Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

TRICARE

5 Tips For Using Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump

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5 Tips For Using Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump


5 Tips For Using Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump

This post is sponsored by the Breastfeeding Shop!

If you are pregnant or have a new baby, you could be getting ready to purchase or find your breast pump. Having a breast pump can be a good idea for a variety of reasons. Breast pumps are useful for encouraging your milk supply, to allow you to continue to breastfeed when you go back to work, and to help you store milk if you do need to be away from your baby for any reason.

Here are five tips for using your breast pump so you can get the most out of what the pump can provide for you and your baby. 

  • Have a nice set up area for your breast pump

Find a good place in your home where you will set up your breast pump. You can keep everything you need in that spot, and make sure the area gives you the space you need to pump. Once your baby comes, you will always have a place to go to pump or nurse your baby. 

  • Order your breast pump early

Make sure you order your breast pump early so that it is ready for when your baby comes. The Breastfeeding Shop is the best place to do so in order to receive your no-cost breast pump through your TRICARE benefit. You can easily fill out their order form, all you need is a prescription from your doctor. You can also use their handy app to order as well. The Breastfeeding Shop has quite a variety of breast pumps to choose from.

  • Find the right breast pump for your needs

When you are picking out your breast pump, make sure to find the one that works the best for your needs. Some moms will be returning to a job outside the home and will need to use a pump every day. Others will only be using their pumps when they need to make extra milk or to build up their supply. Research the different breast pumps to find the one that will work best. 

  • Learn how to use the breast pump before your baby comes

Once you get your breast pump, make sure you know how to use the pump before the baby comes. Get the parts and accessories cleaned and ready. This will save you time during those newborn and early baby days. 

  • Make sure you have supplies and accessories

In additions to breast pumps, you are also entitled to breast pump accessories through your TRICARE benefit. You will want to start out with enough of them and then plan to order more as need be. There are limits on what you can receive with your TRICARE benefit and you can order them from the Breastfeeding Shop too. 

If you are pregnant or just had a baby and have TRICARE, make sure you order your breast pump. The Breastfeeding Shop can get you started.

5 Misconceptions About Breastfeeding

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5 Misconceptions About Breastfeeding

This is a sponsored post! 

Before I ever had children, I knew I wanted to breastfeed once I had them. I was committed to doing this. But once my first baby was born, I realized that I had been wrong about some parts of breastfeeding.

I just assumed that because I wanted to breastfeed my son, and breastfeeding was natural, breastfeeding would be easy for us. That he would be born, I would start to nurse him, and everything would fall into place. In reality, things were more complicated than that.

5 Misconceptions About Breastfeeding

We eventually figured out how to make breastfeeding work, but not without help, many tears, and many frustrating nights.

Although many women do breastfeed successfully, there are many misconceptions about breastfeeding, here are five of them:

Breastfeeding will be easy since it is natural

As I mentioned above, I thought that since I wanted to breastfed so badly, things would work themselves out. In reality, breastfeeding doesn’t always come easy for everyone for many different reasons. A lactation consultant can be a great person to go to if you are struggling to get started with breastfeeding. Give yourself some time and patience and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

You won’t need a breast pump if you breastfeed

Did you know that with your TRICARE benefit you can receive a no-cost breast pump? You might be thinking you won’t need one if you are planning to breastfeed and be a SAHM. Or that you might not need one until the baby is a little older and you feel comfortable leaving them.

The truth is, a breast pump can be so helpful even in those early weeks. Breast pumps can build up an emergency supply of milk, relieve pain from engorgement, and help with your milk supply. Since you can easily order your breast pump through The Breastfeeding Shop, having one available to you from day one is a good idea.

The Breastfeeding Shop has many different choices of breast pumps, and you can easily order your pump through their app or online. You can also order your breast pump accessories or supplies through them. You can start by using their breast pump order form.

5 Misconceptions About Breastfeeding

You have to feed your newborn on a strict schedule

Feeding your baby on demand can be one way to feed your newborn. You don’t have to feed on a strict schedule. Your baby will give you cues to let you know when they are hungry. And in those first months, they will go through different growth spurts where they need to eat more than usual.

Not having your baby on a strict schedule doesn’t mean you can’t have a routine. Establishing routines with a baby can be very important. But not having too strict of a schedule with feeding can make the breastfeeding experience a little easier for everyone.

