Breast Pump

[toebaby]

I have a friend with a sick child who is in desperate need of a good, reliable electric breast pump. The hospital wants to charge her $50/month to rent a Medela. Any ideas out there???

[bayhaysay]

Somewhere...I really don't remember where...maybe the county health unit or DHS, will provide them free or at a very minimal cost to families in certain situations. I don't know if that's an option everywhere but they do here. It might be worth looking into.

[toebaby]

There is a program called WIC she is looking into, but she's not sure if its going to work. Her son is 9 mths and 12 pds. and they want her to nurse 8x's a day and she has a 2 yr old... That's a lot.

[raydees]

When I was nursing I got a pump free of charge for the County health dept Breast feeding hotline may need to call local county office to obtain.

[JennG]

I rented one for $40 for 3 months. She may want to try different hospitals or her OB/GYN might have ideas.

[momof3boysinfl]

could always buy one off ebay and buy new parts. Would be safe as long as she bought a new attachment kit. Same as renting, but cheaper.

HTH.

[bayhaysay]

There is a program called WIC she is looking into, but she's not sure if its going to work. Her son is 9 mths and 12 pds. and they want her to nurse 8x's a day and she has a 2 yr old... That's a lot.

Oh my.

 

Where is your friend located?

[Mommy2Four]

Call the medical rental places, here, they are cheaper than the hospital. Call the county health department and get some leads that way too. I bought one off ebay (new) that wasn't much more than that.

 

pumping is a lot harder and more time consuming than nursing. If she thinks that will save her time, it won't. I hope she can get a good deal from someplace.

[bayhaysay]

 

pumping is a lot harder and more time consuming than nursing. If she thinks that will save her time, it won't. I hope she can get a good deal from someplace.

 

I totally agree.

 

Pumping will however help her to increase her milk supply if she needs to.

[supershopper1]

Check with your local Lalache league. Someone there surely should be able to help. Also may want to email or contact the mfg. Sometimes companies will help out people in need. Target hadbreastpumps on clearance, but I know they were going quick.

[sissykus]

Does she just not want to breastfeed straight from the breast? It is a lot easier/time efficient. However, when I would travel and needed to pump, I used an electric/battery operated Evenflow pump I picked up from Walmart for $50. It was not the best on the market, but worked okay for me.

[wonderwoman0113]

How did your friend make out ? Was she able to get a pump?

If she still needs one I have an electric pump that I am no longer using, she would just have to get new parts.

[tokanm]

To the best of my knowledge almost all insurance companies pay for breast pump

rental. We order these all the time for woman and I have never even seen them have

a copay for the rental. If she has health insurance have her call them or try LaLeche

or Wic even.

 

Good Luck

[Crue2001]

Your friend may want to ask her pediatrician (or the local hospital) if they know of anyone that rents Medela pumps. The Medela pumps are very good and I highly recommend renting one, rather than paying $40-50 for a cheap electric pump from Walmart/Target, etc. There is a BIG difference in those pumps and a Medela ... and that's why they are so inefficient for most moms. I got info on renting one from the Maternity ward bulletin board at the hospital when my youngest son was born. I had to leave the hospital, but he was too sickly to leave yet and they recommended that I pump. (I had purchased an Evenflo pump when my oldest was born...let me tell you, there is no comparison). I actually was able to nurse longer with my youngest because the pump was so efficient and easy to use. I think I only paid about $45 for a 3 month rental and the lady offered a disc. if you rented it for longer periods.