Banning used breast pumps?! Huh?

[MoonJelly]

Please explain to me why there is an initiative to ban used breast pumps on eBay?!

Even if I agreed with this (which I don't), I can't see any merit to spending time on such a cause when there is so much other important work to do in Lactivism itself.

Wow. :

[shortpants]

It has to do with the fact that it isn't sanitary, since all parts can't be sterilized.


This from another board:

Medela, Inc.:

" Many mothers have asked if they can safely sell, purchase, or use a previously owned breastpump. Medela is concerned about the health and welfare of breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Breastfeeding is certainly the best way to feed your baby, and is the gold standard of infant nutrition. There is some evidence, however, that certain serious viruses* may be transmittable through breastmilk. For this reason, it is not advisable to use a previously owned breastpump. Breastpumps are single-user products, or personal care items, much like a toothbrush, and are registered with the FDA as single user items. For safety, breastpumps should never be shared, resold, or lent among mothers. Medela strongly discourages mothers from re-using or re-selling previously owned breastpump equipment. The Medela Pump In Style Breastpump has an internal diaphragm that cannot be removed, replaced, or fully sterilized. Therefore, the risk of cross-contamination associated with re-using a previously owned pump such as the Pump In Style cannot be totally dismissed. Multiple use of single-user breastpump automatically voids the warranty of the Medela product. Each mother who wishes to express milk with a pump should use a clean, uncontaminated breastpump. This is the safest way to eliminate any risk of cross-contamination. Rental pumps such as the Classic‰ and Lactina pumps are made to be safely used by repeated clients who each use their own clean personal rental kit, therefore avoiding any possible cross-contamination. Rental pumps, when used according to the Medela instructions, are safe to use by multiple mothers who have their own personal kits."

Avent America:

"We at Avent America are always striving to provide mothers with quality products at reasonable prices to help them breastfeed longer. Research has shown that breastmilk can transmit many contagious viruses. It is for this reason that we strongly recommend that you NEVER use a previously owned breast pump. The Isis Breast Pump is considered to be a personal care item and has been designed to be for single use only. Mothers should never share breast pumps. Sharing or using a previously owned breast pump could put you and your baby at a potential risk for exposure to serious health risks. Some of the viruses that can be within breast milk are: HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS) HTLV-1 Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type I CMV - Cytomegalovirus When you are using a previously owned breast pump you create the risk of cross contamination. It is for this reason that AVENT AMERICA STRONGLY SUGGESTS NEVER USING, BORROWING, PURCHASING OR SELLING A PREVIOUSLY USED/PRE-OWNED BREAST PUMP. Since a mother's breast milk is the most precious gifts of nutrition/health she can give her baby, DON'T take the chance of sharing someone else's viruses with your baby. "

So I can't say I really think this is a bad thing.

[MoonJelly]

Originally Posted by shortpants

It has to do with the fact that it isn't sanitary, since all parts can't be sterilized.

Yep, those are the recommendations of the companies who are in the business of making breast pumps and the recommendations of the FDA who let baby medicine products containing halloucenogenic chemicals line the shelves of every grocery store and pharmacy.

Not only are there many exceptions to the risks they describe, the reasons used pumps should be available far outnumber them.

And we can also talk about people who can't afford a new breast pump... And people who use used bottles...

What the companies and the FDA should be instead talking about is the importance of buying new parts kits when you are going to use a used pump. And of course, there's always just room for more support of breastfeeding in general...

But again, it goes beyond all these reasons. Why spend your time on this? There are so many other causes that need attention in the world. Man are we petty sometimes in this country.

[mommaduck]

And yet, places RENT Medela pumps...

go figure.

[shortpants]

Oh I hear you! I haven't done enough research to really decide whether I think this is actually true or not, was just stating the reason ebay has decided to do this. Honestly though, when it comes to something like HIV or other diseases, I would rather err on the side of caution. I don't think its necessarily such a wild idea that used pumps can't be fully sterilized. There's plenty of other things I wouldn't share with someone even if it could be cleaned! Just my opinion. Then again, there are much worse things sold on ebay!

[jeanine123]

Originally Posted by mommaduck

And yet, places RENT Medela pumps...

go figure.

