How much can you afford to spend on the pump?

You can buy breast pumps from medical supply stores and most drugstores and baby stores, as well as many discount department stores and online retailers. If you buy a breast pump online, be sure to purchase it from a reputable company.

Electric pumps typically cost more than manual models. Because there's a small risk of contamination, don't borrow or buy a used personal-use breast pump.

You might also consider renting a hospital-grade electric breast pump from a hospital or medical supply store — especially if you're pumping milk while your baby is hospitalized or you've chosen to feed your baby expressed milk rather than breast-feed your baby. If you rent a pump, you'll need to buy the equipment that attaches your breast to the pump (pumping kit).

Most health insurance plans cover the cost of buying or renting a breast pump.