Common
Q & A

The term “Hospital Grade Pump” is not regulated by the FDA, but it has long been used by pump manufacturers and Lactation Consultants to indicate that a pump is able to:

1. Establish, increase, and maintain a milk supply in a way that a home pump may not be adequate for.

2. Be used hygienically and safely by multiple users.

3. Be highly durable and meant for frequent daily use over MANY years.

This can be a complex question, and is unique to each dyad. If you feel you need a breast pump, but are unsure which one, we recommend calling or texting our staff at (202) 293-5182.

The Medela Symphony is commonly found in hospitals in the DMV area. If you do use a Symphony in the hospital, keep your pump parts in case you want to rent the pump when you arrive home. The Symphony is typically the hospital breast pump that our consultants will recommend.

The Spectra S3 is also a helpful option if you are waiting for a Spectra or plan to use a Spectra down the line. Spectra pump parts are also interchangeable between pumps, so if you already have Spectra pump parts, it is likely you can use them with the Spectra S3 HGP as well.

It’s up to you! Some parents use the pump for a week, while others continue their rental for 3 months. Some helpful tips:

• If you are planning to use the HGP while waiting for another to arrive, sometimes choosing a shorter duration (1 week for example) can be helpful.

• If you are planning on using your rental for 2 weeks or longer, we recommend selecting the 1 month rate.

• If you are planning to use the rental consistently throughout your pumping journey, we recommend the 1 month or 3 month rate.

• If you are working with a Lactation Consultant, they can also provide guidance on how long to rent your HGP depending on your feeding goals.

Overall, we’d suggest choosing the maximum amount of time you think you’d reasonably need. You can always return your rental early, but we cannot adjust your monthly rate after the first month.

The rental rate includes only the breast pump unit, power cord, and case. Each renter needs their own breast pump parts, which must be purchased separately from the Breastfeeding Center. if you have questions about which breast pump parts you might need, feel free to text or call us at (202) 293-5182. You can also shop our nursing and pumping supplies here.

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This depends on which pump brand of pump you have at home. Here are some tips:

• If you are using the Spectra S1 or S2 you do not need to purchase separate pump parts for the Spectra S3. the pump parts are interchangeable between pumps.

• If you are using a Medela pump and want to use the Medela Symphony, you will likely need to purchase some pump parts. You can view the full Symphony Kit here to see which parts you might need..

• If you are using any other pump brand (Elvie, Baby Buddha, Pumpables, etc.) you will likely need to purchase a kit for your HGP rental, whether it be the Spectra S3 or the Medela Symphony. We recommend reaching out to us to confirm which parts you might need. We can also help you in the shop when you come to pick up your rental.

Please call or text us at 202.293.5182 to make sure you have, or get all the parts you’ll need or if you have any questions or concerns.