You can’t breastfeed and go back to work

You might be going back to work after your baby is born and not sure if you should continue to breastfeed. The truth is, you totally can. Going back to work doesn’t mean you have to stop breastfeeding. And can be another reason to order your TRICARE benefit breast pump.  Some breast pumps work better for everyday use than others so make sure to check into what the right breast pump would be for you.

You have to stop breastfeeding at a year

There is no rule that says you have to stop breastfeeding your baby at a year, or at nine months, or at six months. You need to do what works for you and your baby. Different people will have different comfort levels with how long they want to continue breastfeeding for.

Looking for more information on your TRICARE benefit breast pump? Here are some posts for you:

What You Need To Know About Ordering Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Accessories and Supplies

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby

7 Must Have Baby Products For Your New Baby

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7 Must Have Baby Products For Your New Baby

This post is sponsored by the Breastfeeding Shop

7 Must Have Baby Products For Your New Baby

Getting ready for a new baby is always a whole lot of fun and with a new baby comes new baby products. Some you need, some you don’t.

When you go to register for your baby shower, you can become quite overwhelmed by everything that is out there. What kind of stroller should you get? Which type of crib? Do you even need to buy a swing? There are so many options!

And while it is true you don’t need everything, even if everyone else on the block has it, there are some baby products that are a must, and that you don’t want to live without.

Here is my list of 7 must have baby products for your new baby:

Bassinet/Co-sleeper

All babies need a place to sleep. For me, I loved having them in my room with me at first so they started off in a co-sleeper and eventually moved to a crib months later. Having this by my bed was good for me and for them. I also liked having a safe place for them to go when I needed to take a shower or put them down so I could get things done. One of our co-sleepers turned into a Pack N Play which was also very handy once they were a little older.

Crib

While we didn’t use a crib right away, having one was a must. As they got older, I knew they would be safe there and would be able to sleep. Cribs come in all types of styles and designs so you should be able to find one you love. Having a crib that turned into a toddler bed is also a good idea because that means when they do hit the age where they can climb out, you can turn the crib into a toddler bed and not have to buy anything else for a few more years.

Auto-ship diapers

This was something we only had with my youngest son but having diapers come to your house on a regular basis is a must. No more running out at night to grab a pack, or always making sure you add them to your shopping list. My Diaper Shop is a good place to set that up and make things a little easier even before baby comes. With this service, you can choose from two different brands of diapers, Comfees, and Cuties, and set things up to deliver to your home as often as you need them.

7 Must Have Baby Products For Your New Baby

Breast Pump

Having a good working breast pump for your new baby is a must. If you have TRICARE you are able to receive one no-cost breast pump per birth event. You can do this through The Breastfeeding Shop. They offer a great selection of pumps and you can easily order yours right from their website or app.

Stroller

A stroller was must for me so that I could go on walks, have a place for them to be during appointments or even playdates for my older children. A double stroller saved my life during those early years as my older two boys are just about two years apart. Find one that fits your needs and has good ratings and talk to your friends about what they have used and loved.

7 Must Have Baby Products For Your New Baby

Baby carrier

Finding a good baby carrier is also a must. There are many different types of slings or other babywearing items. You might want to buy a couple of different types for different reasons. Try a few out, and see what works for you and your lifestyle. Some people babywear all the time, others only when they go out. I know when my youngest was born and I had a 4 and 6-year-old, my baby carrier was a must that allowed me to have two free hands when I had to take all three of them to the store.

Swing

Although I didn’t use the swing for very long, having one helped so much in those early months. I used a few different swings and my favorite was the one that had many different options for the type of movement they would create for the baby. Often times I could use the swing to put them down for a nap or to calm them down when nothing else worked.

For more information on your TRICARE benefit breast pump, please visit these blog posts too:

What You Need To Know About Ordering Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Accessories and Supplies

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

Why You Don’t Have to Buy Bottles For Your Breast Pump

How To Order A Breast Pump That Is Covered By TRICARE

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How To Order A Breast Pump That Is Covered By TRICARE

This is a sponsored post by the Breastfeeding Shop. 

Did you know that you can order a breast pump that is covered 100% by TRICARE? This started in 2014, and yes it is true. For every one birth event you have, you can receive one breast pump.

