Carnegie Mellon University

Pumping and Returning to Work

Returning to work can have a significant impact on your milk supply. Planning ahead and establishing a routine can help to maintain the supply you want. As you make these plans, consider the equipment you will need, how you will store and transport it, and the health and safety practices you will adhere to for milk storage. This can be a completely different mindset from breastfeeding, but can also ensure you continue to meet your goals both for lactation and your career.

Obtaining a Breast Pump

Your health insurance usually provides one breast pump at no cost or will subsidize the cost of a more expensive one. If you use one of the plans we offer at CMU, you will need to gain a prescription from your doctor in order to receive a pump. We have listed the vendors used by each of our plans.

  • Highmark: There are three main vendors for this plan. If you live outside of Pennsylvania, please contact the benefits office or your insurance provider for options which may work for you. To obtain a breast pump from these vendors, call the provider or order online and provide insurance information and the prescribing doctor's information. The vendor will bill Highmark and ship the breast pump directly to you.
    • Ameda Direct — 877-791-0064 (Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. ET)
    • Better Living Now — 800-854-5729 (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. and Sat 9 a.m.–10 p.m. ET)
    • Byram — 877-773-1972 (Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. ET)
  • UPMC covers manual breast pumps, standard electric breast pumps, and hospital grade breast pumps. View UPMC's Breast Pumps Policy [pdf].
  • Aetna provides pumps via it's Durable Medical Equipment vendors [pdf].
  • UPMC’s Lactation Center at Magee Women’s Hospital in Oakland and Allegheny Health Network’s West Penn Hospital both offer full retail stores which also provide breast pump rentals

Maintaining Your Breast Pump and Storing Milk

Returning to Work