Pumping in the hospital

Kohler2009 · February 2014

I am planning to take my pump with me to the hospital this time, due to complications with breast feeding last pregnancy. One thing I thought of...how do you clean and sterilize the parts after each pump session? I know my recovery/post-partum room does not have a microwave. Anyone run into this?? Thanks!

lindslalala · February 2014

Don't they have pumps at the hospital? I'd just ask to use one of theirs.

pantherRN · February 2014

I think Medela has wipes you can use. I'm sure the other brands have something similar.

Kohler2009 · February 2014

I am sure they do have pumps at the hospital but feel like it might be more convenient to bring my own vs having to ask for one each time. Will definitely look into the wipes!! Thanks!

SaranJonathan · February 2014

I just used the hospital pump. They leave them in your room.

Kohler2009 · February 2014

SaranJonathan said:
I just used the hospital pump. They leave them in your room.

That's great to know! I will have to ask my OB if they know if my hospital works this way too or I could even call the hospital. Was yours a good quality one?

pantherRN · February 2014

Kohler2009 said:

SaranJonathan said:
I just used the hospital pump. They leave them in your room.
That's great to know! I will have to ask my OB if they know if my hospital works this way too or I could even call the hospital. Was yours a good quality one?

Most hospitals use the Medela Symphony.

fmb2011 · February 2014

Yep the hospital pumps work great! And they will give you the attachments if you need them. I just washed with the soap in the room each time.

Kohler2009 · February 2014

Awesome! I am pretty positive that my hospital provides them so I will explore this further. Did you bring your own bottles? Or does the hospital provide them too?

pantherRN · February 2014

The hospital should give you bottles.

eortman · February 2014

It really isn't necessary to sterilize your pump parts after each use. Just give them a good cleaning. It's about as necessary as sterilizing bottles, which I believe is some kind of 1950s relic that people don't actually do anymore. At least, I've never known anyone to. I will be bringing my pump to the hospital and I'll bring my own soap and brushes and clean it in the sink in the in-room bathroom. I'll probably ask to make sure the sink has been sanitized (just in case). I exclusively pumped for both my kids and never sterilized after the intial sterilization.

Kohler2009 · February 2014

It really isn't necessary to sterilize your pump parts after each use. Just give them a good cleaning. It's about as necessary as sterilizing bottles, which I believe is some kind of 1950s relic that people don't actually do anymore. At least, I've never known anyone to. I will be bringing my pump to the hospital and I'll bring my own soap and brushes and clean it in the sink in the in-room bathroom. I'll probably ask to make sure the sink has been sanitized (just in case). I exclusively pumped for both my kids and never sterilized after the intial sterilization.

This is great to know! So if I re-sterilize everything before I go to the hospital, then I should be ok until I get home to give a really good cleaning? I will definitely clean in between pumping sessions, but, there's only so much you can do in the hospital, I feel. :-)

eortman · February 2014

Kohler2009 said:

It really isn't necessary to sterilize your pump parts after each use. Just give them a good cleaning. It's about as necessary as sterilizing bottles, which I believe is some kind of 1950s relic that people don't actually do anymore. At least, I've never known anyone to. I will be bringing my pump to the hospital and I'll bring my own soap and brushes and clean it in the sink in the in-room bathroom. I'll probably ask to make sure the sink has been sanitized (just in case). I exclusively pumped for both my kids and never sterilized after the intial sterilization.
This is great to know! So if I re-sterilize everything before I go to the hospital, then I should be ok until I get home to give a really good cleaning? I will definitely clean in between pumping sessions, but, there's only so much you can do in the hospital, I feel. :-)

Yes, as long as pre-sterilize everything and wash well in between pumpings, there should be no problems. I think in the case of preemies that sterilization is still recommended (you might want to look into that), but it is isn't necessary each time with a healthy full term baby.

Kohler2009 · February 2014

eortman said:

Kohler2009 said:

It really isn't necessary to sterilize your pump parts after each use. Just give them a good cleaning. It's about as necessary as sterilizing bottles, which I believe is some kind of 1950s relic that people don't actually do anymore. At least, I've never known anyone to. I will be bringing my pump to the hospital and I'll bring my own soap and brushes and clean it in the sink in the in-room bathroom. I'll probably ask to make sure the sink has been sanitized (just in case). I exclusively pumped for both my kids and never sterilized after the intial sterilization.
This is great to know! So if I re-sterilize everything before I go to the hospital, then I should be ok until I get home to give a really good cleaning? I will definitely clean in between pumping sessions, but, there's only so much you can do in the hospital, I feel. :-)

Yes, as long as pre-sterilize everything and wash well in between pumpings, there should be no problems. I think in the case of preemies that sterilization is still recommended (you might want to look into that), but it is isn't necessary each time with a healthy full term baby.

I will definitely look into that. Having twins, so my risk is higher to have preemies. Thanks for all the info!

hminer4 · February 2014

eortman said:

It really isn't necessary to sterilize your pump parts after each use. Just give them a good cleaning. It's about as necessary as sterilizing bottles, which I believe is some kind of 1950s relic that people don't actually do anymore. At least, I've never known anyone to. I will be bringing my pump to the hospital and I'll bring my own soap and brushes and clean it in the sink in the in-room bathroom. I'll probably ask to make sure the sink has been sanitized (just in case). I exclusively pumped for both my kids and never sterilized after the intial sterilization.

I 100% agree that it is not necessary to sterilize after each use unless you end up with a preemie or if your baby has some sort of autoimmune disease. I still ended up sterilizing DD's bottles and my pump parts once a week. It just made me feel better to know that they were SUPER cleaned at least once a week. Also, some dishwashers have a sanitize setting which uses super hot water and is great for bottles, pump parts, and when anyone in the house is sick.

nola 1017 · February 2014

Agree that there's no need to sterilize at the hospital unless there's a health issue with the baby, like PP mentioned. I purchased Medela Quick Clean Wipes and used that on my pump parts when I was pumping at work for DD1. I think I'll bring a pack of them with me to the hospital instead of having to wash and air dry the pump parts.

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