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Why Do I Need a Breast Pump?

Congratulations on your new love, and your decision to breastfeed. Breast feeding is a wise choice when considering finances, convenience, and the health of your baby. Your breast milk is always available and at the perfect temperature. The bond created between mother and baby while nursing is irreplaceable. As beautiful and convenient as breastfeeding is, it can also be draining, sometimes frustrating, and inconvenient at certain times, such as when mom must work or needs some rest. Having a reliable breast pump on hand can ease your worry about those possible situations.

How a Breast Pump Works

A breast pump works by mimicking your baby’s suckling action. As your baby nurses, your body responds to their suckling pattern, and makes more milk accordingly. Pretty Amazing! When a breast pump is used properly, you can fool your breast into thinking the baby is nursing. The result is a letdown, and the milk begins to flow. The milk can just be dumped if you are pumping for relief, bottled for immediate consumption, or refrigerated or frozen for future use.

A Breast Pump May Be Helpful to You

As a new or an experienced nursing mother, you are probably finding out that you love breastfeeding, but there are times when you’d like to be able to have someone else enjoy feeding time, you need to run some errands or maybe you just want to meet a friend for lunch. If that is that is the case, you will need a breast pump so that you can pump and store your milk to give to your baby when you are away.

If you are planning to go back to work, you will likely need a double electric breast pump because having a supply of extra breastmilk on hand will be necessary while baby is in someone else’s care for hours at a time. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with the pump and its accessories before returning to work. You will need to build up a few days supply of milk, but you don’t need to worry about storing large amounts. You will be bringing home fresh milk every day.

There can also be situations where your baby goes on a hunger strike, and chooses to suddenly sleep more than they were, and eat less. This can cause your breasts to become engorged as they continue making the amount of milk baby was previously needing. Don’t panic, as this is a natural occurrence. During this adjustment period, a pump can help give you some relief.

No matter the reason, as a breastfeeding mother, having a reliable breast pump is a helpful tool when necessary. Don’t get caught off guard in the middle of the night, realizing a pump would suddenly be “oh so helpful!” Just like all your baby equipment and essentials, it is best to have your breast pump ordered even before the baby comes into this world. Most insurance plans will cover a double electric breast pump at no cost to mom, and you can order it months before your baby arrives. The only catch is that some insurers won’t allow the pump to ship to you until 30 days before your due date or even after the baby is born.

Which one is the Best Breast Pump?

Choosing the best breast pump for you can be tricky, and often depends on your personal needs. Do you plan to travel and need something lightweight? Do you want a super quiet motor so as not to disturb your partner in the middle of the night? There are several great options out there and it all depends on what you are looking for.

Yummy Mummy is proud offer only the top rated breast pumps the Medela Pump In Style and the Medela Freestyle Flex Breast Pump, the S1 & S2 Spectra Breast Pumps, the Ameda Mya and Mya Joy Breast Pumps, the Evenflo Double Electric Breast Pump with Hush Motor, the Lansinoh SignaturePro and Smartpump Breast Pumps, and the Hygeia Enjoye Breast Pump.

Choosing Your Breast Pump

As you prepare for the beautiful journey of nursing your baby, or are already nursing, you won’t regret your decision to have a breast pump available if needed. You are already an exhausted momma… the last thing you need is to have engorged breasts or want to ask your partner to give you baby a bottle in the middle of the night, and no way to pump your milk. There are a few options of different types of breast pumps, so you can choose which best suits your needs.

The Double Electric Breast Pump

The double electric breast pump does just as it says. It uses power to express your milk, by plugging into an outlet, usually with a long cord or battery pack, so you can find a comfortable place to pump. Electric breast pumps often offer bottles or containers for your milk to be expressed into, consisting of a tube that attaches to a bottle or storage container. Due to an electric motor in these types of pumps, they can make for a quick job of expressing your breast milk. Some electric pumps come in nice carrying cases or pumping bags, making them easy to take to work or travel with.

The majority of new moms find that a double electric breast pump is the right choice for them and the great news is most insurance plans cover a double electric breast pump at no cost to mom. Which is the best electric breast pump, well that depends on mom’s individual needs.

Yummy Mummy is proud offer only the top-rated breast pumps, such as the Medela electric breast pump – the Medela Pump In Style and the Medela Freestyle Flex, the Spectra S1 and S2, the Ameda Mya Pump and Ameda Mya Joy, the Evenflo Double Electric Breast Pump with Hush Motor, the Lansinoh SignaturePro and Smartpump, and the Hygeia Enjoye Breast Pump.

The Manual Breast Pump

A manual breast pump is not powered by anything but your hand. A suction seal is created when you place the manual breast pump shield on the breast, then by manually squeezing a lever in a suckling type pattern, the breast begins to let down the milk into the attached bottle. Manual breast pumps are inexpensive, and small so you can throw one in your purse or diaper bag.

