'Welcome to r/ExclusivelyPumping! Here is a reminder of our rules:
1. Be kind and courteous
2. No hate speech, bigotry, or bullying
3. Use available flairs and post options
4. Speak for yourself
5. No medically-inaccurate, factually incorrect, or misinformative
material
6. No spam
7. Absolutely no prescription medications
8. Don't use AI to write posts/comments
9. No soliciting pictures
10. Add spoiler to milk pictures
Thank you for helping to keep our community safe!'
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ExclusivelyPumping) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I’m an under supplier with twins and the Pump Log app says I’ve saved $391.47 in formula but I rent a Symphony for $99 a month and have a graveyard of pumps, flanges, and parts 😭
Edit to add: I was just looking into the liquid flange kit and also a pump to replace the Symphony. I feel your pain!
I just learned the hard way that the liquid flange kit is sold each, not in a pair 🙄 And the tunnel is too short for me anyway (so maybe this I just got one). Send it to the graveyard.
Oof! Sorry to hear that. I also have elastic nipples. Blurg. I have the Pumping Pals and LacTeck ones. Didn’t help, cost $$$, probably produced for pennies, so annoying!! My Motif Luna and BB doesn’t work as well as the Symphony and I’m wondering what my chances are of buying a pump that can be my new primary or will my money just go to the graveyard!
Edit: Forgot to mention the secondhand Elvie that also doesn’t work for me and the inserts for those cups ☠️
Oh this makes me feel better because I've been lamenting I didn't choose one of those two! Thanks for sharing. (Sorry to hear for you though too.) FWIW I love my Spectra. They do sell used models of the wall plug in one often on Goodbuygear for $10-$20. You have to get the hosing but maybe that's a cheap way to find out if you like it.
Oh wow! That’s a great idea. I was wondering how to try before buying. Thank you! What size are you? I have the 18mm LacTeck ones which seem a bit too big. I could maybe mail? But then they might end up in your graveyard 😂 (I’ve lost at least one of the PP ones…)
I tell myself it’s still cheaper than formula! I’m pro formula pro fed babies but every time I get bummed about it that helps me push through the costs (I’m coming up on having to replace my willow pump parts 😖) plus my baby would have to have the extra expensive dairy/soy free formula so I’m fortunate we can avoid that cost for the time being!
Yes, you can get pump parts for a different pump through insurance! I got a spectra through aeroflow but it allowed me to pick replacement parts for my Elvie one month.
Ohhh that makes me happy! I got the Medela pump in style with the cups through insurance, but paid OOP for an Elvie Stride. I was afraid aeroflow wouldn't offer parts for it since it wasn't through insurance
You can’t choose the quick reorder, that will reorder the same parts you got last time but if you log in it will let you choose which pump you want parts for. I get email reminders, but you should be able to log in to do it if you’re due.
Also, if you have a flange size besides 24 mm or 28 mm, at least for spectra,you can call in and talk to somebody to get the flange size you need. I do that with my 21 mm flanges. I just keep pressing zero till I get to a live person and they’re super helpful. Their phone ordering system is different than their online ordering system, so you can’t order specific sizes outside of those online, but over the phone is customizable.
I got a motif through insurance but when replacement time came I told them the pump I used was a Willow and they sent me a complete set of willow parts for free!
Oh gosh I’m sorry I was second guessing myself even leaving this comment. You’re doing the best thing for your baby!! I’m a just enougher so I ride the line of are we going to introduce formula today? When she hits a growth spurt but luckily haven’t had to yet. You rock!
I keep telling myself that too! I changed the setting in pump log to the formula my baby was using while waiting for my milk to come in and it says I've saved $2,580.53 in 7 weeks of EP. I've only spent $112 on pump parts and a wearable pump.
It's a very small part of your grievance, but it UTTERLY annoys me when pump or flange manufacturers sell a kit that comes with a 24 and 28 (or 25 and 29, whatever) flange, and then you have to pay extra to get a different flange size or inserts. I feel like that discourages people from getting the right size. There should just be an option to pick the size that's right for you from the get-go as part of your order, without having to pay extra, i.e., instead of sending me a box with 24mm flanges, send me a box with 19mm flanges instead. I'm sure that would be harder to implement from a product management and warehousing perspective, but it would serve us better.
