Insane in the membrane question.

TexasGirl81 · November 2013

Just curious for those who use breast pumps daily, how often do you change the membranes? I looked online and it says anywhere from 2-3 months, but is it wise to wait it out? Just wondering because perhaps I'm so used to the suction now (I pump mon-fri 3x's per day) but I feel hardly anything even when I have it on full speed. Sorry if a membrane question has been asked but I did not see one.

kwrecks · November 2013

This is a good question, I've been wondering the same thing!

HermansWife · November 2013

Following because I wonder the same thing. I pump the same as you, M-F 3x per day, and I was noticing too that I'm not feeling it as much as i used to.

LokiLahve · November 2013

I had no idea those things had to do with suction. I thought I was just getting used to it since I too barely feel anything. Hmmm.
And now I have that song in my head, thanks OP.

LEMSA · November 2013

I've changed membranes once. I also boiled all my parts once a month. I feel like it works better, esp the tubing, after that.

Maybe call Medela and see if they can help you troubleshoot

kwrecks · November 2013

You boil the tubes? Is that how you clean them? Do they dry out well?

V&G101808 · November 2013

I EP so my pump gets LOTS of use and I haven't felt the need to change the membranes. I do have extra sets but probably won't change them until they either tear, get loss, or suction decreases.

I santize the tubes every now and then in the Medela sanitizer bags. I do find they work better afterwards but they always have some condensation inside... no matter what I try I cant get them 100% dry. (tried hanging them to dry, the "helicopter" flinging method...)

mommabmb · November 2013

V&G101808 said:
I EP so my pump gets LOTS of use and I haven't felt the need to change the membranes. I do have extra sets but probably won't change them until they either tear, get loss, or suction decreases.

I santize the tubes every now and then in the Medela sanitizer bags. I do find they work better afterwards but they always have some condensation inside... no matter what I try I cant get them 100% dry. (tried hanging them to dry, the "helicopter" flinging method...)

This, exactly.

TexasGirl81 · November 2013

Sundae13 said:
You have a medela? When I had one of those, I only changed the membranes once. And that was because I lost one down the drain.

Yes, that's the one I have. Ok, well that makes me feel better. I'm gonna change it just for fun and see if I feel any difference. And booooo on that drain!

EricaLee2013 · November 2013

I have EPed since week 3 and have changed the membranes twice. I change them when I notice that I have to keep turning the suction power up. It makes a huge difference to change them out plus they don't cost much so it's not a big deal if you change too soon.

TexasGirl81 · November 2013

V&G101808 said:
I EP so my pump gets LOTS of use and I haven't felt the need to change the membranes. I do have extra sets but probably won't change them until they either tear, get loss, or suction decreases.

I santize the tubes every now and then in the Medela sanitizer bags. I do find they work better afterwards but they always have some condensation inside... no matter what I try I cant get them 100% dry. (tried hanging them to dry, the "helicopter" flinging method...)

This is what I have heard about the tubes when you wash them. Honestly I haven't washed my pump tubes because if that reason. Flame me!

:-SS

TexasGirl81 · November 2013

EricaLee2013 said:
I have EPed since week 3 and have changed the membranes twice. I change them when I notice that I have to keep turning the suction power up. It makes a huge difference to change them out plus they don't cost much so it's not a big deal if you change too soon.

So true! Ty!

TexasGirl81 · November 2013

LokiLahve said:
I had no idea those things had to do with suction. I thought I was just getting used to it since I too barely feel anything. Hmmm.
And now I have that song in my head, thanks OP.

Lol!! I forgot how I found out about that but I was also like heh? I had no idea either. Also, can't go wrong with some cypress hill! Haha!

tanabeans · November 2013

I didnt think you needed to wash the tubes? I havent cleaned my pump as much as im supposed to, the instructions say once a week! Aint nobody got time for that! I do wash the flanges and ish in the dishwasher

mommabmb · November 2013

You only need to wash tubes if they get milk in them, but I do it weekly anyway.

MitsB707 · November 2013

I changed the membranes once, and it made no difference. I think I've become desensitized to the pump and can go full speed with no issues. Or maybe it's from DS "biting", lol

V&G101808 · November 2013

mommabmb said:

I EP so my pump gets LOTS of use and I haven't felt the need to change the membranes. I do have extra sets but probably won't change them until they either tear, get loss, or suction decreases.

I santize the tubes every now and then in the Medela sanitizer bags. I do find they work better afterwards but they always have some condensation inside... no matter what I try I cant get them 100% dry. (tried hanging them to dry, the "helicopter" flinging method...)
This, exactly.

LJUTCMommy · November 2013

tanabeans said:
I didnt think you needed to wash the tubes? I havent cleaned my pump as much as im supposed to, the instructions say once a week! Aint nobody got time for that! I do wash the flanges and ish in the dishwasher

I have a hygeia and it specifically says not to wash the tubes. Also, I don't know what a membrane is...