How To Order A Breast Pump That Is Covered By TRICARE

Here is how you can do so with the Breastfeeding Shop:

A birth event is considered either giving birth or adopting with plans to breastfeed. This benefit is for all types of TRICARE, and all types of military service. That means it doesn’t matter if the sponsor is active duty, National Guard, Reserves, or Retired. They all qualify.

You can receive your breast pump before or after delivery. Most moms like to do so before, so they can have the breast pump ready to go when the baby comes.

The Breastfeeding Shop offers top rated breast pumps and makes it easy to order using your TRICARE benefit. Here are the steps you need to take to do so:

How To Order A Breast Pump That Is Covered By TRICARE

1. Your prescription

You will need to get your prescription from your doctor, who will need to be an authorized TRICARE provider. This means a doctor, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or a nurse midwife. The Breastfeeding Shop can contact them for you, but this will take a bit longer to do so than getting the prescription from them yourself. You can also have your doctor fax over your prescription to The Breastfeeding Shop. The fax number is 866-430-7882, and you would need to note that is what you will be doing in the comments section when filling out the online order form.

2. Find the right breast pump

You will need to decide on which breast pump is right for you. Currently, there are eight choices on The Breastfeeding Shop’s order form. You can also choose “other” and then call them at 866-255-6779. They do work with most of the major manufacturers.

3. Fill out the order form

You will need to then fill out the order form on The Breastfeeding Shop’s website. This is a simple process and won’t take you very long. You can also do this on The Breastfeeding Shop’s app. Make sure you fill out the form as completely as you can. Please note that there is a different order form if you live in Pennsylvania. If you would like, you can also order by phone.

4. The breast pump will be shipped to you

The breast pump you have chosen will be shipped directly to you. In a lot of cases, you will have it the next day if you live in the United States. Shipping will take longer if you are stationed overseas. If you do need your breast pump ASAP, they do offer same day shipping.

How To Order A Breast Pump That Is Covered By TRICARE

What else do you need to know?

The coverage from TRICARE is not limited to a specific manufacturer, brand or model number. The TRICARE benefit also covers the following breast pump accessories: standard power adaptors, tubing, and tubing adapters locking rings, bottles, bottle caps, shield/splash protectors, storage bags, and up to two breast pump kits per birth event.

You can receive your breast pump and accessories before delivery or up to three years, or 36 months after the birth event. That date is either your baby’s birth date or their adoption date.

If you would like more information on The Breastfeeding Shop, makes sure to visit their website as well as some of my other posts on what they have to offer:

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

The Breastfeeding Shop Has a New App and it is Amazing

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby

 

Top Five Tips For Increasing Milk Production

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Top Five Tips For Increasing Milk Production

Top Five Tips For Increasing Milk Production

This is a sponsored post by the Breastfeeding Shop. 

Breastfeeding was something I knew I always wanted to do with my babies. However, getting started with breastfeeding wasn’t easy for me, especially with my oldest son. I had a lot of concerns about if he was getting enough of my milk. If only I could go back in time, I would have made things a little easier for myself through the process.

There are things you can do as a new mom to help increase your milk supply. This helps the breastfeeding relationship as well as making sure your baby is getting all the nutrition they need.

1. Nurse your baby often

Make sure you are nursing your baby often. Breast milk is digested quickly and the more you nurse, the more milk you will make. Feeding on-demand vs a rigid schedule is the best way to go. That way you are meeting your baby’s needs as much as you can. If your baby is going through a growth spurt, they will want to nurse even more, and that is okay too.

2. Double check your latch

Sometimes our milk supply issues are due to a bad latch. When your baby is not latching on the breast correctly, they are not getting all of the milk that they should. If you have a question about your latch, you should go and see a lactation consultant. They will be able to check on your latch or help you with other breastfeeding questions.

3. Drink water, eat healthy foods

When you are nursing you want to make sure you are drinking enough water, as well as eating a healthy diet. Doing both of those things will help your milk production if you are struggling. Keep a water bottle within reach when you are nursing or pumping and try to have a lot of healthy snacks available for you as you go about your day.

