How important is battery powered breast pump?

[IndiaInk]

I'm getting ready to order my breast pump through my insurance and I'm thinking of getting the Hygeia Q.  hygeiainc.com/shop/double-electric-breast-pumps/q-breast-pump/  But it doesn't sound like it has a battery, so I'd need to plug into a wall outlet.  

I don't even know how much I'll use it because I own my own business and will have the baby with me most of the time.  In what circumstances is it nice to have the battery option?  Will I regret it if I select a pump without a battery?

[Deleted]

I use the freestyle and it has a battery. I love it b/c I can drive, wash dishes cook, vacuum, etc all without dealing with a plug. Also I am not even sure the pump room in my office has a plug. It is also great when I need to pump at the airport etc

[rootbeerfloat]

There were only a few times I used the battery pack, but those few times, I was glad to have the option.

[litasail]

I never used the battery. I did use the car adapter pretty frequently.

[ladygrey]

I've never used the battery on my pump.

[heythere]

It's never been a problem for me not to have a battery option. I have a Medela manual pump for any situations where I wouldn't have access to an outlet.

[Ashley&Scott]

I only used the battery. But I pumped in a supply closet at work...

[IndiaInk]

Apr 23, 2014 14:37:32 GMT -5 vigurl said:

I use the freestyle and it has a battery. I love it b/c I can drive, wash dishes cook, vacuum, etc all without dealing with a plug. Also I am not even sure the pump room in my office has a plug. It is also great when I need to pump at the airport etc

Holy cow - you can do all those things while pumping?!  I had no idea that was possible and I'm super impressed by your talent.  

[IndiaInk]

Ok it sounds like since I would mainly use it at home, then I won't worry too much about having a battery pack.

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2014 14:50:41 GMT -5 IndiaInk said:

Apr 23, 2014 14:37:32 GMT -5 vigurl said:

I use the freestyle and it has a battery. I love it b/c I can drive, wash dishes cook, vacuum, etc all without dealing with a plug. Also I am not even sure the pump room in my office has a plug. It is also great when I need to pump at the airport etc

Holy cow - you can do all those things while pumping?!  I had no idea that was possible and I'm super impressed by your talent.  

you can do all of those and more as long as activity does not involve bending over ( folding laundry from a basket on the floor, loading the dishwasher, sweeping dust into a dust pan etc)

[Velar Fricative]

Very important. I've had to pump in some weird places where there was no outlet or one in an inconvenient place, and I hate using the manual.

[shelbyann]

I have a different pump (Ameda) but I never use the battery option because it drains them after like two sessions. I also SAH/WAH and I have a "pump station" set up at home for when I need to pump. If I'm pumping somewhere else, I'm probably using my little Medela hand pump, which honestly works just as well (or better) than the electric one anyway.

[londoncalling]

I used the battery option to pump at work all the time even when I had access to power. I had the Hygeia Enjoye with the internal battery. If you aren't going to get the battery, definitely get the car charger.

ETA:  My Hygeia would hold a charge to last through 3x a day pumping sessions on M-W, recharge overnight on W, then use the battery Th-F, and recharge on Sunday.

[soozy87]

I pumped a lot and I have not needed the battery. I did by the $10 car adapter and have used that quite a bit.

[sookie]

Apr 23, 2014 14:42:35 GMT -5 litasail said:

I never used the battery. I did use the car adapter pretty frequently.

I tried it once, and will never again. I actually think it's less efficient though maybe it was just my pump. I have used my car adapter pretty often.

[my4girls]

the battery is handy to have, I have not used it much, even after 4 kids but it's made things a lot easier. We took DD1 to NYC for the day this week- I would not have been able to without a battery operated pump, I pumped on the train and at lunch in the booth.

[VillainV]

Apr 23, 2014 15:15:58 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Apr 23, 2014 14:50:41 GMT -5 IndiaInk said:

Holy cow - you can do all those things while pumping?!  I had no idea that was possible and I'm super impressed by your talent.  

you can do all of those and more as long as activity does not involve bending over ( folding laundry from a basket on the floor, loading the dishwasher, sweeping dust into a dust pan etc)

Did you use a hands-free bra? If so, which one?

[zarapipe]

I had the freestyle and loved it. I could walk around and just plop down and pump anywhere no worrying about an outlet. I will hopefully get another one.

