Should I buy a used breast pump?

Puja_2

I am 38 weeks pregnant, and need to buy an electric breast pump so that the rest of the family can share in the feeding of baby, as well as needing it when I return to work.

After some research I have established that Medela seems to be the brand to go for, and the 'Pump in Style' version seems the best for my needs. However, the price for this new is somewhere around £180-£200, which is so expensive! I considered buying used from ebay, until I read somewhere that the FDA do not reccomend using second hand breast pumps as there is a risk of infection even if they are cleaned/steralised. They say milk particles can still get left behind in parts, as the pumps are not designed for sharing like the hospital grade ones.

So what do you guys think? I have seen many Medela Pump in Style's being sold on ebay, but feel really confused about whether it is safe to use such a pump.

Another option is to order a new one from the US, where I think they are slightly cheaper.

Any thoughts?

Thanks so much.

Extract from what I read on ivillage.com:
The practice of re-using single user pumps may be dangerous because some disease organisms are know to be present in the breast milk of infected women. (Lawrence 94) Additionally, if a woman has used the breast pump during an episode of cracked bleeding nipples, blood contamination may have also occurred. Home sterilization methods are not always reliable to ensure the safe destruction of all pathogens especially in the rubber parts such as washers and diaphragms. Some pumps have internal diaphragms that cannot be removed and cleaned or replaced. In addition, even if you get a new collection kit (the part the touches your breast and collects the milk) it may be possible for air-born pathogens or droplets of milk that are not visible to the naked eye to get into a pump motor and cause contamination to the next user. Most single user pumps are "open system" pumps and do not have any protective barrier to prevent cross contamination to multiple users.

Reference:
http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nbreastfeed/0,,9kdb,00.html

wigginsmum

I have zero knowledge in this area but I wouldn't recommend a used one if there's a risk of infection. It's just not worth it.

hardpressed

Sorry can't help. The title 'Should I buy a used breast' caught my eye just had to have a look. Thought it might be some new offer on ebay!! :rotfl: :rotfl:

across

so sorry cant help with the breast thing but if all else fails and bottles are looming then i'm great at bottle feeding so i can help you then!!!!! good luck with the birth and congratulations!! dont forget me across if you need bottle advise!!!!!!!

jdcampbell

Puja wrote:

I am 38 weeks pregnant, and need to buy an electric breast pump so that the rest of the family can share in the feeding of baby, as well as needing it when I return to work.

After some research I have established that Medela seems to be the brand to go for, and the 'Pump in Style' version seems the best for my needs. However, the price for this new is somewhere around £180-£200, which is so expensive! I considered buying used from ebay, until I read somewhere that the FDA do not reccomend using second hand breast pumps as there is a risk of infection even if they are cleaned/steralised. They say milk particles can still get left behind in parts, as the pumps are not designed for sharing like the hospital grade ones.

So what do you guys think? I have seen many Medela Pump in Style's being sold on ebay, but feel really confused about whether it is safe to use such a pump.

Another option is to order a new one from the US, where I think they are slightly cheaper.

Any thoughts?

Thanks so much.

Extract from what I read on ivillage.com:
The practice of re-using single user pumps may be dangerous because some disease organisms are know to be present in the breast milk of infected women. (Lawrence 94) Additionally, if a woman has used the breast pump during an episode of cracked bleeding nipples, blood contamination may have also occurred. Home sterilization methods are not always reliable to ensure the safe destruction of all pathogens especially in the rubber parts such as washers and diaphragms. Some pumps have internal diaphragms that cannot be removed and cleaned or replaced. In addition, even if you get a new collection kit (the part the touches your breast and collects the milk) it may be possible for air-born pathogens or droplets of milk that are not visible to the naked eye to get into a pump motor and cause contamination to the next user. Most single user pumps are "open system" pumps and do not have any protective barrier to prevent cross contamination to multiple users.

Reference:
http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nbreastfeed/0,,9kdb,00.html

There are some support organisations for new mothers that have professional standard pumps that you can borrow or hire (as your NCT organisation). My wife found anything other than this to be a complete waste of time.

Jay-Jay_4

First I would say that you shouldn't buy a breastpump just yet, especially if you haven't breastfed before and especially not one for that amount of money. I'm an advocate for breastfeeding but I'm aware of a lot of ladies who haven't managed to breastfeed for one reason or another and £200 is a lot of money to spend on a piece of equipment which you may not use.


