May Day is for Pumping Mamas We Say, You Are a Most Deserving May Queen

This Sunday is May 1—a significant day for two, seemingly opposite reasons.

Most likely you’re familiar with May Day, a festive and flowery invocation of a coming summer. Although we’ve only just entered the spring, this date is a deeply historical pause—breaking from the cold, dark days of winter to welcome warmth, health, and bountiful growth.

Celebrations in ancient Scotland, Ireland, and Rome anticipated and honored crop abundance and fertile livestock. In time, these ceremonies evolved into opportunities for communities to gather outside and enjoy the day with flowers, singing, and dancing. Festivities included gifting neighbors with baskets of goodies, dancing around a maypole, and sometimes even selecting a May Queen to oversee the day’s follies.[1]

At the end of the 19^th century, workers united in protest against grueling labor standards marked this same date with another significance. Taking place in Chicago and other major cities around the glove, the event became part of the Haymarket Affair and stirred notable labor reforms, most notably a designated eight-hour workday.

In 1889, May Day was labeled International Workers’ Day. In the U.S. in 1958, President Eisenhower signed a resolution to change the title to “Loyalty Day,” in an effort to avoid any connotation to socialism or communism.  The resolution detailed Loyalty’s Day’s purpose as “a special day for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States of America and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom.”[2]

So whether you opt to call Sunday May Day, Workers’ Day, or Loyalty Day—we say it’s definitely a tribute to pumping mamas. It’s a time to honor the warmth, health, and bountiful growth you provide to your precious little one with the nourishment you provide. It’s also a fitting pause to recognize and pay tribute to the endless and grueling work it takes to produce and pump all your nourishing milk.

We also say you are, most definitely, a May Queen. Allow yourself to be treated with the love, the gratitude, and the honor you deserve this weekend.

http://time.com/3836834/may-day-labor-history/

[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/what-is-may-day-all-about/2014/04/29/e2d6056c-cafc-11e3-95f7-7ecdde72d2ea_story.html

[2] http://time.com/3836834/may-day-labor-history/

How Is My Breast Pump Covered Under Insurance?

When shopping for your breast pump, it’s important to know the difference between “free” and “covered” and to educate yourself on the actual coverage of your insurance policy under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Under the ACA a breast pump is fully covered under most health insurance plans. The new legislation makes special allowances for the unique costs of female healthcare, with maternity care receiving much emphasis and breastfeeding needs finding address with the CDC’s pronouncement of breastfeeding among the top preventative efforts a mother can do for herself and her child. 

Here’s the word of caution: “most.” The Affordable Care Act doesn’t say that all breast pumps are now free for everyone. Rather, the legislation has pushed insurance companies to cover breast pumps under their offered policies so now “a breast pump is fully covered under most health insurance plans.” With your policy number in hand, call your insurance company and have them walk you through the exact coverage terms of your policy and the specific procedure you follow to acquire your “covered” breast pump. Usually, this procedure simply involves you ordering your breast pump through the carrier’s approved distributor: https://www.byramhealthcare.com.

That’s great news.

Here’s more good news: If your policy is one of the few that doesn’t fully cover your breast pump, there may be another way. The Affordable Care Act emphasizes that it’s up to you and your doctor to decide what's right for you and your breastfeeding needs. As such, some insurance plans may require pre-authorization from your doctor to ensure the proper services and equipment is provided.  

To support the women taking secondary steps to access their entitled equipment and services, the National Women’s Law Center created a toolkit that includes letter templates and reimbursement forms. You can access those resources through their site http://www.nwlc.org/resource/new-benefits-breastfeeding-moms-facts-and-tools-understand-your-coverage-under-health-care- .

Once you’re ready to start shopping for your covered breast pump, visit the Byram Healthcare site, select your insurance provider, and select from the variety of popular models we offer.

Find Your Breast Pumping Groove: A Review of Inspirational Posts

We’ve been there. We’ve done this. We know that breast pumping—whether exclusively or supplementally—is hard work.

On Facebook we seek to support and inspire you, now and again, with quick tips and supportive words.

In case you’ve missed them, here’s a handful of inspirations from last year to help you “Find Your Breast Pumping Groove.”

Find your pumping groove! At first, new mama, pumping might feel like another obligation among a million but eventually it will free you up and ensure a supply of breast milk for your baby.

How Can I Increase My Milk Supply?

The simplest answer is: empty your breasts of breast milk and you will produce more milk.

The central tenant of milk production is that milk production slows as the breast fills. In other words, milk production has everything to do with the frequency and efficiency with which your breasts are emptied, and less to do with a set period of time.

Newborns naturally feed very frequently for short periods. Remember when you’re tired and sore,

What Can I Do To Produce More Milk?

The simplest answer is, empty your breasts of breast milk and you will produce more milk.

The central tenant of milk production is that milk production slows as the breast fills. In other words, milk production has everything to do with the frequency and efficiency with which your breasts are emptied, and less to do with a set period of time.

Savvy Pumping Mama Part 1: What Does the Food Label “Natural” Actually Mean?

As a breast-pumping mom you do everything in your power to help your little one grow strong and healthy. That also means keeping yourself strong and healthy.

But with rampant advice, sometimes sneaky marketing, complicated legislation, and confusing labeling—knowing what to know, what is true, and what all this information actually means takes more energy and thought than any sane mom has in reserve.

So in order to keep you sane and savvy, we have compiled a series of posts covering issues related to your best health and nutrition. This way you have the information you need to make your best, personal decisions.

First topic: What does the word “natural” actually mean as a food label?

Hydration Fixation in Review

In an effort to take one little—yet crucial—concern off your mind, we compiled a series of posts addressing all things hydration.

Here’s a review of the knowledge and tips you’ll want to keep top of mind to keep your strength, health, and hydration in check.

How much water do you need to consume daily while breast pumping?

What Are the Key Features and Reviews for Hygeia’s Q Model

As a premium medical supplier, Byram Healthcare only offers market-preferred breast pumps to our clients. And due to the Affordable Care Act, Byram Healthcare offers this variety of highly rated breast pumps - through most insurance plans - at no cost to you.

We hope to make your selection process streamlined and easy by offering this series of blog posts, highlighting the key features and user reviews for specific pumps. Today we’re focusing on Hygeia’s Q Model breast pump.

(To learn how easy it is to order your no-cost breast pump through Byram visit our earlier blog post entitled: How Do I Order My Covered PumpThrough Byram Healthcare?) 

Product Overview

 Hygeia Q Breast Pump [1]

 La Leche League, the international breastfeeding non-profit and advocacy group endorse Hygeia.     

 This model is categorized as Hospital Grade, designed for long-term and features a vacuum rhythm 

 that mimics your baby’s unique patterns.

How Do I Determine Which Breast Pumps Are Covered Under My Insurance?

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, breast pumps are now covered for expectant mothers—at no cost—under most health insurance policies.

This is a fabulous advance in healthcare, standards of living, and convenience for every new mother—whether you plan to pump exclusively or supplementally.

And the process of receiving your covered breast pump is actually simple!

As a medical supplier, Byram Healthcare’s role is to get you your breast pump quickly and easily so you can direct your time and energy towards preparing for your new baby’s arrival.

Because we partner with hundreds of insurance providers nationally, odds are we got you covered. The following steps will help you to determine which breast pumps are covered under your insurance plan and then place your order.