They rent multi-user closed system pumps. Or at least they should. As slim of a chance as there is there is still a possibility of disease being passed from one mom to another via the pump. And in this day and age of lawsuits....

http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/pumps.shtml

Additionally, if a woman has used the breast pump during an episode of cracked bleeding nipples, blood contamination may have also occurred. Home sterilization methods are not always reliable to ensure the safe destruction of all pathogens especially in the rubber parts such as washers and diaphragms. Some pumps have internal diaphragms that cannot be removed and cleaned or replaced. In addition, even if you get a new collection kit (the part the touches your breast and collects the milk) it may be possible for air-born pathogens or droplets of milk that are not visible to the naked eye to get into a pump motor and cause contamination to the next user. Most single user pumps are "open system" pumps and do not have any protective barrier to prevent cross contamination to multiple users.

[junipermuse]

The only problem with these statements is that they come from the breast pump manufacturer themselves. Of course they don't want you to share or resell breastpumps. Every time you do, that's one less breastpump that they can sell. These companies may not be as evil as formula companies, but just because they support breastfeeding doesn't mean they have the consumer's best interet at heart. the number one goal of any business is to make money, providing a good or service that people need is always second (or 3rd or 10 millionth) to that.

While I get what Medela is saying about some parts not being sterilized, I'm not sure there is an increased risk of disease being spread. Yes some diseases can be transmitted through breastmilk, but the parts of the pump that come in contact with breastmilk are all replaceable and sterilizable (I know that's not really a word but you get my meaning). If somehow breastmilk were getting into these non-replaceable parts we would be having problems with newborns getting bacterial infections from contamination by these breastpumps even in cases where their mother was using a brand new pump.

Also I have an avent manual pump also and every part of the pump can be sterilized. You just disassemble it, wash it and throw it all into a pot of boiling water. So I'm not really sure where the risk comes in. Frankly if the companies really cared about health rather than their profit margin they would make sure all parts could be replaced or sterilized. That way women who couldn't afford a new pump could just buy a few replacement parts and sterilize the other parts and use a previously owned pump.

[jeanine123]

A friend of mine who is far more ebay knowledgeable than I (which doesn't take much since I've never gotten into ebay) pointed out that selling used breastpumps is already banned by ebay. They rely on people who see such auctions to report it in order to enforce the ban. So it seems that this petition is redundant in that it's advocating for a ban that's already in place.

[Rivka5]

HIV can only live outside the body (or properly stored blood/breast milk) for a few hours at most. Hepatitis C can only live outside the body for a few days at most.

So there might be a risk to using someone else's breast pump immediately after they pump, but there's certainly no risk involved in buying a used pump from someone who hasn't pumped in weeks or months.

[christyp]

Aside from the potential risk of infection, most motorized single user pumps are not designed to be used forever. The warranty on the motor is one year, and I have heard from moms that used the pumps heavily that the motors burned out in time. I'd hate for moms to buy a used pump and have it conk out on them within a short time. Not advocating for a ban, just another reason to think twice before acquiring a used pump. It's not a good value any more if it doesn't last as long as you need.

[junipermuse]

Originally Posted by christyp

Aside from the potential risk of infection, most motorized single user pumps are not designed to be used forever. The warranty on the motor is one year, and I have heard from moms that used the pumps heavily that the motors burned out in time. I'd hate for moms to buy a used pump and have it conk out on them within a short time. Not advocating for a ban, just another reason to think twice before acquiring a used pump. It's not a good value any more if it doesn't last as long as you need.

I totally agree with this, but I know so many moms who stopped nursing at 3 or 4 months. That means the pump still has 8 or 9 months left of good use. And for a mama who only wants to use it casually (not returning to work, just for the occasional evening out) they may only need to pump for that long. I haven't pumped for my 10 month old for a while and she is always fine as long as I'm not gone more than 5 hours. Even then I think pumps don't usually burn out immediately they just start losing effectiveness, so if a woman doesn't need to pump mass quantities daily, a pump that has been used for only a few months by someone else, might still last her a long time.

[katheek77]

Some non-hospital grade pumps ARE closed system. My Lansinoh was.

I bought a PIS around the 13mos mark, and gave the Lansinoh to a friend who only needs one occassionally.

As to contamination, the "possibility" will vary depending on the system and pump parts (whether they can all be boiled/replaced)...with the Lansinoh, you can't boil one of the parts, but you can order a replacement for, like, 5 dollars or something...I forget right now. Five bucks is a hell of a lot cheaper than $150, which is probably why the manufacturers "caution" us against buying used pumps...that's 145 dollars they're out (and that's for the CHEAP Lansinoh one).

