Breast Pump Comparison - Which Insurance Pump Should I Choose?

Moms often ask - "Of the pumps that are offered free with my insurance plan, which pump is my best choice?"  This is a great question because there are several factors to consider when choosing a breast pump.

Most importantly, hygiene needs to be considered when choosing a breast pump.  Is this a pump that won't contaminate my breast milk?  The answer is in whether it has an open or closed system.  Closed system pumps protect your milk from having dust or bacteria blown into the bottles while you are pumping.  The biggest offender in this area are the Medela pumps.  They do not offer a closed system and the Medela company does not comply with the codes set up by the World Health Organization so it is easy to rule this brand out.

The next consideration is the function.  Is it a double electric auto-cycling breast pump with at least 250mmHG which is milligrams of mercury, a measurement commonly used in measuring strength of suction. Most commonly infants do 220mmHG when they suckle, but since breast pumps suction can depend on which type of power you are using and whether or not the valves and filters or diaphragms have been changed regularly, starting at 250mmHG gives you a little wiggle room.  Lansinoh breast pumps only do 220mmHG, so you can rule that one out as well.

Another big consideration is flange fitment.  Newer brands like Motif Medical only offer flanges in 24mm and 28mm size.  You will want a brand that offers at least four sizes ranging from 20mm to 32mm to find the size that works best for you.  In addition as I was doing research on the Motif brand, I noted that several of their replacement parts were out of stock on their website including the all important double pumping kit.  In addition, this brand is new on the scene so until more parts and information is available on this company, I would rule them out as well. Evenflo also does not offer a small flange size and not many parts are available individually without buying an entire double pumping kit.  I would rule out Evenflo because of this and because they are typically a bottle company so not as invested in your breastfeeding success as you would want them to be.

Ok, enough of the "don't choose this pump" warnings.  With 25 years experience 
in the breastfeeding industry, which pumps do we recommend?

#1 Choice - Spectra S2 Plus Breast Pump
Pros:  The Spectra pump has a two year warranty on the motor, does 250mmHG and offers a wide range of breast flange sizes and replacement part options.  We love the night light on the Spectra S2 Plus for exclusively pumping moms or for moms with babies in the NICU that have to pump at night. This pump offers a hygienic closed system using a backflow protector.  In addition, a Spectra breast pump parts subscription service for the most important and commonly replaced parts.  Cons:  Spectra company does not offer a combination cooler carrier tote bag or a car adapter for power, but there are great aftermarket options that cover those needs.

#2 Choice - Hygeia EnJoye Breast Pump
Pros:   Quality breast pump with a one year warranty that not only does 250mmHG, but also cycles up to 80 times per minute (the average baby does 60 sucks per minute).  Also offers a closed system with an apparelled bacteriostatic filter.  Cons:  Only three flanges sizes are available in this brand, but the flange connector does fit the Pumpin' Pal brand of angled Supershields, so smaller options can be obtained.  To see if your insurance qualifies you for the Hygeia EnJoye, visit the Hygeia website.

#3 Choice - Ameda Finesse
Pros:  Ameda has been the most consistently breastfeeding forward company since double electric breastpumps were invented 75 years ago by Einar Egnell who founded the company formerly known as Ameda Egnell.  While Ameda pumps do not offer the most whistles and bells on the market, they are consistently good and their quality control is apparelled.  They offer a two year warranty on the Ameda Finesse and offer flange sizes and inserts in a wide range of sizes including the Flexishield silicone insert that not only reduces to 22 mm, but is the best made silicone insert on the market today.  I have personally seen moms with smaller nipples get an ounce of extra milk with the Ameda flexishield.  Ameda was the first to offer a closed system with a diaphragm barrier to protect breast milk.  Cons:  Not as smooth or quiet as some other pumps, but definitely gets the job done!

#4 Choice ARDO Calypso
Pros:  Closed system double electric breast pump with a wide range of flange sizes from 22mm -31mm.  They have a one year warranty on the ARDO Calypso and are the only company to offer a insert in a 26mm size silicone flange insert called the Optiflow.  Considered quieter than the Ameda Finesse.  Cons: This pump is not as popular with moms as the top three choices.  I would only choose this one if the other three were not available.   Having sold breast pumps for 25 years, I can see the writing on the wall so while this pump may work well for you, I do not know how long this company will be around.

Power is also important!  All four of our recommendations: Spectra S2 Plus, Hygeia Enjoye, Ameda Finesse and ARDO Calypso have an AC adapter and either a branded or aftermarket car adapter available.  If you need battery power regularly, the Hygeia EnJoye LBI model is a good investment even if it not covered by insurance.  While most pumps include a battery compartment, don't rely on AA or AAA batteries for good suction if you can't plug in to an outlet or a car lighter as your pump will not have the same power and your milk supply will suffer. The Hygeia EnJoye LBI Breast Pump model with battery is not usually available through insurance as it is a more expensive model.

This review is for the breast pumps most frequently offered by insurance companies and includes information on Medela, Lansinoh, Motif Medical, Spectra, Hygeia, Ameda and ARDO.  If your insurance company offers another brand that you would like us to review, please include it in our comments section and we will update this review as needed.

Best wishes for the best milk expression!
Tanya

What Moms Can Buy with Your HSA FSA and Flex Spending Account

2015 is drawing to a close.  Many of you have benefits left in your insurance accounts, especially FSA, HSA and FLEX spending accounts.  If you are breastfeeding, breast pumps and breastfeeding suplies qualify as medical expenses.  Here are some suggestions to help you use it before you loose it!

1.  Electric Breast Pump

 If you hate lugging your pump around, having one at home and one at work is such a luxury.   Or if you are struggling with a manual pump, a good electric pump is a necessity, especially one like the Hygeia Enjoye LBI that has a rechargeable battery pack for travel.

