Fair warning: I’ve got my rantin’ pants on.
Many of you have probably read my post about my breastfeeding journey thus far, where I go into a fair amount of detail about how my breast reduction in 2005 has affected my ability to produce and express milk. Earlier this month, I started taking domperidone, a prescription medication mainly used for stomach issues, but which has the happy added side effect of assisting with lactation. Since I started taking it, my breast milk production has just about tripled, going from around 4 oz. per day to almost 12 oz. Great news, right? I’m thrilled!
The unfortunate downside to this, however, is that it’s taking me a lot longer to empty my breasts. Because so many of my ducts were severed during surgery, my milk takes a bit longer to find a way out, and I usually take about 45 minutes to empty fully. Since I can only take about 30 minutes at a time for pumping (and part of that time is taken up by setting up my pump, disrobing, then getting dressed again and cleaning all my pump parts when I’m done), I just don’t have time to get myself fully expressed while I’m at work.
In the last week and a half since going back to work, I’ve had three plugged ducts. I’m prone to these anyway because of the issues with my ducts from the surgery, but it’s gotten so much worse since I started pumping at work. I know that many insurance companies will cover hospital grade pumps, which would empty my breasts more quickly and efficiently, so I called on Monday to find out what the coverage with my insurance company would allow.
United Healthcare will apparently only cover rental of a hospital grade pump if Charlie has a “medical need” for breast milk. As a friend of mine on Facebook said, “Um… he’s a human infant?!” That’s good enough reason for me, but apparently the insurance company disagrees. Add to that the fact that breast milk will aid in giving him immunities and better nutrition, as well as lowering his risk for certain illnesses and diseases like diabetes, and it’s pretty clear that it’s even in the insurance companies’ best interests to do what they can to help moms breastfeed as efficiently as possible.
And, of course, there’s my health to consider. I realize I’m a little biased here, but I think that’s worth something, too! Plugged ducts hurt, and they could potentially lead to mastitis, which hurts even more and would mean a doctor’s visit and medications for pain and an antibiotic that they would have to pay for. And if I got an abscess from all this, that could mean hospital time. It just doesn’t make sense for them to not help with this.
Breastfeeding support has come a LONG way, and I’m really glad the companies are at least helping somewhat by providing pumps and lactation support through IBCLCs, but there is SO much room for improvement! Mamas like me especially need all the help they can get. If I was a less bull-headed person, I’d probably have given up long ago because the support from United just hasn’t been there. I’m sure other moms in my situation have just been so exhausted and frustrated by it that they’ve thrown in the towel, and that makes me so sad.
We’ve made strides, but there is so much more to be done to make breastfeeding easier and more accessible for mamas who encounter challenges.
