This is another great post for new mommas. Check out our hospital prep 101 article.
For the time being, most mommas-to-be qualify for a free breast pump through their healthcare provider. What a relief, right?! Finally, something on your baby to-buy that won’t break the bank.
Unfortunately, with anything that’s free, you may have to jump thru a few hoops to obtain the prize at the end. Make sure you are fully informed of your pump options and your insurance coverage before taking the plunge! Hopefully, the next few tips will eliminate stress from one more aspect of your baby prep:
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Before all else, call your insurance company!
Insurance companies differ greatly when it comes to delivery of your pump as well as pumps covered. Some insurance companies allow you to purchase a pump from a retailer like Target or Walmart, later reimbursing the cost with submission of your receipt. Other companies have strict guidelines and will only cover a pump from a specific medical equipment provider. For example, United Healthcare will refer you to four outside sources, with you contacting one source directly. Those sources accept applications via phone only. Once you have called and provided all of your information verbally (yes, a huge pain), that company will then request a prescription from your OBGYN as well as confirmation of coverage from United.
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Research pumps before completing the request with your insurer!
There’s a wide variety of pumps on the market. The most common covered pumps are Madela, Spectra, Ameda, Freemie, and Lansinoh. Each company has a base model and then upgrades from there, which we will get into below. Go figure, insurance companies cover the base packages and nothing more, and some insurance companies only cover 3 of the top options—yay. Don’t be put on the spot and pick a pump on the fly, you’ll end up regretting it. Once you know your options, look up as much as possible and ask friends who have used the different pumps. This leads to my next two points: different people have different needs and just because your favorite pump isn’t covered doesn’t mean you’re stuck paying the price.
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Don’t worry about what works for someone else, you are the #1 priority!
Think about first 12 months with your bundle of joy. Are you exclusively pumping from the outset? Pumping once you return to work after maternity leave? Or breastfeeding the majority of the time but pumping for breaks and ease?
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- If you will be pumping exclusively, consider comfort, bottle options, and longevity. You want a pump that can go the extra mile! You also may want to consider a pump that will make bottle feeding easier since you’ll be using them 12-ish times a day starting out. Is the pump compatible with bag systems? Or can you purchase a ton of bottles to hook up to the pump? Meaning, can you pump directly into a storage bag or bottle to avoid multiple transfers? Can that storage bag then be inserted into a bottle? Transfers result in leftover, wasted milk—as silly as it may sound, you will do everything you can to get every last drop to your baby.
- If you are pumping for your eventual return to work, think about access and convenience. You will be toting your pump system and milk storage to and from work on a daily basis. More importantly, you will want to be as comfortable as possible while pumping at the office. Does your chosen pump have a workable travel bag? Are you concerned about noise or time spent pumping while at the office? What kind of space will you have while pumping? Are there a ton of little parts that you’ll have to clean and keep track of? And where will you be storing your milk during the day? Are you able to pump while driving?
- If you are breastfeeding the vast majority of the time, pumping only to add flexibility or freedom into your schedule, you may want to focus more on comfort and ease as opposed to the most heavy-duty pump on the market.
- Do you want a pump that has an app? Some even have a smart function to help track how much you are getting as well as your schedule.
- Hacks for getting the most out of your pump! The new, hot pump is the Willow pump. The Willow is a hands-free, wire-free system allowing for as much freedom as possible. Insurance companies are not covering Willow pumps at this time, so be very cautious in considering the $500 price tag when you could get another pump for free. The good news: you can gain more freedom with nearly any of the standard pumps. Freemie products provide for hands-free pumping. You can purchase the collection cup kit from Amazon, which includes all parts to make the kit compatible for your pump. You may not be 100% “free” while pumping but spending $60 on a kit versus $500 on a pump (not including all of the extra parts you’ll end up wanting…) is worth the compromise!
All in all, remember you are already awesome for doing what you are doing. The hacks are gravy.
Stay rational.
B&T