4. Use your breast pump

Pumping in between feeding sessions can help with your milk supply. While you are pumping, you will be making more milk, and that will increase how much milk you should be making. Make sure that you have taken advantage of your TRICARE benefit regarding breast pumps. You are eligible for one breast pump for every birth event. Head over to The Breastfeeding Shop to find your breast pump and start the process. They make ordering your breast pump pretty easy too.

5. Get enough rest

While this is much easier said than done, especially with a newborn, make sure you are getting as much rest as you can. Say no to unnecessary commitments while you are trying to build up your milk supply. See if you can hire a babysitter for your older kids and if your spouse is home, make sure they are helping you with everything that needs to get done. Try to sleep when you can and take the time to rest as much as possible.

Interested in more information about your TRICARE benefit breast pump and The Breastfeeding Shop? Check out these blog posts too:

The Easy Way To Order Your No Cost Breast Pump

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

 

The Easy Way To Order Your No Cost Breast Pump

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The Easy Way To Order Your No Cost Breast Pump

If you don’t already know, you can receive a no cost breast pump through your TRICARE benefit. Any military woman service member or spouse can receive one for each birth event she has. This is a fantastic benefit that makes sure that all of these moms have access to a breast pump to help them with feeding their baby.

The Easy Way To Order Your No Cost Breast Pump

This is a sponsored post by The Breastfeeding Shop!

The Breastfeeding Shop is a company that you can work with to receive your breast pump, and they make ordering your breast pump super easy. They have a new order form and I wanted to walk you through the steps you have to take in order to place your order.

You can do so on their website or on the app. If you don’t want to fill out the order form you can also call them to place your order.

Here is a video of me filling out the order form. As you can see all the information is laid out well and I was able to complete the form in about five minutes.

Here is what you will be asked about:

1. Insurance provider

Find TRICARE or TRICARE Overseas.

2. Select your breast pump

You have a lot of options on what breast pump to pick. Make sure to read Which Breast Pump Is Best For You? You can also talk to friends about breast pumps they have used and loved. If you don’t see what you want, pick “other” and call 866-255-6779.

3. Name, phone number, email, and address

Please put your current information here.

4. Your birthday

They want to know your date of birth.

5. Due Date of your baby

This is your baby’s due date. If your baby is already born, make sure to put their birth date there.

6. Insurance number

This would be your service member’s social security number, or your own if you are the service member.

7. Seconardy insurance

If you happen to have secondary insurance.

8. Physician’s name

Your doctor’s name.

9. Physician’s phone number

Your doctor’s phone number.

10. How you will submit your prescription

There are a few different ways you can submit your prescription to The Breastfeeding Shop. You can upload it, email it, fax it, or have them contact the doctor for you. If you choose for them to do that, know that it will take longer for you to receive your breast pump.

11. Important info

You will check if you agree here.

12. Privacy notice, etc

You just need to acknowledge that you have received this information.

13. Signature

You can use your mouse or your finger to sign.

14. Comments

If you need to leave any comments.

You can also read more about this amazing TRICARE benefit and what you need to know in order to receive yours:

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

The Breastfeeding Shop Has a New App and it is Amazing

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby

 

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

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FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

This is a sponsored post!

An amazing benefit from TRICARE for new moms is the breast pump benefit. This started in 2014 and allows each mom, one pump, for every birth event. This will allow each new mom to have a breast pump whether they need one for everyday use or to have on hand to help their milk supply.

The Breastfeeding Shop is a retailer where you can receive your pump. They offer a wide selection of breast pumps to choose from. There are a lot of questions about how all this works and everything you will receive with this benefit.

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through the Breastfeeding Shop

Here is a list of FAQs to help you understand more about this and how to get your own breast pump.

1. Where do I go for my breast pump?

Head on over to The Breastfeeding Shop and start the process. They have a form to fill out which makes ordering your breast pump through them easy to do.

2. What type of RX do I need to have and what should it say?

You do not need a specific RX form, but your RX does need to be signed by your doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. You also need to have certain wording on the prescription. Here is an example of an RX form that you can download and take to your doctor. The RX does need to have Double Electric Breast Pump / E0603 and Accessory Kit / Supplies as well as the length of need, Up to 36 Months on the form. You can also have the Breastfeeding Shop contact your doctor for you but getting the RX yourself will make the process go faster.

