Medela vs. Spectra breast pump review & order one FREE through your insurance! (Even TRICARE)
As a mom of 2 (soon to be 3) and a lactation counselor, I am quite familiar with the breast pump! I went back to work after my first and carried my Medela pump religiously everywhere I went.
With my second baby, I tried out the Spectra pump. They have several similarities, but many many differences!
You can see these 2 most common breast pumps side by side in this tutorial video to help you decide which may be best for you. To order a FREE pump through your insurance, also watch the videos below.
In the video I talk about how to order a free breast pump through Tricare (but a lot of insurances are doing this now!) Here’s a couple tutorials on how to order your FREE breast pump.
Aeroflow – Any Insurance
BabyPavilion – Great for TRICARE
You can also visit my YouTube channel to see all my videos!
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Instructions for ordering a breast pump through TRICARE (or other insurances)
-Get a prescription from your doctor. You can do this anytime during pregnancy, commonly done during the 2nd or 3rd trimester. If they don’t know how to do this, they can use this form.
-Find a website or local store to order your pump! You may have limited options if you go to a local store, but if they carry the pump you want great! (watch this video where I compare Medela and Spectra breast pumps) I ordered mine through TheBreastfeedingShop online and was VERY happy with the service. I took a picture of the prescription on my phone and uploaded it right there! Super easy.
-If you know what size of flange you need, make sure to note that in the comments when you order. If you don’t, they’ll send you a medium size and you can try it out. If it doesn’t fit, contact the company you ordered from and they’ll send you a different size!
-Reorder parts every 4-6 weeks. You can put in a refill request (no new Rx needed) for things like bottles, pump parts and tubing, flanges, and freezer bags. Feel free to take advantage of this if you need more supplies because it’s covered by the insurance!
If you have any additional questions or advice for other moms, comment below or contact me on facebook!
~All things for you and your new little life~
Meet Allison Tolman, LPN, IBCLC!
She is the owner and founder of New Little Life, a company dedicated to providing objective information and support for pumping mothers. With 15+ years of experience in various pregnancy and postpartum fields including as an LPN, birth doula, childbirth educator, and IBCLC, her current research focuses on testing and exploring breast pumps to find the most practical way to help pumping mothers reach their goals as well as teaching lactation professionals to better understand the complex art of pumping.
