| Posted By |
Message |
MamaB17
Back for baby #3
Member since 5/09 4065 total posts
Name:
N
|
BTDT mom please help keep renting or buy pump w/ poll (nicu mom)
I was looking for some input from some BTDT moms. I started pumping as my  is in the nicu. I was using the hospital pump while in the hospital & rented one for a week. My supply is established at this point. I am above the target goals. My question is should I keep renting a hospital pump while she is in the nicu? Or should I just buy one? I plan to both breastfeed and pump when she comes home, and will be buying one then anyway. I am torn b/c the lactation consultant said I should keep renting until she is out of the nicu b/c the hospital pump is stronger. I was thinking I could buy a pump and see what happens, and then if my supply drops I can always rent again. Also I pump sometimes at the hospital when I am there for a visit, and they have the hospital pumps in the pumping room. I was thinking I could use my pump at home and pump at the hospital with the stronger pump once a day or every other. Any advice would be so so so appreciated. TIA!!!
Message edited 4/26/2010 11:43:57 PM.
|
Posted 4/26/10 11:43 PM  |
| |
|
LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name:
L
|
Re: BTDT mom please help keep renting or buy pump w/ poll (nicu mom)
I have used both the hospital grade pump and the medella pump in style advanced (the one that comes out of the shoulder bag) and I felt like the one I had at home did just as good a job as the one from the hospital. Yes, it takes slightly longer by 2 or 3 minutes to get the milk out of the one at home, but I was ok with that. I actually felt like I was able to get deeper milk out from my home machine than the one they loaned me in the hospital.
|
| Posted 4/26/10 11:52 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: BTDT mom please help keep renting or buy pump w/ poll (nicu mom)
I rented for a month and then I bought an Ameda Purely Yours. I have absolutely no issues with it and I am very happy with it. Since you can pump at the hospital, I would personally pump there with the hospital grade one and buy your own and pump at home, since rentals can get $$$.
ETA-I just thought of something, hence the vote for other.
Call your insurance company and find out if they will pay for the rental or even a purchase considering DD is in the NICU. Many don't cover pumps normally but will when there is a medical necessity. Considering DD is in the NICU, you can probably get a letter of necessity from the ped there and submit it to insurance to see if they will pay for it. My insurance said they cover a rental for as long as DC medically requires pumped milk, especially if they will be in the NICU for a longer period of time.
Message edited 4/27/2010 5:56:29 AM.
|
| Posted 4/27/10 5:53 AM |
| |
|
SweetCin
My green-eyed boy
Member since 5/05 13499 total posts
Name:
Cin
|
Re: BTDT mom please help keep renting or buy pump w/ poll (nicu mom)
Both my DC were in the NICU so I'm familiar w/ the hospital pump. I too have a Medela PISA & found that to work just as good as the hospital pump. I'd buy, as you're going to buy one anyway, the renting gets expensive.
|
| Posted 4/27/10 6:06 AM |
| |
|
ctrain1124
Our Gang!
Member since 8/07 3190 total posts
Name:
C
|
Re: BTDT mom please help keep renting or buy pump w/ poll (nicu mom)
Posted by SweetCin
Both my DC were in the NICU so I'm familiar w/ the hospital pump. I too have a Medela PISA & found that to work just as good as the hospital pump. I'd buy, as you're going to buy one anyway, the renting gets expensive.
I could have said this same thing!
|
| Posted 4/27/10 7:10 AM |
| |
|
sleepie76
enjoying every minute
Member since 12/07 3881 total posts
Name:
|
Re: BTDT mom please help keep renting or buy pump w/ poll (nicu mom)
Definately check with your insurance, they may cover the cost of the pump because your daughter is in NICU.
|
| Posted 4/27/10 7:21 AM |
| |
|
snowprincess
My happy babies
Member since 3/06 3428 total posts
Name:
|
Re: BTDT mom please help keep renting or buy pump w/ poll (nicu mom)
also if you are planning on going back to work i would recommend the medela freestyle pump is just as good or my friend said better than the pump in style she used both but the freestyle is so much easier to take anywhere- so much smaller and lighter
|
| Posted 4/27/10 9:26 AM |
| |
|
SuperLRN
Im a big boy now
Member since 5/08 2527 total posts
Name:
|
Re: BTDT mom please help keep renting or buy pump w/ poll (nicu mom)
I would definitely buy one. I have the Medela PIS which I bought online for $220 and I love it. After I purchased it I found out my insurance covers it 100% regardless if my baby was in the NICU or not. I would call your insurance company first before you buy one.
|
| Posted 4/27/10 9:34 AM |
| |
|
MrsA714
Baby #2 is here!