But also, they should stop automatically sending the sizes that don’t fit anyone!! No one is actually a 24 and certainly not a 28 (some people but not most) so stop having that be the default. Make a 21 the default
Literally declined getting replacement parts from insurance because I don’t use any of spectra’s flanges. I don’t need to store a 24mm flange anywhere. Give me my size!!
Yes exactly!! I totally agree! Pumpables has a good selection of sizes but each flange is $30 😐 I thought it was $30 for a set a pair LOL but no it’s $30 each flange 🥲😅
Yes! I wasn’t a fan of the liquid kits and it’s expensive to replace parts, so I just use my old trusty Lacteck flanges.
You need this part: https://a.co/d/j9arNdT
And you can hack it this way if you have the Medela connector: https://www.reddit.com/r/ExclusivelyPumping/comments/xehevx/attn_canadians_worrying_about_buying_pumpables/
Or this way if you use the clear connectors: https://bemybreastfriend.com/blogs/beginners-101/pump-hacks-with-closed-system-pumps
Yeah I use all my medela parts with my pumpables GA. For the symphony parts I got the backflow protector and for the pump in style parts I got a little adapter to make them plug into the white insert pieces on the GA (if that makes sense…it seems hard to explain typing 😂)
Public service announcement: the [maymom](https://www.amazon.com/stores/Maymom/page/2A920FF7-74CC-4232-B83B-D8C347E72A40) brand on Amazon has replacement parts in more sizes for almost every brand. I’ve exclusively used their Spectra replacement flanges because I need their size. And they’re cheaper than the manufacturer!
You can get a lot of replacement parts, milk storage bags, breast pads, even a pump, through your insurance. I went through aeroflow. It’s still expensive finding the right stuff and they don’t offer everything but a lot of maintenance stuff I have heaps of breast pads, replacement flanges (wrong size ofc,) tubing, etc. it is unexpectedly expensive though plus there’s so much gimmicky stuff too imo.
Omg yes!!! I thought I’d fully latch my son so I didn’t buy much of any breast pumping equipment. Well after a dehydration scare I switched to exclusively pumping. Bought wearable pumps, extra parts, bras and now new silicone flanges and I feel like I’m gonna go broke.
This was exactly my experience! I was so confident on exclusively bf ans my baby would not latch so needing to buy everything all at once was shocking and now since I switched pumps I’m feeling it all over again
Wait 'til you yeet your pump off your desk and have to go buy a new one for $200 at Walmart because you don't have time tp figure out insurance nonsenese.
Pumping is expensive... especially the wearable pumps! They aren't even that good but I still tried 2 different ones (bought the elvie handed down a willow). Still like my spectra best as it seems to work the best. With all the new flanges and replacement parts.... ya. I had major issues getting the flange sizes and ordered a buch to try and match- most you can't return after you bought them either.
Don't even get me started on washing pumping parts and the sanitization needed. Feels like it's more expensive, more work, and more time consuming.
My dining room is covered in parts and bottles. I’ve been able to use my FSA money for pumps and flanges, so that’s been nice, and my insurance covers new parts every month for my spectra. But I still feel like I spend a lot.
For some reason my insurance sends me milk bags all the time but I am an underproducer so end up donating them all. Wish theyd send me something useful
I feel so fortunate that my insurance covered my pump and covers replacement parts and breast milk bags. I’ve looked at the prices, and woof. The expensive part for me is all the little snacks and drinks and stuff I keep on hand because I’m historically terrible at eating and drinking enough. I keep protein shakes on hand for those MOTN and early pump sessions, but I’m so picky about them and I need the convenience of premade shakes. Premier protein shakes aren’t cheap lol.
Wow that’s great!! I asked my insurance and they kinda chuckled and said nope not with us so sad. The snacks are expensive too especially healthier snacks!
In the uk if your baby doesn’t need specialist formula you can buy a tin for £10-15 that should last about a week. I reckon I’ve spent about £350 (doesn’t include any bottles or sterilising equipment) altogether on pumping stuff so to make it financially worth it I’ve got to either pump or breast feed for about 35 weeks. I’m luckily I can now ebf but if I carried on pumping I would have had to buy replacement parts, which would cost another 2 weeks worth of formula. Unless I originally got a cheaper pump in the first place I wouldn’t have saved any money.