I have a manual I bought off of ebay before my DD was even born. I use it in case of emergency (ie...a part breaks and I can't get to the store right away for a replacement, powers out and batteries are dead, etc.). I just threw everything in a big pot and let it cook for a looong time.

[MarcyC]

Think of it this way:

A single working mom wants to pump breastmilk for her baby. She's single and just getting by and can't afford a new pump so she buys a used pump, sterilized parts, and possibly invests $10-$20 in some replacement parts and babe gets mama's milk.

--------OR-----------

She can go to the WIC office and get free formula...heck...you don't even have to go to WIC for free formula. It's handed out at the ob's office, the ped's office, etc...


I'd much rather see her get a used breastpump.

[MoonJelly]

Originally Posted by MarcyC

Think of it this way:

A single working mom wants to pump breastmilk for her baby. She's single and just getting by and can't afford a new pump so she buys a used pump, sterilized parts, and possibly invests $10-$20 in some replacement parts and babe gets mama's milk.

--------OR-----------

She can go to the WIC office and get free formula...heck...you don't even have to go to WIC for free formula. It's handed out at the ob's office, the ped's office, etc...


I'd much rather see her get a used breastpump.

Kinda makes you wonder how someone can call a ban initiative like this Lactivism...

[jeanine123]

So now we get to sit in judgment of what may and may not qualify as "Lactivism". Interesting. If this petition is such a waste of time and effort then why start a thread in the first place? Hasn't more time been spent discussing the merits, or lack thereof, of this petition then it would have taken to either sign or ignore it? It's no wonder I don't frequent this board as much as I used to.

[MoonJelly]

Originally Posted by jeanine123

So now we get to sit in judgment of what may and may not qualify as "Lactivism". Interesting. If this petition is such a waste of time and effort then why start a thread in the first place? Hasn't more time been spent discussing the merits, or lack thereof, of this petition then it would have taken to either sign or ignore it? It's no wonder I don't frequent this board as much as I used to.

No, we get to sit in discussion on our discussion board. Call it judgment if you want. It's actually a neutral word anyway.

And it certainly does take more effort to get something banned from eBay then it does to post a few paragraphs on a thread.

Peace.

[jeanine123]

Originally Posted by MoonJelly

No, we get to sit in discussion on our discussion board. Call it judgment if you want. It's actually a neutral word anyway.

And it certainly does take more effort to get something banned from eBay then it does to post a few paragraphs on a thread.

Peace.

For the people who organized the petition in the first place, sure it does. But not for those who were informed of the petition and asked to sign it. And since I see more people here who appear to be in the "informed and asked to sign" camp than in the "organized petition and put the word out" camp I'm led to believe that yes, it does take them more time to write out their thoughts here than it would have to either sign or ignore the petition.

Has anyone contacted the author's of this petition with your concerns that banning used breastpumps from ebay will cause a hardship for others? I mean it's one thing to criticize someone's idea on a discussion board, it's quite another to take up your concerns with that person.

Will this indeed cause a hardship for others? Does anyone know how many used pumps are sold via ebay in a year?

[guestmama9904]

i had a medela pump in style that i "passed on" to a friend. i rarely used it and i dont have any communicable diseases. i also really dont see how any germs could survive in the plastic tubing?

[MoonJelly]

Originally Posted by jeanine123

For the people who organized the petition in the first place, sure it does. But not for those who were informed of the petition and asked to sign it. And since I see more people here who appear to be in the "informed and asked to sign" camp than in the "organized petition and put the word out" camp I'm led to believe that yes, it does take them more time to write out their thoughts here than it would have to either sign or ignore the petition.

I chose not to simply ignore the petition that was sent to me by the originator because I don't agree with it. And I posted here to see how people felt about it.

Originally Posted by jeanine123

Has anyone contacted the author's of this petition with your concerns that banning used breastpumps from ebay will cause a hardship for others? I mean it's one thing to criticize someone's idea on a discussion board, it's quite another to take up your concerns with that person.

Yep. I sure have.

Originally Posted by jeanine123

Will this indeed cause a hardship for others? Does anyone know how many used pumps are sold via ebay in a year?

I do happen to know more people (myself included) who have used a used pump than I know people who have bought a new one.

I also feel that buying used items instead of new ones is an environmentally responsible thing to do.

The default position is no ban. I don't see a compelling reason to implement such a ban.

[SashaBear]

HMMM My hospital loans out PISs. Go figure.