Renting an Electric Breast Pump from a Hosptial?

Updated on August 18, 2010
M.Y. asks from Pasadena, CA
28 answers

I would like to inquire and see if there are any mamas out there who have rented an electric breast pump from a hospital before. I know it is pretty pricey to buy one and wondering if renting one would be a cheaper way to go if I plan to use it for three months. I've tried the manual hand pump before and it takes a long time to get very little bit of breastmilk out and it's not as efficient as an electric one.

Thanks.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

hi, I rented with my first daughter and it was great. I used it for 2-3 months when I went back to work, and I think it was worth it. It pumped a lot of milk for me versus the cheaper ones you buy at the store, and wasn't as uncomfortable. I can't remember the actual cost, but I know that it was far cheaper than BUYING a really good pump. If you decide to buy one, then once you're done breastfeeding, you're either going to give it away (investment gone) or try to sell it (hassle). Just rent it if you only need for a few months and be done with it.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had good luck with the Lanisoh breast pump with both of my kids. I think it was $150 and did the trick.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.M.

answers from Santa Barbara on

If you can get it, get the Symphony by Medela! (It is yellow). It was the most amazingly wonderful pump and experience I have had. If you only plan on using it for 3 months, then renting would be cheaper than buying. Unless you bought a cheap pump. But it is my opinion that you dont want to go cheap on this type of item ;) You can't buy the Symphony --well I bet you can but since it is a hospital multiple use pump it is very expensive.

My boys (twins) were born extremely early, I pumped for 2 months before they were ever even put to breast. I was given a Medela pump in style pump while pregnant and used that at home and in the car to provide them milk while in the NICU. But while visiting my babies at the hospital all day I used the pumps they had there in their pumping room. And one of the hospital grade pumps to choose from was the Symphony. It was heaven! You'll probably want to pump longer than 3 months using this pump...

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More Answers

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R.

answers from Cleveland on

Call the hospital you delivered at or see if your insurance would for it. Wic will supply one if you're eligible. As a last resort contact your local laleche for advice. Also, most hospitals have a lactation specialist you can consult.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I rented one with my son about three years ago. It wasn't too bad price wise. It was in great shape and worked REALLY well. I had no problems with it at all. They dropped it off less than two hours of me being home and picked it up the day I called them. I was a cheaper alternative. Some of my friends had purchased one, but this seemed to work much better.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Just buy an electric one. I rented one from the hospital for a month and it cost $90, if you plan to use for three months just buy yourself one than sell it on Craig's list.

1 mom found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

My doctor prescribed a breast pump, so our insurance paid for the rental.
It was rented through a Local Medical Health Care Rental place here in town.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from San Diego on

I rented mine from the hospital and then I ended up buying my own. If you do end up buying yours from Craig's list, I would buy the tubing from the hospital.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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F.S.

answers from St. Louis on

I rented one from the hospital I had my son at and I used it for about 4 months and I'm glad I did. It wasen't that expensive and it worked great.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.P.

answers from New York on

I rented a hospital breast pump from a local pharmacy. It was definitely cheaper than going through the hospital (50/mo vs 75/mo). I was very slow to let down and it helped. I later used a hand me down (after cleaning VERY thoroughly) and I liked the hospital much better. The problem was that the hospital was heavier, and more difficult to lug back and forth to work.

I've heard that Ameda pumps are very good, and they are definitely less than the Madela. Renting a hospital style pump for three months is cheaper than buying a decent Madela, and probably about the same as an Ameda.

If you buy used, I would run soapy water and bleach solution through it before using.

One thing that made a huge difference about the hospital pump was that the "works" had the ability to change the nipple flange. I'm larger than normal, and it made a very big difference. The standard size actually caused bruising.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.W.

answers from Scranton on

RENT! Its AWESOME! I've nursed 3 kids, and rented with my last 2. The quality is so much better than the cheap ones you can buy. And, if you're only going to use it for 3 months, then its not worth buying a nice one. As for Craigslist or EBay, that's up to you. It just makes me a little uncomfortable, unless you know the person you are buying it from.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.H.

