Used Breast Pump - Deep Gap,NC

I had a Medela Pump in Style. For this pump, the milk never actually touches the motor. So, while the website says that you shouldn't get a used one, I never came up with a good reason, except for $ for the company.

For the plasticware that touches the pump - if you are really concerned, you can buy sets of all new plasticware for about $30. Or, for about $5 dollars, you can buy a sterilizer kit to sterilize all the used plasticware.

I purchased a used Medela pump. You can buy replacement tubing and any other plastic parts that actually come in contact with the milk. The bag and mechanical parts worked just fine for me for both my kids and I saved a lot of money! I would recommend the hands-free attachment that attaches to a Medela nursing bra so you can do other things with both hands while pumping as well as the car adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter in your car. All the tubing is under your shirt and no one else has any idea what you are doing-- saves a LOT of time! Good luck!

The first pump I used was from a friend, both she and her cousin had used it. I only got the actual motor part of the pump as a "hand me down," I purchased brand new tubing, flanges, bottles, etc. Worked great for us. Most modern pumps do not introduce breast milk anywhere near the motor. They say they are one user only from an abundance of caution (and liability reasons). There is no magical difference between rentals and buying used. It is more an ick-factor than a real danger. The cloth bag it comes in could maybe have old breastmilk spilled on it, I suppose, but you could switch that out.

Sometimes, insurance covers the cost. I would check this option first. The only way I would have used a used pump, is if it came from a friend. Stranger
Not so much.

Soap works. If not then every person that ever used that fork at the restaurant still has their germs on it. If you have cleaned it then it's clean. The motor and stuff don't touch the milk though, right?

I don't see a problem using an old breast pump, just make sure you buy a new kit for it. After all, you can rent hospital grade breast pumps, they just make you buy your own parts. Even the multi thousand dollar hospital breast pumps used by the lactation consultants are used by many women, but not the tubing, flanges, and collecting bottles. Its not that you cannot sanitize the plastic parts that come in contact with milk, but the parts need to fit very tightly together to maintain the suction to work. Over time they stop fitting well and you won't get the strong suction necessary to extract milk. I just tried to reuse my kit from my second kid (now three years old) and there was a loose fitting part that prevented strong suction. I had to buy a new kit with each kid for this reason.

(fyi, i rented pumps for my first two, but a neighbor have me her old breast pump and I was very grateful not to have to spend $250 on one. I picked up a fresh Medella kit for $40 at Target)

I don't know all the details, but if you have insurance I would check with it first. The Affordable Care Act requires coverage for breast pumps. Some insurance will only cover manual pumps or rental and some will cover double electric. So depending on what you need, it may work for you.

Hospitals reuse pumps all the time. They just get new parts. 3 of my sisters and I have all used the same pump, just bought new parts, and most of the time is was the just the white flap on the Medela pumps. The rest of the parts can be easily sterilized and cleaned.

I never understood why anyone said used pumps weren't sanitary. I would absolutely use a used pump but would buy new tubing, valves and flanges...all the parts that contact milk. The actual pump part doesn't come in contact with milk. However, I would only buy from someone I trusted so I could get some info on how it was used...for how many babies and how often for each. The pump has a life span and you wouldn't want to spend money on one that was on its last leg. If your insurance will cover any of the cost or if you could get "donations" toward a pump as baby gifts it may be worth getting a new one..especially if you plan to have more kids. I used one pump for both my babies, then sold it. It was a wise investment for me. If you only need one short term, they can be rented as well. Check with your hospital or LC.

I would use secondhand multi-user pump- they're sometimes described as "hospital grade" or "rental grade." I would not reuse someone else's single-user pumps, especially one like Medela that has an open system that can back milk back into the pump where you can't clean it.

http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/tips-and-solutions/1...

I would not purchase a single user one used (actually I did with no problems, but I knew and trusted the first user and I got all new parts). I used it for until it died and then I purchased a multi user one so that when I was done I could resale it. Research the multi user ones and check with your insurance as others suggested. If you pump for even a short time period the cost of the pump pays for itself compared to what you would be paying for formula. Good luck.

My SIL gave me her old pump and new plastic parts (tubes, cups, etc). It's totally fine.

Well if you get a pump from a friend you could always sterilize it by boiling it and from what I have found from having a manual pump and an electric pump is that the manual pump works better, but that's just my opinion. It does make your hand tired quickly but the electric pump just sucked way too hard on my breast. But good luck on whatever you decide to do.