Getting rid of breast pump?

[Amy0417]

Does anyone know what to do with a Medela Pump In Style that will no longer be used? I've researched a bit but have only found that you could try to drop off the motor at an electronics recycling center ( who knows if they will take it). If anyone has any information I'd appreciate it

p.s. I'm helping a mother at my work... so it's not for me

[pearl2]

I'd put it on craigslist. The people who think it's gross to sell a used one won't bother you with offers, and the people who don't care will go out and buy new tubes to replace the used tubes and consider it a great way to get a breastpump for less than a new one.

There are several bazillion listed now on my local board. Do a search on yours and see what price points are listed.

[blessedwithboys]

Yes, sell it on CL or even donate it to a mama in need.

[Amy0417]

That's good advice but I work at a lactation center and am becoming a lactation consultant and since you're "not suppossed" to use a used pump... I would feel wrong giving out that advice if KWIM. Yet, I'm all about hand-me-downs

[2xand2y]

I volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center and we happily accept them as donations. We explain the risk of a used pump but most of our clients will accept one anyway because it is the best option they have.

[CathMac]

Originally Posted by Amy0417

That's good advice but I work at a lactation center and am becoming a lactation consultant and since you're "not suppossed" to use a used pump... I would feel wrong giving out that advice if KWIM. Yet, I'm all about hand-me-downs

I have very strong opinions on this.

For DD1 I took my sister's used Medela double pump. As a nurse she completely understands the concept of blood born pathogens. So that wasn't the issue.

The problem is that the motor deteriorates so it doesn't pump as efficiently. That's why they are only guaranteed for one year.

Keep in mind that pumps are less efficient at stimulating milk production and sucking that milk out to begin with. So a used (less efficient) pump can severely compromise a mother's supply, especially for someone that is working and pumping.

I'm pretty sure that's what happened to me. I had a very hard time pumping enough until I started taking a boat load of galactagogues. I finally bought a new pump but at that point my relatively low "baseline" was pretty well established, and the newer pump only helped so much.

I went on to use that same pump with DD2 and I could tell by the number of repetitions per minute that it was less effective than when I got it, but more effective than my sister's. I didn't replace my pump and although my supply issues weren't as bad I did wind up using galactagogues again.

Anyway, IMHO, I don't think a used pump is worth the risk unless you are really certain of the medical history of the person that used it and if you don't use it on a regular enough basis that an ineffective motor could compromise your supply.

JMO,

~Cath

[pearl2]

Cath, people of your opinion wouldn't respond to the ad anyway on craigslist, but someone else who did not share your opinion would be looking for a bargain re: what to do with a used breastpump. I would guess that most women who are looking for a breastpump are fully aware of the risks of buying used. Women who would buy them know about buyer beware and whatnot.

[Amy0417]

Cath- we recently went through this at our center. The women decided to buy a new pump. I know Medela will accept a used pump and provide you with a discount on a brand new pump. The women I was working with wanted to dispose of it properly. It has been through 2 children and the motor is not working the same.

Pearl- I completely understand what you are saying and I am all about giving to moms-in-need. Heck, I'm a mom-in-need and greatly appreciate used items. But, I'm am not allowed to promote reusing breast pumps at my work. That's our work policy. Also, some moms might be uneducated about buying a used breast pump. They might end up spending more money because of having to purchase a new pump after purchasing the used pump that wasn't working as well as they need it too.

Anyways, I was not intending to start a debate. I'm just interested in the proper way of disposing a breast pump. The mom I was helping actually told me she absolutely did not want another mom taking it from her garbage because she felt it wasn't safe.

To me it looks like the best way is to contact the electronic recyclers and see if they will except the motor. Or maybe Medela would except old pumps for research purposes?

[2xand2y]

Originally Posted by Amy0417

Or maybe Medela would except old pumps for research purposes?

Now that sounds like a really fabulous thing for them to do!

[CathMac]

Originally Posted by Amy0417

...

Anyways, I was not intending to start a debate. I'm just interested in the proper way of disposing a breast pump. The mom I was helping actually told me she absolutely did not want another mom taking it from her garbage because she felt it wasn't safe.

To me it looks like the best way is to contact the electronic recyclers and see if they will except the motor. Or maybe Medela would except old pumps for research purposes?

I can't imagine any research purpose for a used breast pump. Unless of course they decide to start testing for pathogens --over increasing lengths of time-- to see how long they might survive in the motor. But I don't see that boosting their bottom line so that's probably not going to happen.

My suggestion to your friend would be to wrap it in something else and bury it at the bottom of her trash and/or disassemble it and throw the pieces away in different bags, possibly on different trash days, if she's that concerned about it.

