Do You Ever Feel Like Your Constantly Washing Your Breastpump Parts and Accessories?
Constantly hand washing your breastpump parts?
Do you feel like your constantly washing your breast pump parts and accessories? If so, your not alone. I am currently using my breast pump to pump milk for my 8 month old baby. I am currently pumping 4 times and day, and I am constantly washing my breast pump parts.
I have overheard other mom's who use a breast pump, say that they spend a lot of time at the sink washing their breast pump parts and accessories in a sink full of hot, soapy water. I know this does a number on my hands.
Buy Extra Parts and Accessories
One way to avoid having your hands in hot, soapy water serveral times a day is to buy extra breast pump parts and accessories. Having additional parts on hand, will allow your to use several sets of parts before you have to fill up the kitchen sink and wash them.
I personally have two sets of breast pump flanges, valves, and membranes. I use one set in the mornings before work, and use the other set throughout the day for my three pumping sessions while at work.
Rinse off Parts
When I use my Medela breast pump at work, I keep one set of flanges (breast shields), valves and membranes in my pump bag. I also, carry with me 6 clean bottles to pump breast milk into. After my first pumping session, I will rinse off my flanges with hot water. I shake them off as best as I can to remove excess water and then towel dry them with a paper towel. I then put them back into my breast pump bag for my next session.
When I get home in the evenings, I will make one sink full of hot, soapy water and wash all of my parts and bottles at one time. I do this to save time as well as spare my hands from constant dish washing.
Store Parts in Refridgerator
If you are uncomfortable with just rinsing off your breast shields, another way to store them in between pumping sessions is to put them in a plastic zip lock bag into the refrigerator. This will keep the milk residue from spoiling in your breast pump parts. Some mother's feel this will keep her breast shields and valves safer, without having to wash them after each session. Also, this would be a great solution for mother's who don't have a sink that isn't in a bathroom available to rinse off the parts into.
Breast Pump Wipes and Steambags
Purchase Wipes or Steam Bags Made Especially for your Breastpump Parts
If you want to clean your breast pump parts and accessories, but have no way to clean them. You can purchase quick clean wipes that are designed with your breast pump in mind. The wipes are kinda pricey but they will kill bacteria and viruses. I haven't used the wipes because I feel that they are over-priced; however, if I was unable to rinse my parts off or store them in the refrigerator, I probably would invest in the wipes or something similar.
Medela also has quick clean microwave steam bags that you can place your breast pump parts and accessories in. Add water and then stick the bag in the microwave for about 3 minutes. The bag will heat the water and steam clean the parts and accessories. The bags are reusable. I haven't used them so I don't know how well they hold up or how many times you can reuse them before you have to throw them away.
