Chorevia

Day 270 of 280 · 38 weeks + 4 days

The pump question

Last reviewed · 3 min read · 8 sources · Plain-text version

Thirty-eight weeks and four days. If you plan to breastfeed, one call today: does your insurance cover an electric pump ordered before the birth?

Size this week
about the length of a stick of rhubarb
Length this week
around 49.8 cm from head to heel
A Latina woman with a full bump in a soft white t-shirt sitting cross-legged on a bed, phone to her ear, an insurance card and a pen on the quilt beside her, late morning light.

Thirty-eight weeks and four days. Today's job is one phone call and a bit of hold music. If you're not planning to breastfeed, skip the card and read the rest: there's still something here for you.

Your baby

A single stick of pink rhubarb on a plain pale wooden table, soft window light.

Around now your baby is around 49.8cm long from head to heel, about the length of a stick of rhubarb (NHS). Soon after birth, feeding becomes most of the day: breastfed newborns usually feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours (AAP). The AAP calls breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth your baby's first and most important "immunization" (AAP).

Your body

Your milk typically comes in three to six days after delivery, and your breasts may leak and feel full even if you're not breastfeeding (OWH). Breastfeeding can also help your womb return to its pre-pregnancy size, which takes about 6 weeks (NHS).

The AAP's last-minute list has a line for this: if you plan to breastfeed, check whether your insurance covers an electric breast pump ordered in advance; if you're on WIC, it usually supplies a pump after birth (AAP). Not everyone will use a pump, but sorting it now saves a phone call in week one.

Try today

  1. The breast-pump check

    Time: 15 minutes

    1. Find the member services number on your insurance card and call it.

    2. Ask: "Do you cover an electric breast pump, and can I order it before the birth?" (AAP) Then ask what you need to order it and where it comes from.

    3. If you're on WIC, ask your WIC office how you'd get a pump after the birth (AAP).

    4. Write the answer, the date, and any reference number on your card.

    Make it work:

    Have your card, your due date, and a pen in front of you before you dial, and ask the person on the phone to repeat anything you need to write down.

Watch for

  • Normal

    light spotting after sex or an internal exam; MedlinePlus says you can watch it at home with a clean pad, checking every 30 to 60 minutes for a few hours (MedlinePlus).

    Call your provider

    if it continues (MedlinePlus).

  • Normal

    spotting that stops.

    Call 911

    for heavy bleeding, a stiff and painful belly, or strong, frequent contractions (MedlinePlus).

  • Normal

    feeling worn out by evening.

    Call your provider

    right away for overwhelming tiredness (CDC).

For you

How you feed is your decision, and it can change. The newborn guide's section Feed on cues, however you feed is written for every way of feeding: breast milk, formula, or a mix. Its advice is the same either way: watch for early hunger cues, let your baby set the pace, and stop at signs of fullness. If breastfeeding is the plan, it's worth knowing that breastfeeding mothers should avoid alcohol (OWH), so plan the celebration drink accordingly.

If you're the partner: make this call yourself if she'd rather not. Insurance hold music is a job anyone can do.

Sources

This guide is general education that summarizes published research and guidance from groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and the WHO. It isn’t medical advice, and every child develops on their own timeline. Your pediatrician knows your child; if something feels wrong, call them. In an emergency, call 911.

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