I realize that you didn't intend to start a debate here but for those interested in reading a lively discussion on this I'm posting a link to an older thread, with an excerpt from one of my posts. I'll summarize that post with a five letter word: yeast. I'm also including a link to an LLL article on yeast with information on how long it can survive, even in a dry environment, just waiting for moisture to reactivate it.

Banning used breast pumps?! Huh?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=804048

Page 5, Post 86

...

It isn't a stretch that Thrush would survive in a closed moist environment like a pump motor or a pump diaphragm for extended periods of time. Most of us here know that thrush has threatened a lot of breastfeeding relationships. Anyone who isn't aware of this should check out the "Battling Thrush Support" thread.

I very rarely encourage credit card spending but once you realize how much it would cost to treat thrush &/or boost supply, much less treat a deadly disease, then you have to know that money is much better spent towards paying down a $160.00 pump over a year. Even at 19% or 20% interest that's about $16.00 a month. That's a little more than 50 cents a day.

As you point out, formula supplementation is likely to cost more than that, possibly much more. From what I understand, a weekly supply is $20.00. So, using a conservative assumption, even if you only had to supplement 25% of DC's intake that would be $20.00 a month. Compared to that, financing a $160.00 pump would save you $4.00 a month.

BTW, I did a little more research on pathogens surviving outside the body. It looks like Hepatitis A can survive for months. Hepatitis B, can survive for at least 7 days. But who knows how long they could survive under semi-favorable conditions.

Even HIV, which is generally thought to be fragile outside the body can survive for indefinite times if the environment is airtight, especially if blood is present.

LINKS
Madsci
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives...3445.Vi.r.html

Both of the Hepatitis viruses can be transmitted by direct contact of blood or other body fluids, but they can also survive outside of the host long enough to be contagious through other methods.

CDC, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, Etc.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/h...mon_faqs.htm#5
Top 11 Most Frequently Asked Questions About
Viral Hepatitis
...

HAV
HAV can live outside the body for months, depending on the environmental conditions.

HBV
HBV can survive outside the body at least 7 days and still be capable of transmitting infection.

HCV
Recent studies have shown that HCV can survive outside the body and still transmit infection for 16 hours, but not longer than 4 days.

HIV Insite
http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/insite?page=ask-01-10-20

Q: How long does HIV survive outside the body and what conditions are necessary?

A: HIV is sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and the presence of oxygen. One place that HIV has been know to survive in is drug injection syringes since these are airtight and often contain blood from the injector.

Yeast Infections and the Breastfeeding Family:
Helping mothers find relief for symptoms and treatment for the infection preserves the breastfeeding relationship
Karen Zeretzke
From: LEAVEN, Vol. 34 No. 5, October-November 1998, pp. 91-96
http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVOctNov98p91.html

Thrush is caused by a yeast fungus, usually Candida albicans. There are ten forms of Candida that can affect humans. Fungi are deceptively simple, single-cell microbes. They are opportunistic, taking every available opportunity to colonize, and tenacious in their adaptability. Yeast can survive on dry household or fabric surfaces, waiting for moisture to reactivate. Yeast thrives in warm, moist, dark areas and replicates wildly in the presence of sugars, including those in human milk.

Along those same lines, mold in tubing is pretty common, which is why Medela instructs you to dry the condensation in your tubing and to clean them if you see milk. That moisture and mold can back into the motor.

Yeast and/or mold are reason enough to avoid used pumps.

Oh, one more thing, if I recall correctly, the MDC thread I linked above was started in response to reports about a woman that may have caught an unspecified virus from a used pump she got on Ebay. Her pump tested positive for the virus she had; and while no one knows whether she got it from the pump or vice versa this account does seem to establish that pathogens can survive in pumps for significant lengths of time.

~Cath

[2xand2y]

Ewwww, I never thought about yeast. Very informative- thank you!

I would think Medela could use some pumps to research why/where they weaken and to improve their product. But as you said, the application of that information does not = profit, so it isn't likely.

[CathMac]

Originally Posted by 2xand2y

Ewwww, I never thought about yeast. Very informative- thank you!

I would think Medela could use some pumps to research why/where they weaken and to improve their product. But as you said, the application of that information does not = profit, so it isn't likely.

They do make hospital grade, multi-user pumps. They cost about $1000.00. Or you can rent one for about $50.00 a month. So they do have the technology, it's just that it's expensive.

In comparison, a $250.00 Medela or $150.00 Ameda is pretty affordable. The tradeoff is that the motor isn't as strong and they aren't intended for multiple users.

You can get a $25.00 or $30.00 pump, but they are nowhere near as strong and will definitely undermine your supply. In fact some of them are sold by formula companies. A cynic would suspect that the intention is to sabotage a mother's ability to keep nursing.

