Need to rent a breast pump in Germany? Here is all you need to know.
Under what circumstances can I rent a breast pump?
Sometimes breastfeeding doesn’t go according to plan: a sudden caesarean section, your baby’s suckling weakness or a breast infection – and it’s no longer easy to supply your baby with breast milk. If you have breastfeeding problems, you need help quickly, and that’s when a breast pump rental service comes in handy. If you have a medical diagnosis, you can get a prescription from your doctor so the renting the breast pump is covered by your health insurance.
How much does it cost to borrow a breast pump in Germany?
If you get a prescription from your doctor, you won’t have to pay much to borrow a breast pump from the pharmacy. In this case, your health insurance will cover the rental costs and you only have to pay a deposit. If you want to rent a breast pump privately, many pharmacies offer favourable flat rates. It’s best to ask your breast pump rental company directly how much it costs to rent a breast pump. In most cases, especially if it is for a short period of time, renting a breast pump is much cheaper than buying one.
If you decide to rent privately, these are the costs you should expect:
- About 100€ deposit
- About 50€ for the breast shields and bottles which you have to buy
- About 3€ per day for an electric double breast pump
How do I get a prescription for a breast pump in Germany?
You can get a prescription for a breast pump either from your gynecologist or your pediatrician, depending on the cause of the breastfeeding problem. If you have acute mastitis or mastitis, your gynaecologist will give you the prescription. If your baby is not drinking properly, your paediatrician is the right person to contact. It doesn’t matter which doctor prescribes the breast pump – the important thing is that the indication for the breast pump is correctly stated on the prescription.
In which cases can you have a breast pump prescribed in Germany?
For the mother – prescription by the gynecologist:
- Breast inflammation (mastitis)
- Painful, sensitive, bleeding or cracked nipples
- Inverted or flat nipples
- Reduced or increased milk production (hypo- or hypergalactia)
- Taking medicines that must not enter the baby’s bloodstream
- After surgery
For your baby – prescription by the pediatrician:
- Premature birth
- Orofacial dysfunction
- Weakness in drinking and sucking of other origin
- Anomalies in the pharyngeal-jaw region (e.g. cleft lip and palate)
- Organic disease (e.g. heart disease, lung dysfunction)
- Neurological-cerebral disease (pathological sucking pattern)
- Metabolic disease (e.g. galactosemia)
Where can I rent out a breast pump in Germany?
You can get a breast pump on prescription at many pharmacies and medical supply stores.
For hygienic reasons, you have to buy the breast shields at a pharmacy. You should also expect to pay a deposit, either by bank transfer, at the pharmacy or at the rental station.
You can even get the breast pump delivered all over Germany by Milchwiese here.
How long does your health insurance pay for the breast pump?
Your health insurance will pay for your breast pump for as long as you need it if it is medically necessary. Your doctor will usually give you a prescription for two to four weeks, but they can always give you a follow-up prescription if necessary and you can easily extend the rental period of the breast pump.
We hope this article was useful!
About Baby in Berlin
Baby in Berlin is a concierge service for international families in Germany offering assistance with the organization of their pregnancy and the paperwork (Elterngeld, Kindergeld etc) related to baby and birth. We have assisted thousands of families so far (read their testimonials here). We offer services to help you feel confident and relaxed through your parenthood journey in Germany. Don’t know which services to choose? Just get in touch and we’ll give you a call back!