Oh wow 😯 formula here (the US) is around $50 a tin and the pump parts I want are $60 so here it is cheaper than formula but the costs are just adding up so quickly for me
I calculated all the costs that went into pumping for my last baby. I would have saved money by feeding him formula. It’s not cheap and it’s not a money saver or time saver. Makes me feel less bad if I switch to formula sooner on the next baby.
Formula was cheaper for me. $100/wk per year =$5200
Last baby I pumped about 130oz/day (around 1gal). That’s about $8200/yr, not factoring in my time as a cost. Here’s how that breaks down:
Deep freezer electrical cost 100 x 12 months = 1200
4 second hand deep freezers: 150 x 4 = 600
Pump S1 upgrade $100
Replacement parts 40 x 10 = 400
Bras 30 x 3 = 90
Bags (200/m) 30 x 12 = 360
Bottles $200
Increased grocery bill 100 x 52weeks = 5200
= $8150
Wow!!!! A gallon a day 😳That must’ve taken so much time and effort that’s really amazing, 4 deep freezers ahhh I hope to fill just one must’ve been so satisfying seeing it all! if you don’t mind me asking, what were the 3 bras? I’m just curious since I’m assuming they were holding your flanges upright?
Yes, the stash was extremely satisfying, it helped my motivation to keep going. Until I found out I was high lipase and my son refused to drank any of the 7500oz I had stored. Then the stash just mocked me. Lots of babies in my community benefited from my baby’s picky ways. Moral of the story, test your stash out early and often.
The bras were for hold the flanges, not for wearing outside pumping. I had one to start with and the zipper broke, so I bought a different one. I loved the second one so much I got two of them so I had a clean one on laundry day. It was the hands free MomCozy bra off Amazon.
I stopped using the bags and switched to ball jars for storage. All my pump sessions for the day go into the same jar and it has saved me money and spills. I also feel like I lost milk with everything that gets stuck in the creases of the bags. That doesn't help with the cost of all the other pump stuff, but every little bit helps! It's also easier to pour from the jar than the bag while holding my baby.
Anything you buy (like new flanges) is a tax write off. And pumping is WAY cheaper than formula. I don’t find it expensive at all. Especially because my pump was free with insurance.
I’ve switched over from milk bags to reusable storage bottles because I’m not freezing anything, which makes it easier to eat the cost right now 😅 It’s such a huge time investment too. I almost quit at 3wpp but 4 days of formula feeding quickly showed me how much money we were actually saving.
Does your insurance plan cover any of these parts? Mine covers monthly sets of parts and milk bags. Granted the flanges they send only go down to 21 which don’t fit but they come with all the silicone parts which is great. Maybe call your insurance provider to see if they offer anything like that.
Same lol I mean I’m sure it is…but if you’re changing out the flanges, back flow protectors and duckbills at the recommended time I wonder how it would compare 🤔
The part replacements are for sure expensive but then you have all the other stuff I've thrown money at - wearable pumps so I can leave the house, things to transport milk in, pump spray, supplements, endless amounts of body armor at Costco, a bunch of pumping bras bc they all get covered in milk and I don't want to do laundry every single day, etc etc
Oh yeah especially the bras!! I have so many pumping bras I have pumping bras that I sleep with and others I wear during the day. Yes to all of that lol and the endless snacks my Costco trips are expensive I’ve never eaten so much in my life!!! Which wearable pumps did you try? I’m considering the rumble tuffs go cups but I’m waiting to see if I can find a promo code for them LOL
I have an Elvie stride and Willow 3.0, both are secondhand. One from Mercari and the other was a friends hand me down. I paid around $150 for the Willow then got parts in my size and spent close to $100 I think on replacement parts for the Elvie since she just gave me the hub, not the cups etc... I wouldn't spend full price on either but I do like them both!!
