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Sterilizing Breast Pump

justkeeptryingjustkeeptrying member
in May 2015 Moms
How often are you ladies sterilizing your breast pump?

I don't pump very often, maybe a couple of times per week. I EBF and have a year maternity leave so I just pump when I'm engorged to put some in the freezer for future babysitters. I have been sterilizing my breast pump in between pumps, but just wondering how necessary this is. Often I forget to do it and then go to use it early in the morning and have to sterilize which is a pain in the moment.

Is it okay to just wash it and use? Or should it be sterilized after each use?
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Re: Sterilizing Breast Pump

  • kby721kby721 member
    I wash the shields after each use - either by hand or in the dishwasher - then sterilize in the microwave. They go through a sterilizing cycle in the dishwasher but it kind of grosses me out that food particles fly around in there so I take the extra step. I bought an extra set of shields and I typically pump one side at a time so I only have to worry about cleaning them every 4 pumps. The tubes I only do every week or so because they take forever to dry and no milk touches them anyway. One of my favorite mom purchases has been Medela's sterilizing microwave bags. It's so much easier than pulling out the huge bottle sterilizer and I keep one in my pump bag for when I'm on the go.
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  • danibonellodanibonello member
    Call me a bad mom, but I have never sterilized anything (bottles, pumping supplies). Everything I have read says that warm water and soap is sufficient. My girl hasn't shown any negative effects.
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  • Buckles0528Buckles0528 member
    I pump once a day in the am and I wash the flange/shield part right after and let it air dry. I also run the pump with just the tube still attached while I'm doing that to get rid of Any moisture that may be in the tube. I've sterilized everything maybe twice since may in boiling water. If I'm pumping more than once a day for some reason I rinse the flange and put it in a baggie and into the fridge for up to 24 hours.
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  • babyblue0501babyblue0501 member
    I pump once or twice a day. I only use the same flange for 24 hours, and like PP, store in the fridge in a Ziploc. I use the medela soap, rinse, and use the medela microwave sterilizer bags. So helpful, and reassuring that it's clean.
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  • SmrBrd2012SmrBrd2012 member
    I only sterilize them occasionally. Like once maybe twice a week and I do that thru the dishwasher. Otherwise I just use soap and water. I cared more when LO was younger but now that he's had a couple months to work on his immune system, I don't care as much.
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  • Maureen5288Maureen5288 member
    My LC said that you don't have to sterilize, just clean b/c it's good for the LO to get "normal" bacteria. She only advised against this if the baby is a premie/in the NICU.
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  • justkeeptryingjustkeeptrying member
    Thanks ladies!! I feel more reassured that if I miss sterilizing it, it's not the end of the world :)
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  • MrsWhiteToBeMrsWhiteToBe member
    I have a hand pump. I wash it with soap, dry it, and keep it in the fridge just to be safe. Sterilize once a week or so.

    Whenever I take it apart to clean it or put it back together I can't help but think, "This is my breast pump. There are many like it, but this one is mine..."
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  • kby721kby721 member
    Ok now I feel like I'm over sterilizing my pump. What does everyone do for bottles and nipples?
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  • CanadaMom17CanadaMom17 member
    kbradley721 said:
    Ok now I feel like I'm over sterilizing my pump. What does everyone do for bottles and nipples?
    Everything of mine gets hot water, dish soap, and a good rinse and air dry on my bottle rack.  I've never sterilized anything yet.  Occasionally I'll put my storage bottles in the dishwasher, but I generally hand wash with my bottle brush.
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  • SmrBrd2012SmrBrd2012 member
    kbradley721 said:
    Ok now I feel like I'm over sterilizing my pump. What does everyone do for bottles and nipples?

    I generally always put the bottles/nipples in the dishwasher unless I need one ASAP in which case I hand wash with hot water and soap. I only sterilized them with boiling water when I took them out of the packaging.
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  • mars8kmars8k member
    I rinse with warm water if i want to reuse on the same day or wash with warm water and soap if i wont use till the next day and every few days i boil the parts, i don't have a system i just do it when i feel it's been a while
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  • Amber WoodsAmber Woods member
    I exclusively pump so I sterilize mine every morning in the medela bags
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