used breast pump?

[Anonymous]

A friend gave me her breast pump, and I thought all I would need to do is replace the tubing/"collection" components, which only costs about $50 - but when I called the hospital to find out if they sold the components that go with my make/model, I was told this is not recommended by the manufacturer or FDA due to the wearing down of the motor and possible cross-contamination, even if you replace all of the parts that touch the breast/milk.

What I want to know is, how serious of a threat is this? The issue about the motor wearing down reaks of the "planned obsolence" marketing strategy of the big companies on the part of the manufacturer - and I just don't see how there could be cross-contamination if I replace all of the components that touch my body/my milk?

[Anonymous]

Well if you're not concerned about contamination (and I agree, with new tubing etc the risk is probably very small) then I would try out the pump and see if it meets your needs. You may find that even with the (potentially) weaker motor the pump still works for you. And if not, then you can decide on other options. If you got the pump for free or a low fee then there's no harm in trying it out.

[Anonymous]

OP here -

I have done a little more research since my earlier post, and here's what I found, for the benefit of anyone else:

- The issue with the motor is that it must hit 300 cycles per minute or so to be effective. You can get the motor tested at the DC Breastfeeding Center.

- The contamination concern (assuming you replace the "collection" components that actually touch your breast and milk) is due to the fact that the motor is open, and milk contaminated with HIV or other communicable diseases that the previous user may not even be aware she is carrying can get in the motor.

Since I know the person who gave me my breastpump very well, I am not at all concerned that she may have any of these diseases, but I also don't understand how, if that were the case, the germs could survive after it has been cleaned and dried, and how they would travel from the motor to the new collection components.

I suppose this is something to talk to a lactation consultant about, but I don't know that I trust that person to be completely unbiased. It's the conspiracy theorist in me, I suppose. If anyone can explain it to me, please do! I don't want to use something that could possibly hurt my baby, but at the same time, I don't want to throw money away on a new pump I don't need (and fill-up a landfill with a perfectly good used pump!).

[Anonymous]

Sorry but I wouldn't use a used breast pump even if it was from my best friend--maybe she is the best person in the world but who knows if her husband had any kind of affiar --for a few hundred dollars, just not worth it.

[Anonymous]

I think the nurses and LCs say that for liability reasons and also as in the best interest to nursing moms because they feel there is potential for contamination. I got the same response and I was using a pump from my sister.

It is a personal decision up to you. How well do you know your friend and how long has it been since she pumped.
For me, eventhough it was my own sister, my husband told me to go ahead and buy a new pump since he would rather spend the money on that than have me going to the doc. with a bad infection and possibly not being able to express milk.

[Anonymous]

I'll be the contrarian here. I used my SIL's breast pump and it was just fine. I know TONS of people who have used sisters/friends pumps. I just changed all the tubing/etc. Truly, it's rare that the milk actually gets INTO the machinary. That's not how the pump works. Anyway, it's just how risk averse you are. Docs just don't want pumps to circulate endlessly, like an Xmas fruitcake but really if the pump's only been used by your friend, I really wouldn't worry about the hygeine issue. Now one thing is that pumps can lose their suction after a while so you might want to take it to the Breastfeeding Center to make sure that it still has a good suction to it. BTW, you can buy all the replacement stuff online and it saves the hassle of going to one of the big box stres.

[Anonymous]

I too have known countless people who had used breast pumps, and I'm using one myself. I'm one of those people who think it's just Medela's marketing dept that scares people off from borrowing one. My husband is the most risk-averse person in the world, and also mechanically-minded. When he saw the pump that our friend offered me, he checked it out and saw, as the PP pointed out, that it would be an amazing feat if any milk got into the pump mechanism--it's just not how it works. I changed the tubing and shields, and it's just fine. My LC (at the Holy Cross center) asked if my pump was used, and didn't bat an eye when I told her yes. I bought the tubing, etc. at Great Beginnings up in Gaithersburg.

[Anonymous]

So what are the pumps at the hospital that they let new mothers use? All brand new? I doubt they are all replaced each time a new mom uses them. I'd have to guess they repace the tubing and breast shells.

[Anonymous]

Hospital pumps are closed systems and so there is no danger of contamination.