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Cleaning and Sanitizing Your Breast Pump

Cleaning and Sanitizing Your Breast Pump

For nursing moms, breast pumps are invaluable tools to help maintain milk supply, provide flexibility and make sure your baby has access to nutritious breast milk when you can’t be there! But, as with any breast pump, it’s important to keep your milk pump clean and sanitized so neither you nor your baby pick up harmful bacteria and infections. Cleaning and sanitizing your promom breast pump properly will keep it clean, hygienic, in good working order, and safe. Hence, Promom.in is here to walk you through the process of nursing pump cleaning and sanitizing, tips on how to store your nursing pump properly, and what common mistakes you want to avoid.

Why is Cleaning Your Breast Pump Important?

Breast milk is a natural, nutrient rich food, but it can also be used as a medium for bacterial growth if not prepared properly. The milk you pump could become contaminated if any residual milk remains on pump parts and bacteria, mold, or other pathogens can harbor in that milk. To protect your baby’s health, make sure that your breast pump is kept clean so you do not introduce harmful microbes in the milk. Additionally, cleaning and sanitizing well keeps your portable breast pump  working at its best, and can extend the life of it.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Breast Pump

  • Disassemble the Pump: Remove breastfeeding pump all assembled together after each use. Separate all parts that come into contact with breast milk, including:

  • Flanges (breast shields)

  • Valves

  • Membranes

  • Bottles or milk collection containers

Also, make sure to handle the parts correctly since that’s the way you can avoid breaking them.

  • Rinse Immediately: After you rinse each part under the running water, you remove milk residue. Use water that is lukewarm and rinse thoroughly. Consistent with stage one, we do not suggest the usage of hot water at this memory because the usage of hot water can stick the milk proteins to the surfaces of the pump parts.

  • Wash with Soap and Water: Beat mild, fragrance free soap into warm water in a clean basin. Regular dishwashing liquids can leave residues that will harm your baby. Put the parts of your pump in the soapy water and scrub each part with a soft brush or sponge (designed for breast pump parts only). Look at the valves and membranes because they are the small crevices that often trap the milk.

  • Rinse Again: Rinse each part, thoroughly with clean, running water, to be sure none of the soap has stayed. Leaving soap residue on the parts of the pump can irritate your baby’s digestive system.

  • Air Dry: Clean those parts. Place them on a clean dry towel or drying rack. Don’t use the mouth of a dish towel that harbors bacteria. After the parts are dry, it’s okay to reassemble or put them in storage. Never use a hairdryer (or other heat sources) to dry your hair quickly.

When to Clean Your Breast Pump Parts?

Sanitizing goes a step beyond cleaning and is especially important for:

  • Newborns under three months old

  • Premature or medically fragile babies

  • Conditions that include a pump part being out in front of an unclean environment.

For healthy, older babies, it is also a good idea to sanitize some of the pump parts at least once a day.

Cleaning Tips for Busy Moms

Managing a breastfeeding routine can be overwhelming, so here are some time-saving tips:

  • Invest in Spare Parts: Having extra sets of pump parts means you’ll never have to clean them - which means you’ll also always have a clean set ready to go.

  • Use a Dedicated Cleaning Kit: For extra convenience, keep a cleaning kit to clean the pump area or diaper bag with soaps, brushes and sanitizing bags available.

  • Try Quick Cleaning Products: For a quick clean if you’re pressed for time, some people opt for wipes that sanitise (for example, anything with alcohol) or steam bags, but you need to perform a full wash at least once a day.

  • Create a Routine: Plan on cleaning into your daily schedule. Take for instance washing your pump parts after feeding while your baby sleeps.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Skipping Rinsing: Rinsing milk residue after pumping is difficult to avoid, and bacteria can set in if you don’t do it immediately.

  • Using Harsh Chemicals: Don’t use bleach, antibacterial soap or other chemicals that can leave dangerous residues on the pump parts.

  • Neglecting Small Parts: Bacteria can hide in tiny components like valves and membranes if they aren’t cleaned off well. These parts shouldn’t be ignored, take extra care.

  • Improper Drying: Wet stored pump parts have a greater tendency to develop mold and mildew. You must never, ever store any parts if the parts are not dry.

  • Sharing Pump Parts: Never share breast pump parts between users unless the parts are multi user designed. Sharing can introduce cross-contamination.

How to Maintain Your Breast Pump Motor and Tubing

While the motor and tubing usually don’t come into direct contact with milk, they still require attention:

  • Wipe the Motor: Wipe with a clean, damp cloth, the motor and any buttons or surfaces.

  • Inspect the Tubing: Look at the tubing for milk backflow, mold or moisture. Wash the tubing in warm, soapy water and air dry thoroughly before using, if there’s moisture present.

  • Replace When Needed: Tubing can be damaged or worn and so affect pump performance and hygiene. Tubing should be changed as recommended by the manufacturer.

Conclusion

Cleaning and sanitizing your breast pump is a task most people don’t enjoy, however, it is important due to the need to keep your baby safe and healthy. Through following these steps, you can set up a hygienic pumping routine that prevents your breast milk from becoming contaminated and keeps your pump in great condition. This shouldn’t be a burden if you’ve got the right tools, habits, and knowledge. Get your pump today with Promom.in!