Member since 8/07 8806 total posts
Name:
|
Re: BTDT mom please help keep renting or buy pump w/ poll (nicu mom)
My DD was in the NICU too so I started off renting a hospital grade one. Since it worked great for us I just stuck with it - especially since DD would sometimes get frustrated during nursing sessions. I think she got used to being bottle fed BM at the NICU since I could not be at every feeding to nurse her. Due to the fact that I was pumping more than I was nursing, I thought the hospital grade would better suit this purpose.
That being said, had I gone back to work while I was still BFing/pumping, I would have purchased one at that point.
And as some other posters mentioned, definitely contact your insurance and see if they will cover part, if not all of the costs of renting or purchasing a pump.
Good luck!
|
| Posted 4/27/10 9:47 AM |
| |
|
LaurenExp
Waiting patiently for baby sis
Member since 8/06 11613 total posts
Name:
L-Diddy EDD 11/11/11 :)
|
Re: BTDT mom please help keep renting or buy pump w/ poll (nicu mom)
Posted by LSP2005
I have used both the hospital grade pump and the medella pump in style advanced (the one that comes out of the shoulder bag) and I felt like the one I had at home did just as good a job as the one from the hospital. Yes, it takes slightly longer by 2 or 3 minutes to get the milk out of the one at home, but I was ok with that. I actually felt like I was able to get deeper milk out from my home machine than the one they loaned me in the hospital.
Totally agree with this on all counts. And my DS was in the NICU, also, so lots of  to you!!!
|
| Posted 4/27/10 10:20 AM |
| |
|
Maybe-baby
LIF Adolescent
Member since 12/07 774 total posts
Name:
|
Re: BTDT mom please help keep renting or buy pump w/ poll (nicu mom)
Posted by munchkinfacemama
ETA-I just thought of something, hence the vote for other.
Call your insurance company and find out if they will pay for the rental or even a purchase considering DD is in the NICU. Many don't cover pumps normally but will when there is a medical necessity. Considering DD is in the NICU, you can probably get a letter of necessity from the ped there and submit it to insurance to see if they will pay for it. My insurance said they cover a rental for as long as DC medically requires pumped milk, especially if they will be in the NICU for a longer period of time.
I also voted other because you should check with insurance about covering the purchase of a pump. I found out after I purchased my Medela PISA that they cover the purchase of a hospital grade pump. The hospital will easily provide you with a prescription if you request one.
I also would like to add that when dd came home I exclusively pumped, although I had intentions of BF'ing because I was concerned about DD's intake since she was a preemie. Therefore, the pump got a lot more use than I intended.
FYI-If you ever switch or supplement with formula, insurance may also cover the formula as long as you get a prescription from your ped.
|
| Posted 4/27/10 10:36 AM |
| |
|
MamaB17
Back for baby #3
Member since 5/09 4065 total posts
Name:
N
|
Re: BTDT mom please help keep renting or buy pump w/ poll (nicu mom)
Thank you ladies for all your advice. I really appreciate all your BTDT wisdom. I have to call our insurance and check out if they will cover it since she is in the nicu. I called when I was pregnant and found out they won't cover the pump, but that was before she was in the nicu. If I buy I think I am going to go with the Ameda b/c I have been using the Ameda hospital grade and have two sets of parts and the flexi shields for it that I got for free from the hospital. I am defin leaning towards buying as my supply is way over dd need at this point, so even if I dip down a bit there won't be any issue.
|
| Posted 4/28/10 12:29 AM |
| |
|
