not too much $$$.

If not, I had the Medela Pump In Style, and it was wonderful. I never was able to express ANY milk with a hand pump or an electric single pump, but I had very good luck with the PIS double pump.

 

[goodeats]

My MIL is a lactation consultant and she got me an Ameda Purely Yours Pump. It's on par with the Medelas, but since Medela spends more on marketing it's more popular. If the Ameda is significantly cheaper I would go with that. Mine came with a bag, bottles, extra tubing, and a cooler bag. Nice extras, but if you can get just the pump you can get the extras you would use for cheaper I would imagine. Word on the street is the Lanisoh Double Electric is identical to the Ameda Purely Yours with different packaging. I'm not sure if this is still true, but again I believe the Lanisoh is much much cheaper.

For the first few weeks I rented a hospital grade pump, which I'm not sure if I would recommend. I ended up with an oversupply and ended up with Mastitis while caring for a newborn. No fun.