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An Open Letter to Consignment Store Owners regarding used breast pumps
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Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 9:54pm
November 1, 2009
Dear Consignment Owner / Manager:
We have recently seen several patients in our clinic with nipple and / or breast infections that had been using second-hand breastpumps. Some had been purchased used from on-line auction-retailers, some had been purchased from consignment stores, some had been received as pass-alongs from well-meaning friends or relatives. In these hard economic times, it is certainly understandable that new mothers would want and need to save money whenever possible. However, we do feel that you should be aware of the risks of used breastpumps, and consider your liability should you choose to consign these items.
Most breastpumps that are designated for “personal use” by their manufacturers are also registered with the FDA as “single-user” pumps for hygiene reasons due to their design which could allow cross-contamination from one user to another. This includes the brands Medela, Ameda, Lansinoh, Evenflo, First Years, Avent, Gerber, Playtex, Dr. Brown’s, and Bailey/Nurture, among others. Milk droplets, and therefore infectious agents should they be present, could enter the motor itself in these brands, and could be transmitted to a second user, even if that user has their own tubing and other parts. All manual pumps also are designated “single-user” by the FDA.
The FDA specifically states, on its website (
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Pr...m061939.htm#at) :
Should I Buy a Used Breast Pump or Share a Breast Pump?
You should never buy a used breast pump or share a breast pump.
Only FDA cleared, hospital-grade pumps should be used by more than one person. With the exception of hospital-grade pumps, the FDA considers breast pumps single-use devices. That means that a breast pump should only be used by one woman because there is no way to guarantee the pump can be cleaned and disinfected between uses by different women.
The money you may save by buying a used pump is not worth the health risks to you or your baby. Breast pumps that are reused by different mothers can carry infectious diseases, such as HIV or hepatitis.
Buying a used breast pump or sharing a breast pump may be a violation of the manufacturer’s warranty and you may not be able to get help from the manufacturer if you have a problem with the pump.
By contrast, “hospital-grade” rental pumps (Ameda and Medela rentals) and all Hygeia breastpumps (including their “personal use” pumps) are registered with the FDA as multiple-user pumps because of a design which includes external barriers or filters to prevent milk droplets from getting into the motor. Mothers should have their own kit of tubing, flanges, and collection containers, etc. for use with these pumps.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 601-898-7979.
Sincerely,
Rebecca B. Saenz, MD, IBCLC, FABM
