Get to Know Your Breast Pump Options
Electric breast pumps are covered under the Affordable Care Act on almost every insurance plan, and if you are planning to exclusively (or partially!) feed your baby with your own milk, you’ll want to spend some time getting to know your pump options.
Most folks will have good luck going through websites like Edgepark or Aeroflow to find a pump covered by their specific plan, but you may also need to push for a written prescription from your midwife or OB-GYN to finalize the process. Without insurance coverage, electric pumps range from $50ish bucks to over $2,000 (we’re talking super-duper hospital grade here). Explore the chart below for some of the most requested facts & figures about the most popular pumps on the market. Working to add noise-level next!
If you’d like to download this to your device, click here.
Things to consider:
Will you be traveling with your pump? Does it need to be especially light or compact?
Consider your home & work spaces! Is it important that you have a battery-operated pump vs. one that requires a power adapter at the wall?
How frequently do you plan to pump (this can change over time, of course)? People primarily at home with their babies, feeding directly at the chest may not need as hefty of a pump. If you are an exclusive pumper or going back to work soon after birth, a stronger, heartier pump like a Spectra may be a safer bet.
Manual Pumps & Accessories
Manual pumps are another option for expressing your milk, and in a perfect world I recommend my clients get one of each (electric and manual of some kind). Manual pumps are highly portable and don’t require electricity or battery power, which makes them good in a pinch or for travel. Milk collectors like the Haakaa or BumbleBee are often included in pump lineups but they are entirely passive in nature — excellent for folks who are drippy or who have a LOT of milk. Haakaas and the like can also be useful during periods of engorgement (helloooo Day 3 postpartum) or for help getting out clogged ducts.