3. How many pumps can I get? I had my babies close together.

Through TRICARE you are allowed to have one breast pump for every birth event, no matter how close your babies are. A birth event means either giving birth or adopting a baby. You can receive your breast pump before you deliver your baby and up to 36 months after they are born.

4. What breast pumps does the Breastfeeding Shop have?

The Breastfeeding Shop has 10 pumps for you to choose from. You can find the one that will work best for you and your needs. Not every breast pump is the same and will work for every mom.

5. I live overseas in Germany, can I still get a pump? What about if we are stationed in South Korea?

Yes, they can ship your breast pump to anywhere in the world.

6. How long will it take me to get my breast pump?

This might depend on the insurance verification process but you should receive your breast pump within 2- 5 business days. A little longer if the pump is being shipped overseas. If you feel like it has taken too long you can call The Breastfeeding Shop at 866-255-6779 or email at customerservice@thebreastfeedingshop.com

7. What is my flange is the wrong size?

You can re-order the right size with your TRICARE benefit.

8. What do I do if I have an issue with my breast pump after I receive it?

If you are having mechanical issues, you will need to call the customer service line for your breast pump’s brand. Here are the numbers:

Medela customer service 800-435-8316
Spectra customer service 855-446-6622
Ameda customer service 866-992-6332
Ardo customer service 844-411-2736
Lansinoh customer service 800-292-4794
Evenflo customer service 855-334-2229
PJ Bliss customer service 818-566-3060
Bellema customer service 800-385-6819

9. I need more breast pump accessories, how can I order those?

After your baby is born you can receive additional accessories. TRICARE will pay for two additional accessory kits and you can order them through this accessory kit order form.

10. What if I have more questions?

If you need extra help, you can fill out a form on the Breastfeeding Shop’s website and customer service will get back to you shortly.

Receive your no-cost breast pump is an amazing TRICARE benefit. Going to The Breastfeeding Shop is the best idea, they will help you get your pump in a timely manner so you can start using it with your new baby.

Make sure to learn more about the Breastfeeding Shop app and read about how to decide on which breast pump is right for your baby.

The Breastfeeding Shop Has a New App and it is Amazing

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The Breastfeeding Shop Has a New App and it is Amazing!

The Breastfeeding Shop Has a New App and it is Amazing

This is a sponsored post by the Breastfeeding Shop. 

Technology is amazing! There seems to be an app for everything. As of last week, there is now an app made by the Breastfeeding Shop just for moms and those who want to take advantage of the no-cost breast pump you can get with TRICARE.

The Breastfeeding Shop

 

On the home screen of the app, you see what your options are. The layout makes it easy to find what you need, whether you want to track your baby’s feeding patterns or order your breast pump.

Here is everything you can do on the Breastfeeding Shop app:

Order Forms: You have access to the order forms you need to receive your no-cost breast pump or accessory kit right on the app. This will also give you more information on calling to place your order if that is what you want to do.

The Breastfeeding Shop

Rx Form: You can download or email the RX form to your provider so that they can fill the form out for you. Then you or your provider can upload it or fax it to the Breastfeeding Shop.

The Breastfeeding Shop

Flange Sizing Chart: You can easily download this chart to help you figure out what size flange you might need.

The Breastfeeding Shop

Record your baby’s sound: Here you can record your baby’s sound with the recorder.

Pump production log: This part of the app is super handy. You can log your pumping time as well as which side you used and how many ounces you produced. You can then go back to your saved logs to see what you have been doing.

The Breastfeeding Shop

Feeding tracker: This is handy as well. You can log when your baby sleeps and eats whether you are breastfeeding in addition to pumping or only giving breast milk in a bottle.

Find a lactation consultant: This handy tool will help you pull up a lactation consultant in your area in case you are looking for one.

As you can see the Breastfeeding Shop’s app has a lot to offer new moms and makes ordering your breast pump even easier. You can find the free app in the iTunes as well as Google Play stores.

If you are curious about how to receive your pump in the first place or are looking for more information about this benefit and The Breastfeeding Shop, check out these posts to help:

How You Can Get A Breast Pump Through TRICARE for $0

Which Breast Pump Is Best For You?

Can You Really Get A No Cost Breast Pump For Each Baby Through TRICARE?

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby

Why You Don’t Have to Buy Bottles For Your Breast Pump