answers from Dallas on

I rented one for three months. I think it was about $60 per month.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.L.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I'm a SAHM, so I really didn't need to pump very often, in fact, I think I used my pump less than five times. Anyway, I'm not sure how often you plan to use it and if you need to pump a lot of milk, like if you are going back to work, but for my second child, I bought an Evenflo Comfort Select pump at Walmart that was $35. The only I bought is only a single but the double pump is only about $45. I loved it! With my first, I borrowed my friends $300 Medela double pump, but this $35 pump works just as well. I am so glad that I didn't spend hundreds of dollars on a pump. However, like I said, I only used it a handful of times, so maybe if I needed it for a lot of pumping sessions it would have given out, not sure.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from Kansas City on

I have rented one from our hospital and it wasn't too expensive. They had one in the room after I had my daughter, and they gave you the tubing and bottles and everything to use. The pump they gave me to use, was the same one that they rented to me. So I was able to use the tubing and bottles and everything that I had in the hospital.

I wanted to rent one before buying one, so I knew if it were something I was going to be able to do well enough. Once I knew I wanted to buy one, I got it from Diapers.com and I got an added discount, because it was my first purchase. I ended up buying the Ameda Purely Yours, and I thought it was just as great as the one I had from the hospital..I think it was around $125 or so, which is much more affordable than most and I loved it. I used it a lot, since my daughter had such difficulties nursing, but I still wanted her to have my milk. You can either plug it in or use batteries if you are ever in a place where there isn't an outlet.

Wishing you the best!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

You can sometimes rent them from the pharmacies like CVS/Walgreens.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.M.

answers from San Diego on

i rented the hospital grade Medela pump and it wasn't cheap. Call ahead to the hospital and see how expensive it would be. Do you have any friends, family members, extended family who have a electric pump you can borrow for the 3 months? In the end, I was fortunate and borrowed a electric double Medela pump from a friend. The pump was around 4 years old (if not older) and it worked great! Ebay, craigslist, etc all sell used pumps. Just get new shields are you are good to go. If you have other friends/family members who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, having them contribute towards a pump with the intent for it to be passed around is also a good way to go too.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would definitely advise renting the Medela SYMPHONY pump. I used other brands and other medela models as well and nothing compares. It's about $70 per month. Pricey is relative. I think if it helps you protect your milk supply, it's worth it. Also a lactation consultant told me that cheap pumps can actually damage your breast tissue, so consider all the costs. You can't buy the Symphony pump. It is sold only to hospitals and pump rental businesses.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

Go on Ebay and buy a Medela Classic Hospital Grade Pump...you can own it and keep it as long as you like then you can resell it for what you paid for it or more..i bought 2 ! sold them both for $50 more than i paid..try to find one that comes with a case..the Pump Station bought that one from me..and the one without a case i sold to a mom from a family internet group called Peachhead2...i bought 2 b/ci was thinking of becoming a lac coach..i wound up bfing longer than i thought..and the pumps came in handy..best pump..gets the most milk..also look into getting and easy expression bra..you can pump both breasts at the same time..and sit and type on the computer ..and get more milk b/c you're pumping both..

good luck :)

D.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.A.

answers from Las Vegas on

I rented one from Sunrise Hospital here in LV. Check with them on price. If you plan on having more kids after this one, I'd buy one. I got the Medela that will do both breasts at once after my first child. Much better than one at a time. I got more milk in total and in half the time. It also was less uncomfortable. St. Rose Hospitals also rent them and they might be cheaper there, they are less profit driven and have a wonderful breast feeding support program. I didn't have my children there, both mine were deemed too high risk and needed to be delivered at Sunrise, but I had all my prenatel testing done there - fabulous experience. Sunrise was great too but less supportive of breast feeding. Also, contact Family to Family Connection (in the phone book under community support type stuff, let me know if you don't find it), they sent a lady to help me deal with breast feeding one while having another as a toddler who didn't want mom to share the "buffet" with little sister (tricky, tricky). No cost and a great program as well. LaLeche League is also here and ofer free support, contact them if you need further information about rental options versus purchasing. I've found them to be honest and very helpful. Good luck! congrats on the babe.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

