Breast pump replacement parts can serve a crucial role in ensuring you have success while using your breast pump. Using parts that are worn out can lead to poor breast pump performance and reduce milk supply. However, these parts are not cheap and, if purchasing them out of pocket, the costs can add up. It is important to make sure you are replacing the correct parts at the right time to keep these costs to a minimum. It is even more important to know all of your options for replacing your breast pump parts; your insurance may cover some or all of these parts, removing the cost completely.
Why Breast Pump Replacement Parts Are Important
Performance. Your breast pump parts go through a lot. They are with you for every pumping session and are crucial to the performance of your pump. Not only are these parts being used every session, but they should also be cleaned after every session. Per the CDC, you should clean every part that comes into contact with your breast and breast milk. Throughout all of this, your parts can end up cracked and warped, which can dramatically lower your milk supply.
Hygiene. While you should be cleaning your breast pump parts after each use, there is always the chance that residue, mold, and bacteria can build up. Replacing your breast pump parts will help prevent this.
Traditional Pump Parts vs. Hands Free Pump Parts
Whether you have a traditional breast pump like the Spectra S1 or a hands free breast pump like the Zomee Fit, both come with parts that can and need to be replaced.
What Breast Pump Parts to Replace and When
Just like the guidelines for cleaning your parts, you should consider replacing any part that comes into contact with your breast and breast milk. Each brand, model, and type of pump may use different parts and have different names for these parts. In general, you should replace your breast shields (flanges), diaphragms/backflow protectors, and duckbill valves/membranes. Your bottles also come into contact with breast milk and should be replaced for the sake of hygiene. For traditional type pumps, you also have the tubing to consider. While this usually does not come into contact with breast milk (since most pumps use a closed system), your tubing can have a significant impact on performance if it is worn down.
Each manufacturer has different recommendations for how frequently these parts should be replaced. It mainly depends on how often you pump and well the parts are maintained. Below is a guide as to how often these parts may need to be replaced.
- Duckbill valves / membranes: every 2-6 weeks, or signs of wear and tear
- Diaphragms / backflow protectors: every 3-6 months, or signs of wear and tear
- Breast shields (flanges): every 6 months, or signs of wear and tear
- Bottles: every 6 months, or signs of wear and tear
- Tubing: occasionally, or signs of wear and tear
Spare Parts and Emergency Back-Up Parts
While it is important to make sure the breast pump parts you are using are in good, working condition, it is also important to make sure you have spare parts and back ups available. We recommend having at least one full set of breast pump replacement parts for emergency situations. If you lose or break a part, having a back up will allow you to still pump when you were planning to and can reduce last minute store runs. Having additional parts on hand can also make pumping easier and less stressful. If you are an on-the-go pumper, you could have a set dedicated to home and a set dedicated to your travel bag.
Out Of Pocket Costs For Replacement Parts
For as small as the replacement parts are, they are not cheap. The average cost of replacement breast pump parts for a year of pumping can range from $50 to $400+, depending on which pump you have and how often you need replace the parts. Considering motherhood is already expensive enough as it is, we recommend looking towards your insurance to help with the cost.
Understanding Insurance Coverage of Breast Pump Parts
A lot of insurances offer full coverage for breast pump parts. This means the insurance will pay everything and you do not need to pay anything. Some plans will cover replacement parts as often as once a month. There are other plans that cover replacement parts quarterly or even annually.
How to Determine If Your Insurance Covers Replacement Parts
The best way to find out if your insurance covers breast pump replacement parts is to call them directly. You can also fill out our Resupply Request Form and we will do that for you!
How to Order Replacement Parts Through Your Insurance
Just like with ordering your breast pump through insurance, you will need to order through an accredited Durable Medical Equipment (DME) provider, such as Milk Moms. You will also need a prescription from your provider for these parts. Most providers are willing to write this for you, so we recommend speaking with your provider about it. If you order through Milk Moms we will reach out to your provider on your behalf to obtain this.
Conclusion
Your breast pump parts go through a lot and having to replace them is just another part of motherhood. Once you determine that you need to replace them (maybe due to cracks that lead to loss of performance or because you need a fresh new set due to residue build up or maybe it is a combination of both), you will then need to determine how you will replace them. We recommend first trying to get your breast pump replacement parts covered through insurance. Milk Moms has a Resupply Program that is dedicated to helping Moms get these parts through insurance at no cost. See our Breast Pump Replacement Parts Program for more information or fill out our Resupply Request Form to see if you are eligible for free parts!
