Sterilizing breast pump...or not?

[drjane]

Hi - my DS is 6 months and I've just gone back to work 3 days a week. I'm expressing twice a day at work (11am and 3pm) which is a bit a palaver, but I was wondering whether I really needed to sterilize the pump in between expressing sessions...it says on the La Leche website that EBM can safely be kept at room temp for up to 10 hours, so if I just sealed everything up...?

Has anyone else though about this?

[lackaDAISYcal]

I've never sterilised my pump washing it in the hottest water you can stand and allowing it to air dry should be OK.

[foxythesnowman]

When I expressed after every feed I'd just put the lid on and bung it in the fridge. Then take it out next time and carry on. Didn't wash it inbetween times. Bit cold though!

[cmotdibbler]

Can you just put your pump in a plastic bag and put it in the same fridge as your milk ?

FWIW when I was expressing on SCBU, they just told you to wash the pump and leave it to airdry - sterile bottles though.

[drjane]

Well that makes me feel much better! Looks like I was being much too zealous about hygiene. I'll just stick it in the fridge covered up then, that'll save me a whole load of bother.

thanks!