Supply Chain Issues Are Delaying Breast Pump Orders. What You Can Do to Be Prepared.

News headlines about supply chain issues can cause anyone to feel stressed — especially new mothers trying to get their breast pumps and accessories.

Unlike ordering a cute pair of shoes that are backordered, ordering a breast pump is something you need to have on time.

For example, if your baby is arriving soon or you’ve just given birth, you may be afraid that if don’t receive your pump in time, you won’t be able to continue breast feeding when you go back to work.

Or, if you’re already using your breast pump and a part breaks down and you can’t get a replacement part quickly, you may be stuck high and dry.

So, what can you do to make sure you have everything you need in time? Our best advice is order everything as early as you can.

Here are a few do’s and don’ts to keep you prepared:

Do:

• Order your breast pump 30 to 90 days before your due date
  Some moms wait until their baby has been born to order a breast pump, but during this supply chain crisis, it’s better to order your pump before you give birth to be safe. We usually recommend that mothers place an order for their pump at least 30 days before their due date, but during this shipping crisis, you may want to place an order it as much as 90 days (or three months), before your due date.Before you place an order, you can check with your insurance plan to see if they have a rule about how early you are allowed to receive your pump. Although most plans don’t specify how early you can order your pump, some plans do require you to wait until 30 days before your due date before your order can actually be processed. If you’re not sure, give us a call and we’ll check with your insurance company for you.

  You can also place the order well in advance and request that your order not be officially processed until 30 days before your due date, so it doesn’t affect your warranty or return policy (see below).

• Order Lots of Supplies in Advance
  Many new moms typically don’t buy a lot of supplies in advance because they either don’t want to spend a lot of money or aren’t sure exactly what they’ll need. But during this shipping crisis, it’s especially important to stock up on all of the replacement parts and accessories you will need so you won’t run out at the last minute. Remember that you’ll need to replace your valves once a month, backflow protectors every three months and tubing every three months, so go ahead and order some of those just in case. Plus, it’s a good idea to stock up on extra accessories such as breast milk storage bags and steam clean bags that you’ll go through quickly.
• Try Out Your Pump As Soon As Possible
  When you do receive your pump, make sure to try it out as soon as possible, because shipping out a replacement pump may also take a while.
• Consider Buying a Second Pump
  Since getting replacement parts may take longer than usual these days, it might be good to invest in a second pump so you’ll always have a back-up in case one stops working. Plus, you can always store one at home and keep one at work to reduce the amount of stuff you have to schlep each day.

Don’t:

• Order your pump too early
  Getting all of your ducks in a row early during this supply chain crisis is important, but you don’t want to jump the gun too early. Here are three reasons why:
  1. Doctors won’t usually write you a prescription for a breast pump until you’re at least 16 weeks pregnant, because if it’s earlier than that, you have a higher risk of miscarriage.
  2. The warranty on your breast pump begins on the date that your pump is shipped, NOT the day you start using it, so the earlier you receive your pump before you start using it, the more it cuts into your warranty coverage.
  3. We only offer a 45-day window to return or exchange your pump, so if you order your pump earlier than 30 days before you give birth, it may mean that you won’t be able to get a new pump in time.

We hope this helps! And we’ll do our best to have your back too. If we find out about any potential shipping delays on your orders, we will notify you as soon as possible so you can adjust your plans.