Breast pump: Rent vs Buy? « Hellobee Boards

Breast pump: Rent vs Buy?

By Mrs. Oatmeal Mar 31, 2016

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.

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.

Insurance most likely won't cover, but it may.

Should I rent or buy?

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poll: Rent or Buy?
Rent a hospital grade pump : (17 votes)

50 %

Buy from the mom swap : (8 votes)

24 %

Buy brand new (recommendations please!!) : (9 votes)

26 %

34 votes

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17 comments

avivoca
watermelon / 14467 posts

Mar 31, 2016

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.
Corduroy
pomelo / 5258 posts

Mar 31, 2016

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.

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.
Meowkers
persimmon / 1364 posts

Mar 31, 2016

Why do you think insurance won't cover the pump? Everyone I know got a free pump through their insurance (including me).
Madison43
persimmon / 1483 posts

Mar 31, 2016

@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.
JenGirl
clementine / 756 posts

Mar 31, 2016

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.
avivoca
watermelon / 14467 posts

Mar 31, 2016

@Meowkers: She is in Canada.
MrsLonghorn
clementine / 806 posts

Mar 31, 2016

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)
catlady
grapefruit / 4988 posts

Mar 31, 2016

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.
psw27
pomelo / 5220 posts

Mar 31, 2016

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.
Mrs. Oatmeal
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts

Mar 31, 2016

@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
@psw27: I'm still planning to pump before bed once I go back to work, so that's why I was considering buying
.@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.
Mrs. Oatmeal
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts

Mar 31, 2016

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!
psw27
pomelo / 5220 posts

Mar 31, 2016

@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.
ElbieKay
pomegranate / 3231 posts

Mar 31, 2016

Medela PISA is not hospital grade. Medela Symphony is.

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.
MamaCate
pomegranate / 3595 posts

Mar 31, 2016

@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.
Charm54
cantaloupe / 6885 posts

Mar 31, 2016

I have a PISA and EPed both girls...it was awesome.

Fwiw, I checked with both mine and DHs insurance companies (Great West, Manulife and Blue Cross) - none of them covered a breast pump
MrsSRS
nectarine / 2987 posts

Mar 31, 2016

@Meowkers: my insurance didn't cover any of a pump
Waterbaby
coffee bean / 45 posts

Apr 2, 2016

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!

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Breast pump: Rent vs Buy?

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