Buying a used breast pump

[tinkinpink84]

I bought mine new off ebay. I pumped with my daughter. I didnt work or anything like that. I just found it easier knowing how much i was giving her and i wasnt up for BFing in public really. so i found it worked for me. I ended up handing it off to my sister. Not sure how much she used it. But i guess its different giving it to a sibling or someone in the family. But most of the parts that would need cleaning you can buy online. either ebay or directly from the manufacturers site rather then buying a whole new pump and all. I had a medela double electric. I was able to pump 4oz or more once i got the swing of things. I had a manual single one with my son when i attempted BFing but i couldnt get crap with that but i also lived at home etc and well in my situation i just ended up going to bottle feeding but was determined with my daughter. wich also helped if we did wanna go somewhere alone or something! Some parts may be able to be cleaned in your dishwasher. But ifi had bought used i prob woulda just replaced all the peices. and well i think i paid around 150 or 200 for a new one on ebay. but that was almost 4 yrs ago! I dont think the risk factors are super high on getting sick from a used breastpump but the risks are there nonetheless. You just gotta see if the risks outweigh the benefits and go by that. I never had mastitis but i can imagine it to suck really bad! But there are ways to treat that as well. But you can get mastitis just breastfeeding alone as well. Ducts can get clogged in your breasts etc. Just a lil warning. the first few weeks are the hardest specially breastfeeding! it will hurt at first. But once you get the swing of things and the baby can latch properly and your milk supply comes in you will be good to go! but the first few weeks can be painful wich i knew going in so i didnt give up! So prepare yourself. In the hospital i kept a small notebook with wich side i fed on and for how long to even it out so one isnt engorged while the other was not. It helped out writing it down! being a new mom youd be lucky to remmeber wich side you previously fed from by the time the baby is ready to eat again! And you gotta watch your diet and all that jazz. some foods we eat can give baby an upset stomach. Its all trial and error!

[tinkinpink84]

This is my personal opinion about breast pumps.

If you work part time as I did when I was nursing, I found no need for the double electric fancy dancy one. I pumped once each day I was at work, and I only pumped one side because that is what my DD would do if she were eating. I had a single electric that I got for free from a lactation consultant when I was in the hospital, and it did its job.

If I were working full time, I would first wait to establish a BFing relationship before ever pumping. The info I got from my LC was that you shouldn't pump in the first month because you have an oversupply while your body figures out how to match baby's needs, and a pump just creates more of a demand. Then once that is figured out or if you decide BFing is not for you, you can purchase the pump you think you'll want/need or not make the investment if you don't feel it's worth it. I wouldn't buy a pump before baby is born because you don't know how things will go.

Are you going to be working full time or part time? I think that will make a difference in what you'll need.

yeah buyin an electric with your first! I doubt i would wanna do that not knowing what i was in for! Id kick myself if i wound up unable to use it. hence why with my son i tried the manual. It made my hands tired though and for some reason i couldnt get but maybe 1 or 2oz at a time so i gave it up! If you work and are on maternity leave its the best time to establish the feeding schedule so your body is producing the amount your baby needs. if you pump lots then your body will always make lots to keep up with your demand! Engorged boobies are painful! hot showers and cabbage helps!

[hiding57]

Most of those infectious germs can't live long outside the body. MRSA I think is three weeks but I'd look it up if your worried. That's crazy about the NICU pump, I though all hospital grade pumps supposedly had a barrier of some kind. What a nightmare. How weird that someone had it colonized in their breastmilk to. I still would wonder if it came from someone touching the pump or something hmmmm. That really sucks though.

[motherofmolly]

i got a new one, but that was because my insurance reimbursed me $200 for it.

nothing wrong with a used one. i would buy all new parts (the tubes, the milk cups, the suction cups!) which you can do on the medula website.

i got mine at the hospital. i pumped in that first month because i wanted dh to know what it was like to feed his child. and i also wanted her use to a bottle so when i went back to work it wasnt a crazy adjustment.

[mbcalder]

thank you all for your advice! i am going back to work after 4 to 6 weeks, wish it was longer.. but am self employed hair stylist and clients don't like to wait. that is a good idea to write down which side you fed on, any little thing i can find out will help. they told us about the cabbage and hot shower in my prenatal class. i know it will hurt, but am hoping i will be able to suffer thru. everyone keeps saying if the baby latches on good then it won't be near as bad.

i did talk to my Dr about it.. he said that he thought it would be fine, as long as i cleaned and sterilized everything. he said to clean it with bleach and water. i told him i am definitely buying all new stuff to replace the parts with. he also said that most viruses can't live long, so he didn't see a reason not to use it. the OB dept at my hospital said the same thing.

i know that bf ties the mom down a lot, but i really want to be able to do it. i may not even have to pump, i live 5 mins from work and my DH can bring the baby by for 1 feeding at work i can run home. but i want to know i have everything covered, am definitely a planner!

thanks again for all your help, it means so much!

[ayoungjennifer]

I would purchase your own personal pump that is new. My mother in law got me the Medela Pump in Style new on ebay for around $200. It has lasted through 2 exclusively breastfed kids and works like a dream.

Of course, this may not be possible. In either case, you will need:

one set of extra tubing in case one gets wet or cracks (so 4 tubing total)
6+ of the white membranes (so tiny, they fall right down the sink!)
4 of the yellow valves

wait until you try your pump before purchasing a lot of breastshields. you might find your nipple getting pulled too tight or not enough and may need to go up or down a size. you should have 4 breastshields on hand.

I don't know how much you intend to use the pump, but I am lucky and am at home with my kids most of the time. This past winter and spring I was away from my son and used the pump every day. I attached the glass evenflo bottles to the pump (they attach perfectly and are much cheaper than medela bottles), pumped, and stored the milk on ice in a bag until i got home. I then kept the milk in the fridge and my MIL would transfer it to the playtex disposable nurser system for him to eat. He switched between breast and bottle beautifully.

Now that I am home FT, he refuses to take a bottle and wants only to nurse.

[ayoungjennifer]

thank you all for your advice! i am going back to work after 4 to 6 weeks, wish it was longer.. but am self employed hair stylist and clients don't like to wait. that is a good idea to write down which side you fed on, any little thing i can find out will help. they told us about the cabbage and hot shower in my prenatal class. i know it will hurt, but am hoping i will be able to suffer thru. everyone keeps saying if the baby latches on good then it won't be near as bad.

i did talk to my Dr about it.. he said that he thought it would be fine, as long as i cleaned and sterilized everything. he said to clean it with bleach and water. i told him i am definitely buying all new stuff to replace the parts with. he also said that most viruses can't live long, so he didn't see a reason not to use it. the OB dept at my hospital said the same thing.

i know that bf ties the mom down a lot, but i really want to be able to do it. i may not even have to pump, i live 5 mins from work and my DH can bring the baby by for 1 feeding at work i can run home. but i want to know i have everything covered, am definitely a planner!

thanks again for all your help, it means so much!

I was nervous about latch-on and other issues before my first baby was born. Here are some videos that I watched while waiting for her to arrive. I really think they helped me be more relaxed when nursing her those first few times.

Breastfeeding.com Informational Video Clips