Official Journal of the United States Lactation ... - Clinical Lactation

Clinical Tips
Caring for Breast Pump Parts
Kathleen Chiu, IBCLC, RLC 1
Cleaning Breast Pump Parts
Unless the kit is sterile, a member of the baby’s household
should clean kit parts before the first use.(“Home
germs are best germs.”) The pieces that should normally
be washed include the milk storage containers (bottles),
the flanges or breast shields, and the valves/
membranes.
Pump tubing only requires washing if it gets wet inside.
Filters should not be washed either. They are meant to
shut-down if wet to stop fluid from getting inside the
pump and/or motor, and causing contamination and
mold growth. This protects both mother and baby, and
the pump. A wet filter may need several hours to dry, or
may need to be replaced.
For healthy, full-term babies the pump parts are:
••
Washed in hot, soapy water.
••
Rinsed in hot water.
••
Laid out to air dry on a clean towel.
••
Covered with another clean towel.
In addition:
A bottle brush may be used on the milk-storage
containers.
••
NEVER use a nipple brush on the valves/membranes.
º º Be gentle with this part. They often have thin
edges that are easily torn, frayed, or otherwise
damaged by sharp objects, including fingernails.
Swish tubular (duckbill) valves in soapy water,
and gently rub flat-valve membranes with the
fingertips, like cleaning a contact lens.
••
NEVER put the valves/membranes on “pegs” (like
on a bottle/nipple drying rack) to air dry.
º º The valves or membranes are sensitive pieces,
and poking things in or through them can warp
or tear them.
1 amcbe@comcast.net
º º Vulnerable (preterm, small for gestational age,
ill) babies may require that the pump parts be
sterilized in addition to washing.
Sterilizing Pump Parts
Start the water boiling first without placing anything else
in the pot. Put sufficient water in the pot to allow the
pump pieces to be covered by several inches of water
once they are submerged.
••
Once the water is boiling, lower the heat until the
water is boiling softly.
••
Pad the inside of the pot with a cotton dish towel,
washcloth, or diaper. This will prevent the pump
parts from warping or melting from touching the
hot metal. The pad will also singe before the plastic,
if the boiling pump parts are “forgotten,” and all the
water boils away.
••
Put the pump parts in, on top of your cotton-cloth
padding, so that they are completely immersed in the
boiling water.
••
SET A TIMER. It needs to be a loud, repetitive alarm
(new parents are often overtired and forgetful).
••
When the timer alarm goes off, shut off the heat
and allow the water and parts to cool off to a safe
temperature.
••
Use a set of tongs to remove the pump parts from
the water.
••
Lay them out to air dry on a clean towel.
••
Cover them with a clean towel.
••
Once dry, parts can be stored in gallon zipper-top
plastic bags.
Common Concerns
Dishwashers
Share this:
Pump parts can be cleaned in the dishwasher, but should
not routinely be washed in one. Dishwashers use very
harsh chemicals and very hot water, plus heat to dry, all
of which will shorten the life of pump parts, especially
the sensitive valves/membranes. Mothers who value convenience
over money may want to use the dishwasher
30 Clinical Lactation 2012, Vol. 3-1