What kind of pumps does your hospital use? Ooops, I think we can't use brand
names when posting to this list...Every NICU I'm familiar with issues an
individual-user pumping kit (preferably a double-pumping set-up, which is
considerably more cost-effective than 2 single pump kits) compatible with
whatever type of medical-grade pump the hospital uses, and then the mother
is responsible (after receiving specific instructions on how to do so) for
cleaning and maintaining her pumping kit. Does your hospital have electric
pumps? Or do you rely on pumps the mom buys/rents/gets from somewhere else?

The pump rental for low-income women issue is a big, big problem (especially
since we know that it is the least-educated, lowest-income, youngest, and
otherwise least economically privileged women who are most likely to give
birth to vlbw/preemie/sick babies!). Until this fiscal year's budget cuts at
WIC, our local WIC program maintained 3 medical-grade electrical pumps for
the use (at no charge) of women who couldn't afford rentals. Now WIC can no
longer run that program (since they no longer have me to do so), and our
local breastfeeding coalition is planning to fundraise from (we hope) the
pediatricians or whatever sources we can motivate to maintain some "loaner
pumps", and provide the LC assistance to go with them. It's a huge concern.
I find it especially aggravating because the actual cost of leasing the
pumps and even providing the pump kits at no cost is so small, relative to
what other "medical"-type stuff costs. It's nothing, especially compared to
the cost of treating all the non-breastmilk complications these little ones
will suffer without their mama's milk! aaarrrggghhh!

How do other communities deal with this electric pump issue? Any success
stories out there? I'd love to hear about it!

Cathy Bargar, RN, IBCLC, in Ithaca, NY