As per the Affordable Care Act, commercial insurance companies are required to cover the cost of a breast pump. If you are pregnant and your goal is to nurse or pump in any capacity, I encourage you to take advantage of this covered benefit and order a pump!
When can I order my pump?
Most parents order their pump during their second trimester of pregnancy, in order to make sure it arrives in plenty of time to unpack it, sterilize parts, and become familiar with its setup. It also gives you a chance to bring it to your prenatal consult with your IBCLC so we can show you how it works and do an initial fit of your flange size!
If you didn’t order one in pregnancy, you’re not too late! You can order one up to one year postpartum.
Where can I get it from in southeast Michigan?
We love to support other local, mom-owned businesses, and so we refer clients to:
- The Mom and Baby Shop in Novi, MI
If they are unable to work with your insurance plan, most parents in the area have had luck with:
- CareLinc in Ann Arbor, MI
When will my pump arrive?
Some insurance companies will not ship your pump until 30-70 days before your due date, and some will ship it as soon as your request is submitted. You can ask them what to expect!
Do I need a prescription?
Most insurance companies will require a prescription from your OB or midwife for a breast pump, but some do not. All you need to do is ask your provider to send the script to your chosen medical equipment provider.
Should I order a pump even if I plan to exclusively nurse?
100% yes! Even if it is your goal to nurse exclusively, nearly all nursing parents find it helpful to have the option to pump at some point in your baby’s first year of life.
There can also be unexpected curveballs in any feeding journey, and having a pump on standby is helpful to preserve or support milk supply as needed!
Which pump should I get?
This depends on a few factors! In general, most IBCLCs recommend the Spectra line for a primary pump. The Spectra S1/S2/Gold are all consistent, effective, and reliable.
However, it can also be helpful to consider: Do you already have a pump? Will this be your primary pump, or a secondary/bonus pump?
Will you be pumping occasionally to pump a bottle for a date night? Or pumping to maintain supply every day at work?
A prenatal consult with an IBCLC is a great time to explore your goals around nursing and pumping, and help you choose the best pump for you.
Will insurance cover replacement pump parts?
Cue eye roll.
Are they supposed to? Yes.
Do they actually? It varies widely. Most of the time, my clients have not been successful in getting them covered.
But by all means, try!
If your insurance plan will not cover replacement parts (or you just don’t have the fight in you), you absolutely can use your FSA or HSA funds to pay for them.
(If you’ve had success getting insurance to cover parts, I’d love to hear your story and share any tips here! Please email me.)
Are there any medical supply providers I should avoid?
Many IBCLCs recommend avoiding Aeroflow due to the fact that they have used (and continue to use) misleading practices to bill parents’ insurance for “free” lactation classes that count towards a limited number of lactation consults on some insurance plans. Many parents went to access postpartum lactation care with an IBCLC and were surprised to find all of their allotted visits used up.
It should be noted that all insurance plans should be covering unlimited lactation care given that it is considered preventative under the Affordable Care Act, but some (most commonly, Aetna & Tricare plans) limit visits to 3-6. To find out what your coverage is, call your insurance company and ask if they cover S9443 and whether there visit limits. (If you can, get it in writing!)
Additionally, it has been been alleged that Aeroflow may have used an illegal tracking tool to collect data from users on TikTok, and they are currently part of a class action lawsuit.
What should I do after I order my breast pump?
Great question! Here’s your next steps:
- Download my free Newborn Feeding Cheat Sheet to print out & throw up on the fridge
- Book your 1-1 prenatal lactation consult, typically covered by insurance, to have your flanges precision-fitted and your medical history reviewed for any possible factors that could impact lactation (insulin resistance, PCOS, GI issues, anemia, etc), along with proactive strategies to support them
- Peruse my “Feeding Must-Haves” guide & update your baby registry with the best bottles, baby carriers, pumping bras, & nursing supplies to get you off on the right foot
- Take a prenatal lactation & feeding class from a trusted IBCLC
- Drop in at Feed, Play, Chat on any Tuesday in Ann Arbor to ask your questions and hear the experiences of new parents
- Consider trying some prenatal colostrum expression if you are a good candidate to do so
- Check out the books on my Recommended Reads for expecting parents
- Rest and enjoy this time!
Integrative Lactation Care 