2.  Breast Pump Replacement Parts

Most pumps have filters or diaphragms that need to be replaced every few months and valves that need to be replaced every few weeks.  Having extra sets of breast flanges or getting additional sizes to see which one helps with optimal milk output is another way to use your allotment.

3.  Lactation Consulting

If you still need help with your baby's latch, this is a great time to use your funds.  Make sure the person you are using is a board certified lactation consultant.  To find one in your area, see the ILCA website.

The bottom line is whether you have a few dollars or quite a few left in your account, those are your benefits and you should use them.   Parts that need replaced most often on popular breast pumps are the Hygeia filter, Hygeia valve, Ameda valves, Ameda diaphragm, Spectra backflow protector, Spectra Valve, and ARDO valve.  Don't forget stock up before your medical benefits expire on December 31st.

Here is to a happy new year!
Tanya

Free Breast Pumps: Insurance Company Breast Pump Review from the Experts

     After the Affordable Care Act took effect more moms are getting a "free" breast pump.  We get a lot of phone calls asking us which pumps on their insurance are best so we thought we would give you a review of the common ones out there.  After all, I personally have over 20 years experience using and selling different breast pumps and have seen breast pump companies come and go so you may benefit from my experience.

1.  Hygeia EnJoye Breast Pump - This is the number one choice for insurance company breast pumps because even the least expensive Q model has higher suction than most pumps at 250 milligrams of mercury and faster speed at 80 cycles per minute on it's highest settings.  Hygeia offer a closed system with a bacteriostatic filter so no bacteria can reach the milk and qualifies it for multi-person use.  So in that regard, you get a quality breast pump for free.  What you don't get.  Insurance companies do not give you the Hygeia EnJoye LBI which is the best model due to its integrated lithium ion battery pack.  You can add a Hygeia External Battery Pack to the Q and Hygeia EPS breast pump models, but this is a AA battery pack and not the lithium ion battery.  As with any insurance company breast pump pump, you either do not get a tote bag, or you get a cheaply made version of the deluxe tote that comes when you buy retail.  Another item that is not included in the insurance pump are the Hygeia bottle adapter rings to allow you to pump into standard size bottles instead of the Hygeia wide mouth bottles, but these are sold separately as well.  Large and X-Large Hygeia flanges are available.

2.  Ameda Purely Yours - This would be the second pump I would recommend because it does what most pumps do which is 220 milligrams of mercury and faster speed at 60 cycles per minute on it's highest settings.  It is a closed system with an Ameda diaphragm for protection against bacteria, but since this is not a filter it does not qualify as a multi-user breast pump.  This is most likely the case because if the bottle of expressed milk fell over, milk could theoretically enter the Ameda tubing.   Ameda Custom Size Flanges are available.

2.  Spectra S2 Breast Pump - New to the marketplace, the Spectra S2 breast pump is a good pump for moms who have never pumped before or who felt more comfortable with their previous breast pump at lower settings.  While it will do the higher 220 milligrams of mercury, it functions better on lower settings because the suction is not a constant pull and release, but more of a succession of short draws much like the peristaltic wave of the baby’s tongue.  The company's slogan is "Our pumps don't suck, they suckle!".  It is also easy to use because you just turn it on, put the massage setting on to get your milk flowing and then change the suction or speed to your liking.   I would recommend this pump for moms who have had nipple abrasion, for those who don’t use their pump on the high setting, and for those looking for something with a more natural feel than the traditional pump.  It offers the very effective Spectra Backflow Protector filtration so it is a closed system and approved for multi-person use.  I love the night light feature on this pump form moms pumping at night.  It offers a the light right where you need them, on the controls at the pump and includes two settings for additional lumination.  Additional flange sizes are available to custom fit every mom.    

3.  Ameda Purely Yours - This would be the third pump I would recommend because it does what most pumps do which is 220 milligrams of mercury and faster speed at 60 cycles per minute on it's highest settings.  It is a closed system with an Ameda diaphragm for protection against bacteria, but since this is not a filter it does not qualify as a multi-user breast pump.  This is most likely the case because if the bottle of expressed milk fell over, milk could theoretically enter the Ameda tubing. This pump is slightly louder than the Spectra and Hygeia pumps, but still a quality efficient breastpump.  Ameda Custom Size Flanges are available.


4.  Medela Pump In Style - This is by no means my first choice for several reasons.  It is not a closed system and can and does harbor bacteria and mold.   While the pump does offer 220 milligrams of mercury in the strength of suction and 60 cycles per minute for speed, the insurance company version does not come in any type of tote that can hold your milk or even your breast pump part.  While good cooler tote bag are available from various companies, they can cost as much or more than a good breast pump.  It is important that the cooler tote you choose is one that keeps the milk cold for a minimum of 10-12 hours which makes them harder to come by.  On the upside, Medela PersonalFit breast shields are available to accommodate various nipple sizes.  And finally, the Medela company does not support the World Health Code or the International Lactation Consultants Association standards. 

5.  First Years Breast Pump - No, no, no.  Just NO! 

If your insurance company has pumps on their list that we have not reviewed here,  please let us know and we will do our best to review it.  What if you want a better pump?  An alternative to getting an insurance pump on a list, check with your insurance company to see if they allow you to purchase from an alternative DME and file for reimbursement.  Or if you have an HRA or HSA credit card, breast pumps qualify as a medical expense.  This way you can get a pump like the Hygeia EnJoye LBI Breast Pump with the deluxe tote, bottle size adapters and the lithium ion rechargeable battery making pumping on the go much easier.

Best wishes in your search for a breast pump,
~Tanya