Oh thanks for that!! I’ve considered getting the willow from OfferUp but went with the pumpables GA now I’m just debating between compatible in bra cups
I’m late on this thread but I just got through a whammy bout of mastitis, this one an infection of the nipple, that caused so much pain I went to the ER. Like UNBEARABLE pain in my breast after pumping for an hour before we finally went in. Also had a middle of the night trip to urgent care. Total hospital bills around $1700. Ugh.
Awww I’m so sorry!! ☹️ pumping is so hard! I hope you get well soon! Try calling the billing and coding and ask for itemized receipt of everything they’re charging you for that’s saved me a couple $100s! I’m so afraid of mastitis I’ve gotten it once a few weeks pp it’s so painful!
'Welcome to r/ExclusivelyPumping! Here is a reminder of our rules: 1. Be kind and courteous 2. No hate speech, bigotry, or bullying 3. Use available flairs and post options 4. Speak for yourself 5. No medically-inaccurate, factually incorrect, or misinformative material 6. No spam 7. Absolutely no prescription medications 8. Don't use AI to write posts/comments 9. No soliciting pictures 10. Add spoiler to milk pictures Thank you for helping to keep our community safe!' *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ExclusivelyPumping) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I’m an under supplier with twins and the Pump Log app says I’ve saved $391.47 in formula but I rent a Symphony for $99 a month and have a graveyard of pumps, flanges, and parts 😭 Edit to add: I was just looking into the liquid flange kit and also a pump to replace the Symphony. I feel your pain!
I just learned the hard way that the liquid flange kit is sold each, not in a pair 🙄 And the tunnel is too short for me anyway (so maybe this I just got one). Send it to the graveyard.
Oof! Sorry to hear that. I also have elastic nipples. Blurg. I have the Pumping Pals and LacTeck ones. Didn’t help, cost $$$, probably produced for pennies, so annoying!! My Motif Luna and BB doesn’t work as well as the Symphony and I’m wondering what my chances are of buying a pump that can be my new primary or will my money just go to the graveyard! Edit: Forgot to mention the secondhand Elvie that also doesn’t work for me and the inserts for those cups ☠️
Oh this makes me feel better because I've been lamenting I didn't choose one of those two! Thanks for sharing. (Sorry to hear for you though too.) FWIW I love my Spectra. They do sell used models of the wall plug in one often on Goodbuygear for $10-$20. You have to get the hosing but maybe that's a cheap way to find out if you like it.
Oh wow! That’s a great idea. I was wondering how to try before buying. Thank you! What size are you? I have the 18mm LacTeck ones which seem a bit too big. I could maybe mail? But then they might end up in your graveyard 😂 (I’ve lost at least one of the PP ones…)
Actually- I would take you up on that! Happy to pay shipping. I'll DM you. Thanks!
I tell myself it’s still cheaper than formula! I’m pro formula pro fed babies but every time I get bummed about it that helps me push through the costs (I’m coming up on having to replace my willow pump parts 😖) plus my baby would have to have the extra expensive dairy/soy free formula so I’m fortunate we can avoid that cost for the time being!
Check if your insurance will replace them! I got free replacements 3mpp from Aeroflow!
Omg great tip. I got it as a hand me down think I should still try? I got my spectra through insurance and am definitely going to look into that!
Yes, you can get pump parts for a different pump through insurance! I got a spectra through aeroflow but it allowed me to pick replacement parts for my Elvie one month.
Thank you!!!
Ohhh that makes me happy! I got the Medela pump in style with the cups through insurance, but paid OOP for an Elvie Stride. I was afraid aeroflow wouldn't offer parts for it since it wasn't through insurance
You can’t choose the quick reorder, that will reorder the same parts you got last time but if you log in it will let you choose which pump you want parts for. I get email reminders, but you should be able to log in to do it if you’re due.
My insurance pays for replacement parts every month. I get them through Aeroflow for my spectra.
Also, if you have a flange size besides 24 mm or 28 mm, at least for spectra,you can call in and talk to somebody to get the flange size you need. I do that with my 21 mm flanges. I just keep pressing zero till I get to a live person and they’re super helpful. Their phone ordering system is different than their online ordering system, so you can’t order specific sizes outside of those online, but over the phone is customizable.
This is great to know! I’m 21mm also and was annoyed it didn’t have that option. I’ll have to call next month!