~Cath

[CathMac]

Originally Posted by 2xand2y

I volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center and we happily accept them as donations. We explain the risk of a used pump but most of our clients will accept one anyway because it is the best option they have.

If I had no other option I would want an Ameda with the hygenikit (Purely Yours?). If I remember correctly the hygenikit prevents the milk from backing into the motor. I think this is pretty much the same technology they use on hospital grade, multi-user pumps. The difference is the durability of the motor and the fact that the multi-user motors can be sanitized and the personal use motor can't be. (Both of which increase the cost of the pump, BTW.)

I personally have spilled milk into the insulated compartment of my Medela PIS, and it leaked into the motor below, so the Ameda hygenikit is no guarantee that there are no pathogens in a used motor.

My next requirement would be a pump that hadn't been used in awhile, to try and ensure that any pathogens had died. But how long is long enough? Especially since (as I mentioned earlier) the yeast and the mold can probably survive for awhile; and even if it goes dormant moisture can reactivate the yeast, and I would imagine the mold as well.

And really, who would want old/inactive mold backing into their baby's milk?

I think you can take the PIS/A "diaphragm" off (although that's not recommended) and you could see any mold there but that doesn't rule out mold in the motor.

Assuming I was willing to take the risk of yeast or mold , I would then run the unit and see how many pumps it was putting out per minute. If I recall correctly a good double pump will cycle 54 to 56 times per minute when new. When I learned this I counted the one I got from my sister --several months into my using it-- I think it was operating at about 36 per minute. The Medela PISA I bought when I realized how inefficient my sister's was dropped from 54 or 56 to about 46. So I took a calculated risk and re-usued it for DD2.

Keep in mind that even if it is pumping between 45 and 55 or so cycles per minute you have no way of know how strong the suction is. I don't know that there is a direct relationship between the number of suctions and their strength. I think there is a tool for measuring suction on hospital grade pump motors but I don't know that they can be used on personal use ones.

And, as you know, even a good double electric pump cannot produce milk as efficiently as a baby. A deteriorated motor can easily undermine a mom's supply so using an older one might be a false economy/savings, even without the question of pathogens. I spent a small fortune on galactagogues. Probably enough to finance an Ameda PIS.

Finally even if the cycles and pumps seem adequate when you get it the likelihood is that the motor will continue to deteriorate and you will need to buy one anyway. If there is any possible way to buy one up front you should do it then to improve your "baseline" supply which is established in the early weeks (through 5 or 6 weeks if I remember correctly). Especially if you aren't getting it for free since the $25 or $50 you are spending could be put towards the new one.

JMO,
kel

[bender]

Can it be turned in to babys r us when they have their old gear turn in sales? They usually give a 25% discount on new items. Otherwise, I'd recycle the motor.

[CathMac]

Originally Posted by bender

Can it be turned in to babys r us when they have their old gear turn in sales? They usually give a 25% discount on new items. Otherwise, I'd recycle the motor.

I finally get it. Recycling the motor means recycling the materials in the motor, not re-using the motor in another pump.

I do need to get rid of my second pump. We have Trash Removal and single stream Recycling / Removal. Maybe I'll try pulling the pump out and putting it in with the recyclables.

~Cath

[2xand2y]

I always produced the most with the Avent manual pump. Since that and the Medela Harmony can be completely sterilized I may recommend that we only use those. Or new donated electric pumps. I don't ever want a baby to NOT get breast milk because of faulty equipment that I gave their mother. Thank you, CathMac for the detailed info. Wish you permission I would like to print it and share it with the director of our Center.

[CathMac]

Originally Posted by 2xand2y

... Thank you, CathMac for the detailed info. Wish you permission I would like to print it and share it with the director of our Center.

2xand2y,
Feel free. I hope I don't come across as a know it all but at one time I did a lot of research on this, much of which I've forgotten.

If you are interested you can do an "Advanced Search" under my name and under the BFing boards, using key search terms such as "used pump".

Here is the result for that search: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...rchid=12185901

Or you could try the term "yeast", which is how I dug up the thread I posted yesterday. Or HIV, AIDS, hepatitis, etc.

I hope the information helps others make an informed decision.

~Cath

P.S.

I'm pretty frugal and there is very little I wouldn't buy or sell used. Currently I am in the middle of listing stuff out for CraigsList, including a Diaper Genie and potty chair my neighbor left out for the trash man. It seemed like such a huge waste I thought I could save them from the landfill and make a little money at the same time.

[Sharlla]

yep got my pisa with new parts for $50 ppd. man i got such a deal
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