https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:24:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2513674 Sat, 02 Apr 2016 15:20:24 +0000 Waterbaby 2513674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got a PISA through insurance and it's fine. I bought the Spectra S2 off Amazon for $129 and I like it better than the PISA! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2512278 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 20:29:52 +0000 MrsSRS 2512278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meowkers: my insurance didn't cover any of a pump :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2512039 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 17:08:44 +0000 Charm54 2512039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a PISA and EPed both girls...it was awesome. </p> <p>Fwiw, I checked with both mine and DHs insurance companies (Great West, Manulife and Blue Cross) - none of them covered a breast pump :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2512026 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 16:45:33 +0000 MamaCate 2512026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Oatmeal: I have had a PISA to pump at work for both babies and have been really happy! I dont have anything to compare it to but I was able to pump enough to meet their needs without supplementing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511960 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:35:11 +0000 ElbieKay 2511960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Medela PISA is not hospital grade. Medela Symphony is.</p> <p>I have read that the Spectra pump is a much more affordable hospital grade option. I would personally research that further before making a decision like this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511955 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:25:28 +0000 psw27 2511955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Oatmeal: Awesome, the PIS is what I got from my insurance. It's a solid little work horse, and I pumped a LOT for 14 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511927 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:14:27 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2511927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update: I found a local mom who is selling a brand new in box Medela Pump in Style for $250 (retails $350 + tax), so if insurance doesn't cover rental or purchase, I'll buy that one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511924 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:13:19 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2511924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meowkers: I'm Canadian- and I've never heard of it being covered here. Doesn't mean it's not, but I have a call in to my company to check<br /> @psw27: I'm still planning to pump before bed once I go back to work, so that's why I was considering buying<br /> .@catlady: unfortunately, it's ONLY the hospital in my city that rents them out, so they can charge what they want. That being said, $80 Canadian is probably the equivalent to your $60 haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511801 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:21:20 +0000 psw27 2511801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used a hospital pump when LO was in the NICU and I didn't notice a huge difference in output. I'm guessing insurance doesn't give you a "free" pump like they do here in the US? If you think you might still pump a little bit at home I would buy one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511799 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:21:02 +0000 catlady 2511799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really loved my hospital grade rental (I live in an extremely expensive city and the company I used only changes $60 though, maybe hunt around for a better price). I also found out a tidbit from my co-worker. Her insurance plan apparently covered either a pump that they chose, or three months rental of a hospital grade one. She went with the rental option. You could see if that's an option for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511781 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:14:05 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2511781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i LOVED my hospital grade rental!!! LOVED. I also had a pump-in-style advanced that I used when I traveled....I was lucky that my output was similar with both, but the "user experience" was a million times better with the hospital grade pump. (it was quieter, and gentler) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511733 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 13:58:07 +0000 avivoca 2511733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meowkers: She is in Canada. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511726 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 13:56:53 +0000 JenGirl 2511726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Check with your insurance, most cover a good double pump. I like the Spectra and many insurance companies cover the S2. I use a Medela Symphony at work (the most common hospital grade pump that is rented) and a Spectra at home and I get similar output from both. Personally, I would get a Spectra over renting a Symphony, if it was my only pump, because the Symphony is a monster if you need to move it/travel with it. I chose to pay to upgrade to a Spectra S1, which has a built in battery that has been worth it for pumping while traveling or in the car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511715 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 13:54:10 +0000 Madison43 2511715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: agree! If your goal is to pump as much as possible, a hospital pump is the way to go. They are so much better than personal pumps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511703 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 13:45:01 +0000 Meowkers 2511703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Why do you think insurance won't cover the pump? Everyone I know got a free pump through their insurance (including me). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511675 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 13:25:23 +0000 Corduroy 2511675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With insurance covering pumps for most women I would think you could get a good deal on one even if you don't qualify. I know my insurance pump is just sitting in my garage never touched. Craiglist here is flooded with that model. </p> <p>I rented a hospital pump for the first month (free) with both my babies. I didn't notice a difference in effectiveness compared to my pump in style. The only benefit to me was that the hospital grade model I used was easier for pumping one side only which is how I was using it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511668 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 13:22:55 +0000 avivoca 2511668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>RENT. Hospital grade pumps are amazing. Plus, if you don't think you will be able to pump at work, you probably won't need a personal pump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pump-rent-vs-buy#post-2511657 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 13:13:00 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2511657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've decided to return to work in June, and I won't really be able to pump while I'm working. That being said, I need to get a better pump in the meantime so that until June and when I'm at home, I can pump like crazy to build up a stash. My current single electric pump is 3 years old and really not cutting it.</p> <p>I can rent a pump from the hospital (Medela, hospital grade) for $80/month, OR I can suck it up and buy one. There are a few new pumps for sale on my local mom swap, or I could shell out for a whole new one.</p> <p>Insurance most likely won't cover, but it may.</p> <p>Should I rent or buy? </p>