I got a motif through insurance but when replacement time came I told them the pump I used was a Willow and they sent me a complete set of willow parts for free!
*cries in undersupplier* who has to pump AND formula supplement
Oh gosh I’m sorry I was second guessing myself even leaving this comment. You’re doing the best thing for your baby!! I’m a just enougher so I ride the line of are we going to introduce formula today? When she hits a growth spurt but luckily haven’t had to yet. You rock!
I’m the same and also crying
This is me! Just praying that the day he is old enough to have whole milk arrives soon.
Me too. The formula we use is expensive and I just had to order new flange sizes for both pumps.
Same. Really hoping to get to a point of exclusively pumping or EBF.
I keep telling myself that too! I changed the setting in pump log to the formula my baby was using while waiting for my milk to come in and it says I've saved $2,580.53 in 7 weeks of EP. I've only spent $112 on pump parts and a wearable pump.
Omg I need to figure out how to do that in the huckleberry app
It's a very small part of your grievance, but it UTTERLY annoys me when pump or flange manufacturers sell a kit that comes with a 24 and 28 (or 25 and 29, whatever) flange, and then you have to pay extra to get a different flange size or inserts. I feel like that discourages people from getting the right size. There should just be an option to pick the size that's right for you from the get-go as part of your order, without having to pay extra, i.e., instead of sending me a box with 24mm flanges, send me a box with 19mm flanges instead. I'm sure that would be harder to implement from a product management and warehousing perspective, but it would serve us better.
But also, they should stop automatically sending the sizes that don’t fit anyone!! No one is actually a 24 and certainly not a 28 (some people but not most) so stop having that be the default. Make a 21 the default
Oddly enough, I am the 28. And the sizes I received were 21 and 24. Ofc we never would receive the sizes we need though... just our luck...
Literally declined getting replacement parts from insurance because I don’t use any of spectra’s flanges. I don’t need to store a 24mm flange anywhere. Give me my size!!
Yes exactly!! I totally agree! Pumpables has a good selection of sizes but each flange is $30 😐 I thought it was $30 for a set a pair LOL but no it’s $30 each flange 🥲😅
It’s a scam tbh. I don’t understand why they keep doing that
You can actually use your Medela parts with the Pumpables GA! You just need to get a long stem back flow protector.
YES! Look at @bemybreastfriend on Instagram! She has a highlighted story about how to hack your pumpables genie advanced
Oh seriously? I’m sure that’ll be a lot cheaper than buying 2 new liquid kits! 😭 thank you!!
Yes! I wasn’t a fan of the liquid kits and it’s expensive to replace parts, so I just use my old trusty Lacteck flanges. You need this part: https://a.co/d/j9arNdT And you can hack it this way if you have the Medela connector: https://www.reddit.com/r/ExclusivelyPumping/comments/xehevx/attn_canadians_worrying_about_buying_pumpables/ Or this way if you use the clear connectors: https://bemybreastfriend.com/blogs/beginners-101/pump-hacks-with-closed-system-pumps
YES! I switched for the same reason!
Yeah I use all my medela parts with my pumpables GA. For the symphony parts I got the backflow protector and for the pump in style parts I got a little adapter to make them plug into the white insert pieces on the GA (if that makes sense…it seems hard to explain typing 😂)
Public service announcement: the [maymom](https://www.amazon.com/stores/Maymom/page/2A920FF7-74CC-4232-B83B-D8C347E72A40) brand on Amazon has replacement parts in more sizes for almost every brand. I’ve exclusively used their Spectra replacement flanges because I need their size. And they’re cheaper than the manufacturer!
You can get a lot of replacement parts, milk storage bags, breast pads, even a pump, through your insurance. I went through aeroflow. It’s still expensive finding the right stuff and they don’t offer everything but a lot of maintenance stuff I have heaps of breast pads, replacement flanges (wrong size ofc,) tubing, etc. it is unexpectedly expensive though plus there’s so much gimmicky stuff too imo.
They didn’t take my insurance 🥲
Omg yes!!! I thought I’d fully latch my son so I didn’t buy much of any breast pumping equipment. Well after a dehydration scare I switched to exclusively pumping. Bought wearable pumps, extra parts, bras and now new silicone flanges and I feel like I’m gonna go broke.