I highly recommend renting. I borrowed a friend's pump (the double Madela pump and its GREAT). With my first I had teh manual and it was time consuming. Anyway, Babys R Us rents out their pumps also. I would call them to see if it is the Madela brand. Like the other mom's who responded, I used the pump while at the hospital and they let you take home all your tubing. what I took home worked with the Madela. but, if you don't do that, no big deal - renting is very sanitary (that was my concern when I borrowed my friends). All the best!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I rented one from the hospital with my first child and ended up keeping it for a little more than six months. (I had a ton of milk and was not able to nurse, so the pump was a welcome mediator) When I had my second child we bought one and I ended up not using it as long. So I would suggest you weight the options, if you plan to have more children go ahead and buy one. If you are experimenting with breastfeeding then rent it for a month or two to see how it goes for you. You are correct in that the manual pumps are just exhausting and don't do much anyway.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.M.

answers from Dallas on

I rented one from the hospital, but actually found a Medela double pump on Craigslist that had hardly been used.

If you can find a Medela double-pump on Craigslist, I would recommend that over renting at the hospital. One great thing to get at the lactation shop in your hospital would be the "pump" sports bra. There are holes just big enough to fit the pump, that way you don't have to hold it for 20 mins each breast. Lifesaver!!!

Funny because I was told by the lactation nurse that the hospital one would pump better than the Medela...it didn't.

Good luck and happy pumping!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.A.

answers from San Diego on

I rented the hospital grade Medella breast pump (the yellow one) and absolutely loved it. Having an electric one was so worth the money. I think to buy that one it's over 1,000 so renting it is the way to go.

You can buy an electric pump that isn't hospital grade for $250. Depends on if you need the hospital grade one or not or if you want to purchase something that you're not going to use after 3 months. I needed the hospital one because I had a preemie and needed the best pump to get the most milk.

Good luck. The hospital one should run you about $60/70 per month and depending why you need the hospital one your insurance may cover it, it did for my preemie.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.N.

answers from Las Vegas on

It depends on the price of the rental. I read about them being about $50 a month, I ended up paying overt $80 a month (the only place to get hospital grade pumps in town). I had bought a singe Medela electric pump while pregnant, but I had a really hard time pumping (I was relactating, and always had very little milk when pumping), so I decided to rent a hospital grade pump. I didn't end up using it much, but had to pay for the whole month, total waste in my opinion. If there is a chance you will need it longer, why not just buy? Also, I borrowed a friend's Ameda after I returned the hospital grade pump, was able to use the same pieces I got from the rented pump, and I felt it was just as strong of a suction and good at pumping. The borrowed pump also had a lot more settings, the rental pump had only 2, and both were really strong, but sometimes you don't want that.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.G.

answers from Rockford on

If you are only going to need it for 3 months and you want one that will be more comfortable and efficient, it is probably worth renting. We rented one for a short while while our son wasn't nursing well (it was a Medela) but once things were going smoothly we returned it and bought one for ourselves since I planned on breastfeeding a long while after that. The hospital pump was better, IMHO.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.C.

answers from Minneapolis on

I rented one (Madelia) with my son despite having already bought one. It did work faster than the one I bought. My insurance company paid for two months of rental as I had complications with nursing so it was prescribed. But, it cost $90 a month (4 years ago). After the two months I used the electric one I had bought (first steps) and was fine although it took a little longer. I also got a manual hand pump (Avent) for traveling and other light use. I have to say that I ended up using the manual pump quite a lot as the electric was a pain (and it died after almost two years of use between two kids).

1 mom found this helpful
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L.D.

answers from San Diego on

I rented a hospital grade one with my first child. (I needed it to help with mastitis/breast infection). Tri-City didn't actually rent them, but referred me to a lactation consultant who did. You still need to buy the shells and tubing which is new. I recommend her and you can decide if it is better to rent or buy. She owns Babies in Bloom in O'side across 78 from Tri-City Hospital. Good luck!

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

I guess the question for me would be:
do you really need an electric pump.... and would use it daily/frequently enough to make renting it worthwhile?

If not, then you probably don't need one.

When I had my 1st baby, I researched so many options about breast pumps... then when I actually had my daughter, I pretty much did not pump, nor much.. .and didn't need an electrical pump. I just direct nursed her. And she didn't like a bottle.
I didn't need a pump with my 2nd child either... he just nursed then self-weaned at about 1 year old.
I barely used, the Avent Isis hand pump I had... bought. Thinking I did need it, but didn't need, in actuality.

just a thought,
All the best,
Susan

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