Cost of hiring hospital pump

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I'm expecting twins in Jan and want to get a double electric breast pump. With DD I did fine with just a manual medela pump but this time I am going to need something that's a bit more hands free (been looking at those bras with holes!) and potentially the ability to do both boobs at a time.
I keep hearing that you can hire them from hospitals, I was wondering if anyone had done this and what the cost was? Also, are they really different models to ones you can buy on amazon? I'm not sure if it'll be cost effective to hire as I'd hope to keep it for at least 6m if not longer. Just want to build the cost into our plans.
Thanks!

In our area we were able to hire them from the NCT. I wonder if your local TAMBA group would have contacts?

I hired a hospital grade pump from medulla for £30 a month. I used it for three months and then returned it. I could not successfully breastfeed and had a rubbish milk supply. The pump enabled me to give them a bottle of breast milk each a day for the first three months. As for the bras...a sports bra from primark with some holes cut does a wonderful job.

I probably should add, it hopefully wouldn't be for exclusively pumping. Just to allow DH to do some feeds, and build up a freezer stash so I can have some time out, etc.

Thanks bags that's a good idea. I've just joined TAMBA and our NCT branch head is a friend so I can ask her.

I've just looked online and found the medela symphony for £46 for 2 weeks and then £46 a month! Eek. If my boobs cooperate as well as they did last time that might be overkill. Hopefully a 'retail grade' pump around the £100-150 mark would be OK. My record was 8oz in 15 minutes with the Harmony pump so hopefully I won't need to worry about getting the absolute best pump.

Great tip FlyingGoose, duh didn't think of that!!

The hospital one was much more effective then my manual one and double pumping hands free is much more efficient. You may end up using one at the hospital if they need special care (hopefully not)!

8 Oz in 15 minutes! That's amazing! I got the grand total of 8oz a day, exclusively pumping 8 times including during the night.

Also check if the maternity unit you are using have a discount code for Medela.

Get a Haakaa!!

£13 on amazon, it's a silicone bulb thing that you sucker on to your boob while feeding on the other side for hands free pumping. All my MN baby group bought them.

In the first 6 months I'd do it fairly regularly and built up a stash really quickly, I could do 6oz in 10 mins at my peak!

I hired the Medela (if you google their rental site comes up) and it cost around what pp quoted above. I used an old sports bra with holes cut out which was v effective.