The Hospital Grade Breast Pump

Hospital grade breast pumps are considered the most efficient breast pumps due to their stronger power. They work as an electric breast pump, but sometimes with a stronger motor. They aren’t as transportable since they are bulkier and heavier… but they do get the job done if you are a serious pumper. For moms who need to exclusively pump for medical reasons or with babies in the NICU, a rental pump might be the right choice.

Should You Rent or Buy?

Making the decision to rent or buy your breast pump can be a tough one, especially if you aren’t sure how much you will need it. Yummy Mummy is here to answer all your questions and help you make the decision on which breast pump is best for you, and whether or not you should rent or purchase. We believe in breastfeeding and are passionate about helping you enjoy the wonderful journey in your own special way.

An Advantage of a Free Breast Pump by Utilizing Insurance Options

If you are a new mom, or you are expecting, you already know that the prices for anything related to your new bundle of joy can be more than expected. After the crib, the changing table, the rocker, high chair and stroller, it is difficult to budget for baby costs. Did you know that in many cases, you’re able to get a breast pump through insurance? If you didn’t know that you might be able to get an insurance breast pump at no out-of-pocket cost to you, we have important information for you!

Why Breastfeeding Is So Important

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that if possible, mothers should breastfeed their children for at least one year after birth. Studies have shown that breast milk is the best way to feed your baby. Your breast milk contains antibodies against disease, which will protect your baby through the first few months of his or her life. In addition, breastfeeding cuts the chances that your baby might have an allergic reaction to formula. There are also studies that indicate breastfeeding may help children with a genetic predisposition to allergies and asthma. Clearly, if you can breastfeed, you should consider it!

Getting A Breast Pump Through Insurance

Depending on your insurance company, you may qualify for a breast pump at no charge to you. The Affordable Care Act states that your insurance company must cover the costs of the breast pump. While a few plans have been “grandfathered in” and don’t cover the benefit, the overwhelming majority do. So, check with your insurance plan to see if they will cover a breast pump.

What Will My Insurance Cover?

Most insurance providers will cover a double electric breast pump and/or a rental pump if there is a medical necessity. Most will limit you to one breast pump per pregnancy, or one breast pump every few years. Ask your insurance company what they will cover. Most insurance companies will only cover the cost of a breast pump if you order it through an in-network Durable Medical Equipment Provider. If your insurance plan is in-network with Yummy Mummy, you are in luck. You can order your breast pump in three easy steps and we will ship it to your door.

Do you have questions? Please email us at orders@yummymummystore.com" orders@yummymummystore.com or call 855-87-YUMMY.

As most expectant moms know, breast pumps are now covered under almost all insurance plans, but many ask what does that really mean?  How do I actually get a breast pump through insurance?  So, we wanted to take a minute and answer some of the most often asked questions.

Finding the Right Breast Pump for You 

If you Google the words “breast pumps”, you’ll notice right away there are numerous breast pumps on the market today, and if you are a first-time mom, so many options can be confusing and even overwhelming.  The process of picking a pump is sort of like buying a car…if you have never driven one before.  While there is no “best breast pump” there are certain features that you should consider when picking the best breast pump for you. 

Boob Scoop: After about the first month of breastfeeding, it can sometimes be tricky to differentiate between a hungry baby and one that has just discovered his hands or is using them for soothing. When in doubt, it never hurts to put your baby to the breast. Breastmilk is always changing in composition and volume throughout the day and these important changes eliminate the concern of overfeeding. If your baby is breastfeeding for soothing you will notice suckling at the breast. If your baby is hungry, you will hear him make "eh" sounds or notice the deep swallows that accompany a feeding. In either situation, your baby will likely be happy to breastfeed since nursing will have met his need to soothe or feed.

Sharen Medrano, IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)

Boob Scoop: When it comes to breastfed babies, gaining too quickly is generally not a concern since breastmilk is intended for their growing bodies. Breastfed babies tend to gain more quickly in the first three months (4 - 8 oz per wk) and then begin to lean out as they become more mobile. By the end of the first year, most have tripled or are close to tripling their birth weight. After year one, weight gain slows down but remains steady.

Sharen Medrano, IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)

Boob Scoop: The number of times a mom empties her breasts each day to maintain milk production has been called her "Magic Number." If a mom is not nursing/pumping enough times in a 24-hour period to meet her Magic Number, her body will decrease milk production. For working mothers, more breastfeeding at night means less pumping sessions needed while mom is at work.

Sharen Medrano, IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)

Boob Scoop: For both nutritional and developmental reasons, it is uncommon for babies to wean on their own before the one-year mark. In fact, most babies won't wean before 18-24 months unless it is encouraged by the mother. Familiarizing yourself with the different ways of weaning can be helpful when deciding how to approach this stage: http://kellymom.com/ages/weaning/considering-weaning/how_weaning_happens/