The Medela pumps from Boots are around £40 and have a very good reputation. I used the Avent Isis manual and got on with it very well. My breastpump was second hand (though from my sister) and was used to express breastmilk for donation as well as for feeding two babies, there was never a concern about the cleanliness after sterilisation. Your baby won't be living in a sterile world and I do feel that we are overly cautious with babies. If you breastfeed you won't be sterilising your nipples before feeding and when your baby sucks his fingers they won't be sterile either.

My advice is to wait for now, see what's available after the baby's born and don't worry about the research, if we worried about everything that we're told we wouldn't go out, eat, drink or breath

KK

sounds like typical pregnancy scaremongering to me - people seem to go out of their way to tell you awful things when you are pregnant - mostly about their terrible births!

My local NCT lend out breast pumps and as long as they are properly sterilised I believe they are fine. How about contacting your local breastfeeding counsellor (your midwife should be able to put you in touch). I used a hand breast pump myself for one feed per day for about 6 months and found it easy and quick once you get the hang of it. The first few times I only got a dribble, then after practise was able to fill a full 8oz bottle for my little one to guzzle. I found that if I was chatting on the phone (cordless phone is my one essential for a breastfeeding mother!) or watching TV and didn't think about what I was doing it was easy to do. The wretched things take practice to assemble. I'd think carefully about why you want an electric one, the Avent one I used was about £20 I think and absolutely fine.

Good luck and if all else fails, you can put the baby on a bottle of formula when you want someone else to feed them, and continue breastfeeding. My daughter would have drunk out of a shoe if it was the only thing on offer! I mixed fed my little one for 11 months before giving up breastfeeding totally and switching to cow's milk.

rev229

I wouldn't make any descions yet about breast pumps, wait until you have the baby. It is generally best to wait until breatfeeding is established before using a pump. Slightly different if baby unable to breastfeed if premature or ill etc. Remember if you are going to express milk so others can feed you have to be ahead of the game ie pump for next feed I know very few people who manage this long term. And you will have to sterilise bottles and pumps. It is so much quicker and conveinient just to put the baby on the breast and once fed other people can have a cuddle and saves so much time as milk is always on tap so to speak. As for breastpumps for one or 2 feeds a day the avent ones are ok but for long term and more frequent use then hire one from nct as some you can double pump (both breast together) sometimes using a pump can decease your supply as you don't always get a "let down" this is the hormonal trigger when baby goes to breast. Wait until you have had the baby and see how it goes before making a decsion at the end of the day you have to do what is best for your baby and yourself. By the way I am very pro breastfeeding but both my children where bottle fed as I just didn't have a good supply of milk and I was determined to breastfeed no matter what unfortunatelty it wasn't to be. So what ever you do or have to do don't feel guilty.

Karnam

in your position when i was pregnant i bought a cheapo manual avent breast pump when in order to express and to hel engorgement before baby came along.

then when bf was ok (about 2 weeks) i ordered the avent uno brand new for £85 but i used a code and got it for 75 from boots.com and found it brilliant.

is the pump you are tihking of buying a duo pump? cause these are only really for working mums, a single one and a breast shell/bottle is fine for the other breast as you pump and is cheaper. i can even feed baby on one breast and pump the other...

ceegee

Personally I would not use a second hand one. Ugh, the thought makes me shiver. Do you think you will really need one? I used a manual pump, which worked both for the few times I needed to take a bottle somewhere and also as Karnam mentioned, just to relieve engorgement.

I do recall being in hospital with one of my daughters and I was VERY engorged....my boobs were like concrete . Two nurses were helping me and I had a manual pump on each boob...I felt like a cow in a milking parlour! At this point the hospital photographer came around and shouted out "does anyone want a picture taken?"

cannyscot_2

I would say wait as well -the first few weeks breastfeeding can be tough and pumping doesn't really help. Buy shells and the sterilising equipment -you can collect milk easily while you feed and put it in sterlised icecube trays. (just don't mix cold and hot milk-freeze right away) and then store the cubes in freezer bags. -quite usueful for odd feeds etc when you are not there. You don't know how it will work out. I used to rent out NCT breast pumps for them and saw many situations plus I have three children myself -they were all different. I used a NCT pump for the first as I was tied to a quick return to work. The NCT pump worked brill and I stored it at work-by arrangement. The modern battery pumps are good. Breastfeeding takes time to establish -you might not want others to feed your baby right away.