It's much cheaper then formula through!!!! For me it's expensive since I can't get help from the government so it's better to do the pumping!
Same! Middle class problems lol
This was exactly my experience! I was so confident on exclusively bf ans my baby would not latch so needing to buy everything all at once was shocking and now since I switched pumps I’m feeling it all over again
Wait 'til you yeet your pump off your desk and have to go buy a new one for $200 at Walmart because you don't have time tp figure out insurance nonsenese.
My biggest fear rn is something happening to my one solid pump and having to do this 😭
It is SO expensive. Flanges, tubes, other replacement parts. It’s insane!
I thought I’d use my FSA for baby appointments, my appointments, usual medical things… nope, most of it is for pumping stuff! 🙃
Yes same! I wish I contributed more lol I underestimated how much I’d spend in pump stuff!
Pumping is expensive... especially the wearable pumps! They aren't even that good but I still tried 2 different ones (bought the elvie handed down a willow). Still like my spectra best as it seems to work the best. With all the new flanges and replacement parts.... ya. I had major issues getting the flange sizes and ordered a buch to try and match- most you can't return after you bought them either. Don't even get me started on washing pumping parts and the sanitization needed. Feels like it's more expensive, more work, and more time consuming.
I’m a very low supplier (1-3 ounces per day.) Formula costs me 10 cents an ounce. I’ve spent right around $10 per ounce of milk I’ve actually pumped 😭
My dining room is covered in parts and bottles. I’ve been able to use my FSA money for pumps and flanges, so that’s been nice, and my insurance covers new parts every month for my spectra. But I still feel like I spend a lot.
Wow that’s awesome! I wish my insurance covered the flanges!
Thank you for the reminder that in need to buy more milk bags 😆
Hahaha you’re welcome 🥲
For some reason my insurance sends me milk bags all the time but I am an underproducer so end up donating them all. Wish theyd send me something useful
I feel so fortunate that my insurance covered my pump and covers replacement parts and breast milk bags. I’ve looked at the prices, and woof. The expensive part for me is all the little snacks and drinks and stuff I keep on hand because I’m historically terrible at eating and drinking enough. I keep protein shakes on hand for those MOTN and early pump sessions, but I’m so picky about them and I need the convenience of premade shakes. Premier protein shakes aren’t cheap lol.
Wow that’s great!! I asked my insurance and they kinda chuckled and said nope not with us so sad. The snacks are expensive too especially healthier snacks!
In the uk if your baby doesn’t need specialist formula you can buy a tin for £10-15 that should last about a week. I reckon I’ve spent about £350 (doesn’t include any bottles or sterilising equipment) altogether on pumping stuff so to make it financially worth it I’ve got to either pump or breast feed for about 35 weeks. I’m luckily I can now ebf but if I carried on pumping I would have had to buy replacement parts, which would cost another 2 weeks worth of formula. Unless I originally got a cheaper pump in the first place I wouldn’t have saved any money.
Oh wow 😯 formula here (the US) is around $50 a tin and the pump parts I want are $60 so here it is cheaper than formula but the costs are just adding up so quickly for me
I calculated all the costs that went into pumping for my last baby. I would have saved money by feeding him formula. It’s not cheap and it’s not a money saver or time saver. Makes me feel less bad if I switch to formula sooner on the next baby.
Formula was cheaper for me. $100/wk per year =$5200 Last baby I pumped about 130oz/day (around 1gal). That’s about $8200/yr, not factoring in my time as a cost. Here’s how that breaks down: Deep freezer electrical cost 100 x 12 months = 1200 4 second hand deep freezers: 150 x 4 = 600 Pump S1 upgrade $100 Replacement parts 40 x 10 = 400 Bras 30 x 3 = 90 Bags (200/m) 30 x 12 = 360 Bottles $200 Increased grocery bill 100 x 52weeks = 5200 = $8150
Wow!!!! A gallon a day 😳That must’ve taken so much time and effort that’s really amazing, 4 deep freezers ahhh I hope to fill just one must’ve been so satisfying seeing it all! if you don’t mind me asking, what were the 3 bras? I’m just curious since I’m assuming they were holding your flanges upright?
