Is it Better to Rent a Breast Pump or Purchase One?
As a soon-to-be new mother, whether to rent or buy a breast pump is an important decision. According to La Leche League, breast milk is the best nourishment for babies. Not all mothers can be with their babies all day during the first two years that the World Health Organization recommends babies be breastfed. Breast pumps are crucial for long-term breastfeeding success for some women.
Other People Are Reading
-
Comparisons
-
Rental breast pumps are different from for-purchase pumps in several ways.
It costs more in the long-term to rent a pump. For instance, if you buy a pump, expect it to cost up to about $300. A pump rented for six months can start at about $480, and can run closer to $1,000 if rented for 12 months.
If you buy a pump, you have the option of using it for more than one child, depending on how much use it gets. So you save money by buying a pump rather than having to rent another one for your next child.
Rental pumps are "hospital-grade," meaning that they are more efficient than purchased ones. However, they're not as sleek and portable as the ones you can buy from a store.
Purpose
-
Breast pumps are used for a variety of reasons, some of which are unanticipated before you've given birth to your child. The reason for getting a pump will factor into whether or not you should rent or buy one.
Women need pumps if they go back to work or otherwise plan to be separated from their baby for hours on a regular basis. In this case, most women choose to buy pumps for their portability, ease of use and because they plan to use the pump for an extended period of time.
Breast pumps can also be useful when a lactation specialist orders it to increase a woman's supply, or when a premature infant is separated from its mother during the early weeks. In this case, getting a more efficient hospital-grade rental pump makes more sense. The situation is usually temporary and the pumping will likely be done in the hospital or at home, so portability is not a concern.
-
Considerations
-
If you are pretty sure you'll be home with your baby for the first year or two, you may want to consider renting or buying a pump only if you find you need it. Most likely, if you're with your baby most of the time, you'll nurse the baby directly. If you have a very occasional use for pumped milk, you might look into cheaper manual pumps, one-breast-at-a-time pumps or learn to express milk by hand.
Misconceptions
-
Women may think that breastfeeding requires using a breast pump, even if they intend to stay home with their babies for years. But many women find pumping less than desirable, and find that it's easier to nurse the baby anywhere they are together. Pumping can be uncomfortable and inconvenient.
Safety
-
According to La Leche League International, pumps available for purchase are almost all "open system" pumps. This means that tiny particles of milk can make their way into the mechanisms of the pump, where it's impossible to sterilize. Mold can build up over time and potentially make its way into the pumped milk. Additionally, viruses from one mother's milk may make it's way into the second user's milk via an open system. These pumps are for single-users only, and aren't meant to be shared with or sold to other mothers.
Also, most purchased pumps have a "life" of about one year, making them not useful for second children if you use the pump extensively. Some mothers use their pumps occasionally, or only until their child starts eating solid foods (around six months old). Other mothers use their pumps regularly, and perhaps well past the first year. How much a pump is used depends on the mother.
Breast pumps rented from hospitals are "closed system" pumps and are considered safe for reuse by different mothers.
-