Needless to say, I haven't changed it.

raesue22 · November 2013

I pump five days a week three times a day and change the membranes once a month.

kwrecks · November 2013

Have any of you kept the tubes connected to the pump after you disconnect the bottles and keep the pump running? Sometimes moisture gets in the tubes when I'm pumping and I just disconnect the bottles and let the pump run for another minute before I turn it off and it dries up the moisure.

LokiLahve · November 2013

Reading this thread makes me think I should actually read my pump manual. I just hooked that bitch up the first time and went for it! Lol
So what else am I 'supposed' to be washing in addition to the tubes? I just rinse those out with water and then helicopter them dry. (I wash and sanitize the shields daily) is there something I'm supposed to be cleaning on the pump itself?

LEMSA · November 2013

kwrecks said:
Have any of you kept the tubes connected to the pump after you disconnect the bottles and keep the pump running? Sometimes moisture gets in the tubes when I'm pumping and I just disconnect the bottles and let the pump run for another minute before I turn it off and it dries up the moisure.

Ya I do that. So I will occasionally boil the tubes (like once a month), let air dry, then connect to pump and turn it on to take the moisture out. I boil them bc I don't have a sanitizer thingy.

If you have a Medela your supposed to pop off the front plastic panel and wipe it down. Although I don't think it makes a difference.

catskitch · November 2013

I once forgot to put the membrane and valve on, and the machine didn't work. I still didn't understand how it worked until I got the handheld manual one. When the machine sucks, it pulls the membrane in and your boob in and pulls the milk out when it releases suction. If the membrane isn't there, there isn't anything that is there to prevent air from going through to create the suction. The lansinoh manual I have has a different type of valve, no membrane. The valve is soft, so I can see the suction it creates when I press the handle.

andplusalso, the manual works great when LO is nursing on the other boob! I can get a lot that way. I decided to pick it up for the occasional pumping at home since I don't want to lug the pump to and from work all the time, and I was surprised at how well it works.

LJUTCMommy · November 2013

HauntedRadio said:

LJUTCMommy said:

tanabeans said:
I didnt think you needed to wash the tubes? I havent cleaned my pump as much as im supposed to, the instructions say once a week! Aint nobody got time for that! I do wash the flanges and ish in the dishwasher
I have a hygeia and it specifically says not to wash the tubes. Also, I don't know what a membrane is...

Needless to say, I haven't changed it.
The little white flappy thing!

The thing the pumps connect to? I am a pumping newb.

TexasGirl81 · November 2013

LJUTCMommy said:

HauntedRadio said:

LJUTCMommy said:

tanabeans said:
I didnt think you needed to wash the tubes? I havent cleaned my pump as much as im supposed to, the instructions say once a week! Aint nobody got time for that! I do wash the flanges and ish in the dishwasher
I have a hygeia and it specifically says not to wash the tubes. Also, I don't know what a membrane is...

Needless to say, I haven't changed it.
The little white flappy thing!
The thing the pumps connect to? I am a pumping newb.

It's in the white little thing on the bottom of the plastic piece.

tanabeans · November 2013

@LJUTCMommy it's on the medela on the yellow part that lets the milk into the bottle.

@catskitch I was thinking of doing that since I block feed LO but pump both at work and my boobs are confused on the weekends. Do you recommend the lansinoh manual? It's cheaper than the medela...

LJUTCMommy · November 2013

@tanabeans @texasgirl81

Thank you!

Ok I called those duck bill things, because on hygeia they are shaped like duck bills.

The more you know!

julianndelaney · November 2013

I EP and have changed each one one time. One because I tore it. The other because I lost it washing them. I wash them every time . I steam bag my parts once a day. And haven't noticed any suction problems

catskitch · November 2013

@tanabeans yes! I recommend it! It's super easy to use works very well

TexasGirl81 · November 2013

tanabeans said:
I didnt think you needed to wash the tubes? I havent cleaned my pump as much as im supposed to, the instructions say once a week! Aint nobody got time for that! I do wash the flanges and ish in the dishwasher

Lmao!

TexasGirl81 · November 2013

kwrecks said:
Have any of you kept the tubes connected to the pump after you disconnect the bottles and keep the pump running? Sometimes moisture gets in the tubes when I'm pumping and I just disconnect the bottles and let the pump run for another minute before I turn it off and it dries up the moisure.

I have heard of doing this. Well I'm going to boil some parts tonight and hopefully tomorrow I get some good milk out of those babies.

krb03 · November 2013

I've only changed them due to them tearing/getting holes.

TexasGirl81 · November 2013

LokiLahve said:
Reading this thread makes me think I should actually read my pump manual. I just hooked that bitch up the first time and went for it! Lol
So what else am I 'supposed' to be washing in addition to the tubes? I just rinse those out with water and then helicopter them dry. (I wash and sanitize the shields daily) is there something I'm supposed to be cleaning on the pump itself?

@lokilahve
Do you mean the first part where the milk flows through that the flanges connect to?

PTmama199 · November 2013

I just changed them because one was not laying flat so it wasn't sucking.

Want a personalized experience?

Insane in the membrane question.

Re: Insane in the membrane question.

Choose Another Board

Search Boards