BF Moms: How often do you wash your pump parts?

stellabelle · January 2011

I exclusively BF and also pump so DH can give Stella bottles in the evenings. (To be honest, I sometimes give her a bottle or two during the day... I like to know the amount she is eating and like to give my nips the occasional break, too.)

Anyway, I have the Ameda Purely Yours, so the only parts of my pump which need washed is the fallange piece and the white valve. At first, I washed after EACH time I pumped... even if I pumped the side she didn't eat on and then pumped the side she DID eat on about an hour later.

After three weeks, I've already gotten lazy and sometimes I'll go ahead and use the pump without washing it -- for instance, if she eats at 6:30 a.m. and I pump, I might use the pump again at 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. without washing it or even switching out the valve.

Is this horrible?? What are your thoughts and routines with washing out your pump parts?

LuckyladyJ · January 2011

I have the same pump as you too & I wash after each use..

bisabelm · January 2011

I rinse in hot soapy water or wipe down with the Medela after every use and sterilize once a day.

Kellina · January 2011

You can go without washing a few times IF you put the parts in the fridge!! It slows bacteria growth. I do it with DS1's sippy cups too.

I wouldn't let it sit out and then use again- that's nasty!

LovesMM · January 2011

Here's what I do. I have 3 flanges, 3 membrane thingys an shitton of containers.

I only use 1 set a day. After each session I put the flange and empty container in a ziploc bag and put it in the fridge.

On the morning of day 3, when I'm using my last clean flange, I fill up the sink with HOT HOT soapy water and soak all my dirty pump accessories. I let them soak for a while and then I rinse them and put them in the steam bag to sterilize.

On Sunday regardless of where I am in the rotation I soak in HOT soapy water, rinse and boil again.

Kristi221 · January 2011

Kellina:

You can go without washing a few times IF you put the parts in the fridge!! It slows bacteria growth. I do it with DS1's sippy cups too.

I wouldn't let it sit out and then use again- that's nasty!

I remember reading this on here before but wasn't sure it was true. Do you know where this info comes from?

babyonthebrain2010 · January 2011

I disassemble and handwash is warm soapy water every use and about once a week I throw everything (bottles too) disassembled into the dishwasher and run on the sterilize cycle.

I'm not a freak about germs at all, though. I have to remind myself to sterilize things occasionally.

Water_Wedding · January 2011

I skip the wash with hot soapy water once usually. I'll pump and rinse the parts laying them to dry on a towel in the bathroom. Then I'll use it again about three hours later. Basically, I usually pump twice a day after two morning or night feedings. I figure if milk is good laying out for eight hours why would t the parts be good for three hours after being rinsed?

BellaCapulet · January 2011

I also put my pump parts in the fridge. I wash them twice per day (morning and night). The logic that I have read is that your BM is good in the fridge for nearly a week so it makes sense that the BM that gets on your pump parts will not spoil in the fridge in a few hours.

Saying that, after every pumping session I run hot water over them to rinse the BM off but still put them in the fridge. I EP, so washing/sterlizing the pump parts after every session would be alot of washing...

bubbles231211 · January 2011

BellaCapulet:

I also put my pump parts in the fridge. I wash them twice per day (morning and night). The logic that I have read is that your BM is good in the fridge for nearly a week so it makes sense that the BM that gets on your pump parts will not spoil in the fridge in a few hours.

Saying that, after every pumping session I run hot water over them to rinse the BM off but still put them in the fridge. I EP, so washing/sterlizing the pump parts after every session would be alot of washing...

I do the same. I EP and got sick of washing after EVERY pumping session. I have a ziploc container that I place the parts in and put in the fridge. At the end of the night I wash it in HOT soapy water and then steralize it.

KatieM1106 · January 2011

I rinse after each use, wash every other day or so (I also have membranes and flanges that I rotate). I sterilize in the microwave bags once a week, along with bottle nipples.

LaLaaaa · January 2011

I have the same pump. I wash after every use. I even wash the diaphragm, lol.

weavjess · January 2011

lindsayluong12:
I have the same pump. I wash after every use. I even wash the diaphragm, lol.

same here

stellabelle · January 2011

Now I feel trashy... my thinking was that it was okay since the BM can sit out at room temp for 5 hours. However, that milk is in a bottle and has a lid on it while my fallange is not covered.

I'm going to start rinsing in hot water after each use... or try the fridge method... that cold fallange might feel nice against my breastie!!

LovesMM · January 2011

stellabelle:
Now I feel trashy... my thinking was that it was okay since the BM can sit out at room temp for 5 hours. However, that milk is in a bottle and has a lid on it while my fallange is not covered.

I'm going to start rinsing in hot water after each use... or try the fridge method... that cold fallange might feel nice against my breastie!!

It does!

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