What should I do with my breast milk pump?

[Anonymous]

I have used my electric breast milk pump for both children. It is three years old. Do I just dump it now b/c it is unsanitary to share? Can I donate it anywhere like a women's shelter? How can I rid of it in a way that is friendly to the environment? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Believe it or not, some people will actually buy a used pump. I've seen people "in search of" on craigslist for a breast pump.

Just FYI.

I understand your dilemma though...it is a shame to just throw it out and you certainly don't want any more unnecessary clutter around. I hope you get some helpful replies.

[Anonymous]

I gave both of mine away to friends. Each had been used for less than a year, though.

[Anonymous]

I bet you could freecycle it.

[Anonymous]

hey - it is unsanitary only if the next person used the same breastshields. tehy can just get the electric motor part from you (get or buy) and buy themselves a new shield set - like 40 bucks for medela so they will same over 100 bucks i think. i did that myself between 1st and 2nd child, kept the motor and threw away the shields, then got new ones.

[Anonymous]

I bought both of my breastpumps used off of craigslist. They are very expensive items and have a high resale value. For people who are not satisfied with simply sterilizing the horns and tubing, then they can always buy those parts new.

[Anonymous]

I am the recipient of a used Medela pump from another mom no longer in need of it and do not feel it is unsanitary. Everything gets sterilized with the tubing and shields being replaced. This is a very expensive item and often people have only used them for short periods of time so the motor is in great condition.

I am sure there are places you can donate. You can re-sell but generally that is best suited when only used for one child or brief amounts of time.

[cmkeough]

I think it's great that you want to be "green" about your pump. However, unless it is hospital grade it's acutally not sanitary to use someone elses pump. I know that there are plenty of people that are selling/buying used pumps but the motor would actually need to be replaced which isn't really cost effective, (it sounds weird I know, but check it out : Personal use pumps should never be resold or shared among mothers. The Medela Pump In Style® Advanced has an internal diaphragm that cannot be removed, replaced, or fully sterilized. Therefore, the risk of cross-contamination associated with re-using a previously owned pump such as the Pump In Style cannot be dismissed, even when using a new kit or tubing.) http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/preownpump.html This is per medela's site.

Not to mention if you speak to any lactation consultant they will recommend NOT to use someone elses pump. Essentially it's like using someone elses toothbrush. (Gross!) So personally if it were me I would not sell or buy a used pump.

BTW, we're not necessarily talking about infectious diseases however bacteria.

[Anonymous]

Well, of course Medela is going to recommend that everyone just buy their own pump because a) their asses would get sued if they didn't recommend this and some freak thing occurred and b) it sells more of their product.

When we talk of "contamination" we are obviously thinking of infectious diseases, right? Most diseases do not even carry into breastmilk. There is even some controversy regarding how much HIV shows up in breastmilk. My computer keyboard is probably more infected than my breastmilk! And, even if there were some trace amounts of an awful disease (Heb B perhaps?) in a mom's breastmilk, and in the very off chance it migrated into the pump motor, how long would it actually live there? Don't infectious diseases need a HOST to live for long periods of time? Lastly, I will say that I have a fair amount of trust that any woman who has HIV, or Hep B, or something like that, isn't breastfeeding her baby to begin with, let alone trying to resell a breastpump. Maybe I'm horribly naive, but I guess all of that is just the thought process that I've gone through prior to buying a used pump.

[Anonymous]

My thought, too, on not using someone else's pump is - well, if I'm worried about cross-contamination wouldn't the same hold for with using it between your OWN children? Doesn't really fly with me.

[Anonymous]

using this logic, you should buy a new one each time you have a baby.........

[Anonymous]

"Essentially it's like using someone elses toothbrush. (Gross!)"

Except it's not. And, in reality, if someone sterilized their toothbrush, even though it might *mentally* be gross to use it, I could still *safely* use it afterwards. After all, don't we all use the same public toilets? We touch things all day long that germs from other people's bodily fluids have come in contact with. And frankly, breastmilk is cleaner than any other bodily fluid! I honestly think this simply goes back to liability and to marketing. And yes, lactation consultants will tell you to get a new pump because they don't want to be held liable either.

Most infectious diseases don't live outside the human body for more than 24 hours. I looked it up, and one type of hepatitis can live for up to a week. So, wait a couple weeks before using a pre-owned pump. And, the parts that actually collect the milk and touch the mom are brand new. I really believe this situation is way more hyped than it needs to be.

[cmkeough]

True you can sterilize a toothbrush but you can't sterilize a breast pump.

For a little more $$ I'd rather play it safe and buy new.

[Anonymous]

PP - While you can make the decision to spend the $ and buy new, what about the mothers who can not afford $300 for a breast pump while returning to work full time?

I think it is far more admirable that these mothers take the time to find a used pump, sterilize all parts, and replace the tubing because they desire to breastfeed while affording half the cost.

Do you really find it such an issue that anyone that can't afford a new pump should formula feed instead? (not meant to start a BFing vs. formula debate) I think there is a middle ground that is worth considering here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP - While you can make the decision to spend the $ and buy new, what about the mothers who can not afford $300 for a breast pump while returning to work full time?

Who says that someone has to purchase a $300 pump to return to work? There are plenty of other NEW and cheaper options if a mother opts to BF and pump.

I think it is far more admirable that these mothers take the time to find a used pump, sterilize all parts, and replace the tubing because they desire to breastfeed while affording half the cost.

I totally agree, if someone chooses to continue to BF/pump FANTASTIC, kudos! However you CAN NOT sterilize the motor...so they wouldn't be sterilizing ALL PARTS. I never said that someone should formula feed instead, where did you get that idea. I just said that personally I wouldn't use someone else's pump (not even a friend or family member). I'm just providing the information that I've read/heard from health care professionals and my OPP of what I would choose to do. I also wouldn't use someone's old crib mattress for my newborn, but that's another issue.

Do you really find it such an issue that anyone that can't afford a new pump should formula feed instead? (not meant to start a BFing vs. formula debate) I think there is a middle ground that is worth considering here.