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2014 16:09:47 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Apr 23, 2014 15:15:58 GMT -5 vigurl said:

you can do all of those and more as long as activity does not involve bending over ( folding laundry from a basket on the floor, loading the dishwasher, sweeping dust into a dust pan etc)

Did you use a hands-free bra? If so, which one?

Simple Wishes!  Do not do the cut a small hole in a sports bra trick.  It works but not enough to be as mobile as I was with the Simple Wishes. The Simple Wishes holds the flanges tight like a girdle!

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2014 17:29:02 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

I had the freestyle and loved it. I could walk around and just plop down and pump anywhere no worrying about an outlet. I will hopefully get another one.

What happened to your freestyle?  Mine started acting up and Medela replaced it for me no questions asked. 

[zarapipe]

Apr 23, 2014 18:45:37 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Apr 23, 2014 17:29:02 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

I had the freestyle and loved it. I could walk around and just plop down and pump anywhere no worrying about an outlet. I will hopefully get another one.

What happened to your freestyle?  Mine started acting up and Medela replaced it for me no questions asked. 

I sold it. We were undecided on number two and we knew they woukd be spaced farther alart and I figured I could sell it and get a new one if needed.

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2014 18:53:27 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Apr 23, 2014 18:45:37 GMT -5 vigurl said:

What happened to your freestyle?  Mine started acting up and Medela replaced it for me no questions asked. 

I sold it. We were undecided on number two and we knew they woukd be spaced farther alart and I figured I could sell it and get a new one if needed.

Do you know of any DMA companies carrying the Freestyle? I EP'ed for a yr with my first kid and I am not sure I could get another year out of mine.  I would like to use my ins coverage if possible to fund it.

[catbus]

I never needed the battery pack on mine. As an aside, the idea of pumping while driving always terrified me. 

[zarapipe]

Apr 23, 2014 19:00:24 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Apr 23, 2014 18:53:27 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

I sold it. We were undecided on number two and we knew they woukd be spaced farther alart and I figured I could sell it and get a new one if needed.

Do you know of any DMA companies carrying the Freestyle? I EP'ed for a yr with my first kid and I am not sure I could get another year out of mine.  I would like to use my ins coverage if possible to fund it.

I'm not sure. I need to call my ins company to see if my plan will even cover one at all. I've heard that you can pay the difference at some pharmacies if your insurance doesn't cover the freestyle. Maybe I'll call tonight.

[degal99]

I use mine a lot but then again I almost exclusively pump, so MOTN and first morning pumps are upstairs in bed and I don't feel like worrying about plugging in.

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2014 19:08:05 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Apr 23, 2014 19:00:24 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Do you know of any DMA companies carrying the Freestyle? I EP'ed for a yr with my first kid and I am not sure I could get another year out of mine.  I would like to use my ins coverage if possible to fund it.

I'm not sure. I need to call my ins company to see if my plan will even cover one at all. I've heard that you can pay the difference at some pharmacies if your insurance doesn't cover the freestyle. Maybe I'll call tonight.

thanks! let me know if you find out anything!

[sh10]

Apr 23, 2014 16:09:47 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Apr 23, 2014 15:15:58 GMT -5 vigurl said:

you can do all of those and more as long as activity does not involve bending over ( folding laundry from a basket on the floor, loading the dishwasher, sweeping dust into a dust pan etc)

Did you use a hands-free bra? If so, which one?

The holes in the sports bra works great for me, I wanted to try it before spending money on a pumping bra and I'm glad I tried it. It was an old one I was going to throw away, so I thought it was worth trying.

[allin]

I have a Freestyle and almost never plug it in. The charge lasts forever and it makes it super easy to pump wherever I need to - at work, in the car, anywhere. It's also a lot smaller than the ones that plug in, so I can toss it in whatever bag I happen to be carrying. I don't know what I'd do without having the battery powered pump!

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2014 21:02:41 GMT -5 sh10 said:

Apr 23, 2014 16:09:47 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Did you use a hands-free bra? If so, which one?

The holes in the sports bra works great for me, I wanted to try it before spending money on a pumping bra and I'm glad I tried it. It was an old one I was going to throw away, so I thought it was worth trying.

I didn't say it does not work.  It worked fine for me too.  I used if for a few months.  Then amazon had a deal on simple wishes and I decided to get it.  Well upgrading from the old sports bra thing to the simple wishes is like going from a Pinto to a Maserati.  I never went back.   It is one of those things where you don't realize what you were missing until you have it.