Maine Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Used breast pump?
So I had a friend give me a Madela breast pump. I was just going to get new tubes, but now after my breast feeding class I'm not so sure. The nurse said as a health care professional she wouldn't recommend using a used pump, but if I did use it to make sure I cleaned it as best I could and to get all new tubing. I'm worried now and am wondering if I should just get a new one. Not that I can afford it at this point, but she has me kind of freaked out now by saying she wouldn't recommend using it 
Re: Used breast pump?
check with your insurance company, I got one covered as durable medical equipment. It took a lot of fighting, but armed with emails to prove I was told it would be covered, I won the appeal, and they ended up paying 100%.
I can't say that I wouldn't use a friend's pump. I know it's not recommended, and I fully understand why, but they're expensive and there's so much else to buy. I did hear a rumor at my BFing group during my maternity leave that the breast pump companies are considering not selling the parts as freely, since people are passing the pumps on instead of buying new.
And, will an already used pump last if you have a second (or more) child, or will you end up having to buy a new one eventually anyway?
My Wedding Bio! Not updated in a LONG time!
Our INS covered a rental one from the hospital for up to a year (they're made differently from personal ones so the tubing is completely separate per user). Free too, no copays.
I wouldn't use one off of craigslist, but if my BFF gave me hers, I'd consider it. If you think about it, there's breastmilk banks, where you'd get breastmilk from others you didn't know, which doesn't seem to be that different from sharing a pump.
I had a friend offer me hers and I told her thanks but no thanks. I bought my own and I am so happy I did...I figure I've used the damn thing over 2000 times now. If something were to break or it was recalled then I feel safe knowing that I had all the paperwork and receipts so I could have it fixed/replaced.
My pump is one of the best things I purchased. A girl in my breast feeding group said, "It is a machine that sucks on your boobs...get a good one."
Yes good point! However since it's a nice pump that retails for about $275 and I got it for free, I'm willing to take the chance of it breaking down. If it breaks down after 6 months, then at that point I'll go out and get a new one. If I can make it last a year without issue than it's $275 I will have saved. I mainly concerned about the health aspect of it....
I was offered one but opted not to. Especially after a few posts on here, one I remember most was from Kristen80. Most machines the milk does go through it so there is no way to clean it out, even if you buy new tubing etc. The ones they rent at the hospital are big money b/c they are able to sterilize them. Found this one of the sites I had saved.
There are potential health risks in sharing personal use breast pumps. These include Ameda?s Purely Yours Breast Pumps, Medela?s Pump In Style Breastpumps (all versions, including the Advanced), Medela?s DoubleEase Breastpump, Medela?s MiniElectric or Deluxe Breastpumps, and Whisper Wear Breastpumps.
Breast milk is a bodily fluid. Bodily fluids carry diseases and organisms such as AIDS, HIV, Hepatitis, Influenza and the common cold. Even if all external breast pump parts are replaced, there is a risk of transmission of viruses, bacteria and yeast through the motor unit itself. These organisms can live on surfaces for years, so even if a pump has not been used lately, there are risks.
Crap... Looks like I'll be calling my insurance company on Monday or trying to scrounge up $275 or so to buy a new one.
I'd suggest starting with a hospital rental at first. (Ask for them to set you up with one while you're still an inpatient, that way they can charge all the tubing and whatnot to your insurance; at least that's the way it worked for me at SMMC.) After the first few weeks, if you still need a pump, then spend the $275 on getting your own. And if you don't continue breastfeeding for whatever reason, you're only out $50 or less, not $275.
I was 100% committed to breastfeeding DD. My body didn't agree. I'm so thankful that I didn't buy a $275 breastpump that I couldn't use.
I did this as well, and my insurance would cover it only of I rented. I rented for 3 months and then finally threw in the towell. I was commited to BFing too, but after a series of events we found out DD could not digest my milk or regular formula.
Definitely wait until after baby is born to buy a pump for a few reasons. It could not work out like pp's said and then you're not out $275. You could have issues that would make the insurance cover the pump (baby having trouble nursing, inverted/flat nipples, premature baby) - we got a Medela PISA because Marcus wasn't able to nurse at first and I had to pump in the beginning. If all goes well, you won't even need a pump for a couple months.
Once you buy the pump and open that box, it's not returnable, so hold off until you need it.
That's a good point! Well I'll at least call the insurance co on Monday to see what they say.
Unfortunately I'll only be home for about 6-8 weeks before I have to go back to work, so will need a pump (whether renter or purchased) fairly soon.
You'll want to pump while on leave to build up your stash and supply too. I wish I had been better about this and will be more diligent if we have another. Pump more, make more.
I'd still say cut yourself a break in the beginning, for at least that first month. I think it's overwhelming enough just nursing a newborn a billion times a day at least for the first month without trying to pump extra too. A stash is important, but so is your sleep and your sanity! You also don't want to over-pump too early on when your supply is regulating itself or you can run into oversupply issues (which is painful, a PITA, and can make it hard for baby to nurse).
Yup, this was me. My supply wasn't enough at first to get him full, so the LC had me pump after each feeding then feed him more milk from a little cup. Worked great to get him full, but I ended up with an massive oversupply leading to mastitis and other troubles.