Do you steam your pump stuff every day?

ladyteach0505 · May 2015

Well f---. Just read the Medela booklet (4 weeks later) and it says to steam parts every day. Does everyone do this?!

orangecurls · May 2015

No, I havent. I only wash mine 1 time per day and store parts in the fridge in a zip top bag. I want to sterilize parts at least weekly, but I haven't yet.

TBsquared · May 2015

I don't understand how it's possible the damn thing takes forever to dry!

MrsS728 · May 2015

We sterilize the parts once a day (usually at night before bedtime) and then I store them in a ziplock in the fridge during the day. I've looked for the Medela steam bags in stores, but can't find them, so we just boil the parts with the bottles at night. We sterilize the bottles once we get down to one bottle left. We will continue to do this for another 3 weeks or so (baby is 3 weeks old).

ldmw · May 2015

I wash them once a day then put in fridge in ziplock bag in between pumps throughout the day.

CordeliaD87 · May 2015

Are you supposed to put the parts in the refrigerator? I'm so confused

ladyteach0505 · May 2015

I think, but I'm not sure, that the idea is that if there's milk on the parts and the parts are refrigerated then bacteria won't grow on the parts any more than it would grow on stored milk. But I have a lot of anxiety, so I don't even store milk in the fridge at this point. Smh.

CordeliaD87 · May 2015

Oh. I was totally unaware. My LO will be four weeks old tomorrow, I'm glad that I chose to BF him, but I'm getting burnt out on feeding and then having to pump to build a supply for when I return to work. I feel like I don't get anything done because I always have my boob out!

ldmw · May 2015

You don't have to store in the fridge but doing so means you don't have to wash in between pumps.

jennygirlmt · May 2015

I'm lucky I boiled them when I pulled them out of the box and storage. I wash with hot soapy water during the day. After my night pump I just wash in my bathroom. I keep meaning to throw them in the dishwasher when we run it, but I forget and we only run it every few days.

shelles423 · May 2015

Does the dishwasher not sterilize ?

a316b · May 2015

Try the munchkin sterilizer bags- cheap on Amazon. Good for bottle parts and pump parts.

I refrigerate as others have said. I have 3 sets of parts so I am not a slave to the sink. I rotate one set per day.

I BF and pump, agree my boobs are always out. I'm almost beyond caring at this point.

The hands free pumping bra and car adapter have really helped me multitask.

marijaa333 · May 2015

shelles423 said:

Does the dishwasher not sterilize ?

Some do - you need the sterilize cycle.

Amber Woods · May 2015

Yes I steam every morning

QueenVict0ria · May 2015

I had no idea u were supposed to put the parts in the fridge!!! I have only pumped like 5 times since I'm ebf but I'm trying to build a stash. The lactation nurses at the hospital told me to wash the parts with hot water and green palmolive soap. I've never sterilized them. Is boiling in hot water sterilizing?

ldmw · May 2015

You don't have to put the parts in the fridge. But, if you don't want to wash after every use put them in the fridge.

TBsquared · May 2015

Is steaming and sterilizing the same thing??

marijaa333 · May 2015

TBsquared said:

Is steaming and sterilizing the same thing??

@TBsquared yes - steaming is sterilizing in the microwave using either medela or munchkin steam bags. You put whatever parts you want to sterilize in the bag, add a bit of water (60ml) and then nuke for 90 seconds or so.

katea826 · May 2015

I'm exclusively pumping at this point and have two sets of parts. I rotate during the day to let the previous ones dry and steam them once a day. I sterilize the bottles once aday as well when I dump them into the freezer bags.

borntorun17 · June 2015

I use he baby BreZa sterilizer/dryer every other day and it's awesome! I use it to dry my parts after hand washing them too. Total lifesaver

I leave my parts in the fridge except for overnight. Then I bring two sets up to bed so i don't have to go back and forth to the fridge.

eelisabeth0910 · June 2015

Boy, I know this isn't that complicated, but it sure feels that way to my small, sleepy brain

Maureen5288 · June 2015

I also read the medela instructions tge other day & was baffeled by the "sterilize every day" part. But we ended up in the hospital this weekrnd due to a fever (she's fine) & the lactation nurse said you don't have to sterilize it everday, just once when you open the package. Hope this helps

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