At our hospital, the pumps cost us money, for the reasons cited by
Becky K.  It is the pediatricians who insist on having every mom go home
with a pump.  They say they often get called in the middle of the night by
parents who have a baby who won't nurse and are desperate.  If the mom
can't pump her milk, they tell her to feed formula and call us (or them) in
the morning. The same pediatricians will not allow us to stop giving abm
company gift packs to breastfeeding moms. One group insists that parents
purchase a pump before hospital discharge if they cannot get one from the
LC for free. We have tried in our Breastfeeding Task Force and by personal
meetings with some pediatricians to explain that pumps are not a necessary
part of breastfeeding, and that having one undermines the confidence of
some moms (usually they don't see much milk at first when they pump), all
to no avail. Pumps are certainly not a money making item for us!
      I also agree that it is far better for a  mom to have a pump that
works than
 to spend $40 or more on an inefficient pump which can damage her nipples.
Anne Stiller (hosp. based RNC, IBCLC)
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> Subject: LACTNET Digest - 29 Nov 1997 - Special issue
> Date: Sunday, November 30, 1997 2:00 AM
>