marianne neifert has a good comment about her idea that we are doing a
disservice to describe breastfeeding as "free." so often when a mother has to
spend some money, any money, she just gives up because she has to spend
money.

a mother who goes to work or some other activity which requires separation
from her baby has to provide food for that baby in some way or other. it
isn't an expense that someone else (insurance) is supposed to provide, it is
an expense one way or the other. the pump is a cost in just the same way that
diapers or formula would be.

a legislator tried to get a bill passed here in colorado that would have
mandated that insurance companies pay for pumps for all mothers, period. that
would be a poor idea on several levels. one, it would send a message that you
"must" have a pump in order to breastfeed. it would also encourage insurance
companies to not cover lactation related costs if they felt forced into a
position they didn't agree with.

of course, the companies that do not cover a pump for mothers of preemies or
sick children are scoundrels, particularly given the anti-breastfeeding
atmosphere in the hospitals here, where a baby "might" receive breastmilk
pumped by the mother, but the prevailing bottle feeding mentality makes it
difficult if not impossible for the mother to provide the milk with the
original delivery system (you know, those things on the chest, "breasts").

carol brussel IBCLC
laura nevada lactation
denver colorado

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html