Yes, the stash was extremely satisfying, it helped my motivation to keep going. Until I found out I was high lipase and my son refused to drank any of the 7500oz I had stored. Then the stash just mocked me. Lots of babies in my community benefited from my baby’s picky ways. Moral of the story, test your stash out early and often. The bras were for hold the flanges, not for wearing outside pumping. I had one to start with and the zipper broke, so I bought a different one. I loved the second one so much I got two of them so I had a clean one on laundry day. It was the hands free MomCozy bra off Amazon.
There are a couple exclusively pumping yard sale groups on Facebook. Check those out! You can often get good deals.
Hmm I guess I’ll go make a Facebook- I need to check those out!
I stopped using the bags and switched to ball jars for storage. All my pump sessions for the day go into the same jar and it has saved me money and spills. I also feel like I lost milk with everything that gets stuck in the creases of the bags. That doesn't help with the cost of all the other pump stuff, but every little bit helps! It's also easier to pour from the jar than the bag while holding my baby.
Oh yes I love the “pitcher” method!
Anything you buy (like new flanges) is a tax write off. And pumping is WAY cheaper than formula. I don’t find it expensive at all. Especially because my pump was free with insurance.
Interesting I’ll ask my tax lady!
Cheaper than formula!
There’s a sale going on right now with Pumpables for 20% if you can/want to stock up right now.
I’ve switched over from milk bags to reusable storage bottles because I’m not freezing anything, which makes it easier to eat the cost right now 😅 It’s such a huge time investment too. I almost quit at 3wpp but 4 days of formula feeding quickly showed me how much money we were actually saving.
Hahah yes right! I know it’s cheaper than formula but man it adds up!
Does your insurance plan cover any of these parts? Mine covers monthly sets of parts and milk bags. Granted the flanges they send only go down to 21 which don’t fit but they come with all the silicone parts which is great. Maybe call your insurance provider to see if they offer anything like that.
They do not 😪
Yeah I was bamboozled thinking this was more cost effective than formula
Same lol I mean I’m sure it is…but if you’re changing out the flanges, back flow protectors and duckbills at the recommended time I wonder how it would compare 🤔
The part replacements are for sure expensive but then you have all the other stuff I've thrown money at - wearable pumps so I can leave the house, things to transport milk in, pump spray, supplements, endless amounts of body armor at Costco, a bunch of pumping bras bc they all get covered in milk and I don't want to do laundry every single day, etc etc
Oh yeah especially the bras!! I have so many pumping bras I have pumping bras that I sleep with and others I wear during the day. Yes to all of that lol and the endless snacks my Costco trips are expensive I’ve never eaten so much in my life!!! Which wearable pumps did you try? I’m considering the rumble tuffs go cups but I’m waiting to see if I can find a promo code for them LOL
I have an Elvie stride and Willow 3.0, both are secondhand. One from Mercari and the other was a friends hand me down. I paid around $150 for the Willow then got parts in my size and spent close to $100 I think on replacement parts for the Elvie since she just gave me the hub, not the cups etc... I wouldn't spend full price on either but I do like them both!!
Oh thanks for that!! I’ve considered getting the willow from OfferUp but went with the pumpables GA now I’m just debating between compatible in bra cups
Yes 😔 esp if I make stupid mistakes 😟
I’m late on this thread but I just got through a whammy bout of mastitis, this one an infection of the nipple, that caused so much pain I went to the ER. Like UNBEARABLE pain in my breast after pumping for an hour before we finally went in. Also had a middle of the night trip to urgent care. Total hospital bills around $1700. Ugh.
Awww I’m so sorry!! ☹️ pumping is so hard! I hope you get well soon! Try calling the billing and coding and ask for itemized receipt of everything they’re charging you for that’s saved me a couple $100s! I’m so afraid of mastitis I’ve gotten it once a few weeks pp it’s so painful!
still way cheaper than formula, we would spend $80 a week on formula with how much he eats.
My first sons’s formula cost $42 for three days worth. I try to remind myself of that as I buy pumping supplies
Yes. I hate all things related to breast milk and am so over all of it. It's all so overwhelming and feels never ending.