Second hand breast pumps - would you risk it?

MrsSixx · Jan 1st, 2010, 07:25 AM

Quite a few times i've seen ladies on here saying they have bought their pump off eBay, so second hand/used. I wonder whether these ladies realise that there is a theoretical risk to their LO doing this because sterilisation won't kill all pathogens that could be present.

Or perhaps they do but because the risk is so small (and because they aren't neurotic like me) they aren't worried about it?

http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/pumps.shtml.

Would you risk it?

Seraphim · Jan 1st, 2010, 07:48 AM

I fully intended to buy a used one, but I got a sealed 'surplus to requirements' one instead.

Now I have one and can see how it works, and have bought some spare parts... I know you can FULLY replace all parts which come into contact with milk (and some more). You need to replace these periodically ANYWAY because they deteriorate with sterilising.

HTH x

polaris · Jan 1st, 2010, 08:59 AM

I would have no problem with it personally. If you use a hospital pump then it will have been used by other women, and most people wouldn't have a problem with that.

Midnight_Fairy · Jan 1st, 2010, 09:03 AM

I would use a second hand pump too.

Marleysgirl · Jan 1st, 2010, 09:11 AM

I know there is a small (incredibly small) risk of spreading germs on the base unit, but any other risk is greatly dimished by using your own tubes, shields & bottles, all of which should be sterilised.

Like Pol, I've used hospital pumps when on NICU for 11 weeks; I'm using a hospital-supplied pump just now, which goes back in a week's time. I've got a second hand Swing, and two second hand Minis. Doesn't bother me.

FemmeEnceinte · Jan 1st, 2010, 09:16 AM

I was going to say, hospitals seem to have no issues sharing them around several women so it's really not a massive concern. I got my pump second hand and fully intend to use it once LO is at an age where I'm ready to mix breastfeeding with expressing.

FemmeEnceinte · Jan 1st, 2010, 09:19 AM

Also, is that link actually suggesting you can catch HIV from a second hand pump? :/

MrsSixx · Jan 1st, 2010, 10:18 AM

Hospital grade pumps operate on a 'closed system', meaning that it is impossible for milk reach the motor, hence these are safe to be used my multiple mothers.

^^^ I've nicked that from the above link but that is basically what Medela told me when I hired the Symphony as I was worried about contamination. The rest of the pump kit that came with it was brand new.

Home user pumps don't have this protection in place, so even though you can replace the enitre pump kit, it is still possible for the motor to become contaminated.

Medela and the other manufacturers don't recommend you buying a second hand pump for the same reasons mentioned in that link above, but I wonder how much of it is to do with profits!!

MrsSixx · Jan 1st, 2010, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FemmeEnceinte

Also, is that link actually suggesting you can catch HIV from a second hand pump? :/

I guess that is what they are implying (and they are quoting the FDA guidance at the bottom) but I didn't think HIV could survive outside of the body for very long at all, let alone in a warm pump motor.

Seems incredibly OTT....

Marleysgirl · Jan 1st, 2010, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsSixx

Medela and the other manufacturers don't recommend you buying a second hand pump for the same reasons mentioned in that link above, but I wonder how much of it is to do with profits!!

Precisely. There is no reason for them to be this expensive - I bet if Tesco started making an "own brand" version, it'd be really cheap.

PS - I think we've managed to turn our single Swing pump into a double pump, I've tested it once but I'm not sure how it'll stand up to multiple use

Jan 1st, 2010, 07:25 AM	#1
MrsSixx Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cheltenham Posts: 308	Second hand breast pumps - would you risk it? Quite a few times i've seen ladies on here saying they have bought their pump off eBay, so second hand/used. I wonder whether these ladies realise that there is a theoretical risk to their LO doing this because sterilisation won't kill all pathogens that could be present. Or perhaps they do but because the risk is so small (and because they aren't neurotic like me) they aren't worried about it? http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/pumps.shtml. Would you risk it?

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Jan 1st, 2010, 07:48 AM	#2
Seraphim Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dartmoor, Devon Posts: 7,082	I fully intended to buy a used one, but I got a sealed 'surplus to requirements' one instead. Now I have one and can see how it works, and have bought some spare parts... I know you can FULLY replace all parts which come into contact with milk (and some more). You need to replace these periodically ANYWAY because they deteriorate with sterilising. HTH x

Status: Offline

Jan 1st, 2010, 08:59 AM	#3
polaris Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 5,748	I would have no problem with it personally. If you use a hospital pump then it will have been used by other women, and most people wouldn't have a problem with that.

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Jan 1st, 2010, 09:03 AM	#4
Midnight_Fairy Other BnB Elite Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: South Coast UK Posts: 17,330	I would use a second hand pump too.

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Jan 1st, 2010, 09:11 AM	#5
Marleysgirl Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Manchester Posts: 2,468	I know there is a small (incredibly small) risk of spreading germs on the base unit, but any other risk is greatly dimished by using your own tubes, shields & bottles, all of which should be sterilised. Like Pol, I've used hospital pumps when on NICU for 11 weeks; I'm using a hospital-supplied pump just now, which goes back in a week's time. I've got a second hand Swing, and two second hand Minis. Doesn't bother me.

Status: Offline

Jan 1st, 2010, 09:16 AM	#6
FemmeEnceinte Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,903	I was going to say, hospitals seem to have no issues sharing them around several women so it's really not a massive concern. I got my pump second hand and fully intend to use it once LO is at an age where I'm ready to mix breastfeeding with expressing.

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Jan 1st, 2010, 09:19 AM	#7
FemmeEnceinte Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,903	Also, is that link actually suggesting you can catch HIV from a second hand pump? :/

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Jan 1st, 2010, 10:18 AM	#8
MrsSixx Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cheltenham Posts: 308	Hospital grade pumps operate on a 'closed system', meaning that it is impossible for milk reach the motor, hence these are safe to be used my multiple mothers. ^^^ I've nicked that from the above link but that is basically what Medela told me when I hired the Symphony as I was worried about contamination. The rest of the pump kit that came with it was brand new. Home user pumps don't have this protection in place, so even though you can replace the enitre pump kit, it is still possible for the motor to become contaminated. Medela and the other manufacturers don't recommend you buying a second hand pump for the same reasons mentioned in that link above, but I wonder how much of it is to do with profits!!

Status: Offline

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