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membranes and valves?

kmdendykmdendy member
in Breastfeeding
I have a Medla pump.  Does it help to get new membranes and valves? What are they and how do they work?  I am using an old pump and heard that swapping these out could help. But I am not really sure how it works..
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Re: membranes and valves?

  • surpriseadditionsurpriseaddition member
    The membranes are the small white circular pieces of flimsy rubber that help create suction, and should be replaced monthly. I've never replaced any valves, and am not sure what that would mean.


    **DD1 - 7/9/98**

    **DS - 11/9/00**

    **DD2 - 4/30/13**

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  • kmdendykmdendy member
    Okay!! So I just buy the white circular pieces online and replace them? Do I just yank them out to replace them?

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  • RachelCA29RachelCA29 member
    The valve is the yellow piece that the membrane attaches to. You can buy a new set (1 pair of valves and 6 membranes) at Target or Walmart. The membrane easily pulls off of the yellow valve piece, do this carefully. You should take the membranes off to clean the pieces separately when you are cleaning your pump parts daily.

    The membranes are very thin and rubbery, so they stretch out from use and cleaning pretty quickly. If you pump daily you will probably have to replace them more than the recommended every 3 months. (I EP'd and needed to replace mine monthly).
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  • surpriseadditionsurpriseaddition member
    Each time you pump you should be cleaning the pump parts, unless you refrigerate between uses on the same day.  Like PP said, you would want to gently pull off the membranes and twist the yellow valve (now I know that is the term!) apart from the clear part of the pump. This allows you to completely clean out everything. A mom on my BMB didn't know to detach the yellow part from the clear plastic section, and when she finally realized it, there was black mold growing in there.  I would put the flanges, clear plastic top, and yellow valves in my dishwasher each night.  I would hand wash the small membranes (which like PP said, can just be picked up at Target, BRU, Walmart, etc.) which can be boiled to sterilize if you're really zealous....but I didn't.  


    **DD1 - 7/9/98**

    **DS - 11/9/00**

    **DD2 - 4/30/13**

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