Can I definitely NOT sterilise Ameda pump in microwave?

[Cheeser]

Hi everyone, I need some advice please. My DS arrived rather early at 30+1 and I had absolutely nothing prepared. I started off expressing by hand to give him colostrum and am now using the hospital pumps, and a few days ago I bought an Ameda Lactaline personal pump for using at home in the night.

The instructions say you cannot sterilise the collection kit in the microwave, it has to be done using steam or cold sterilising solution.

Can I definitely not do this - ie will it be ruined if I do? I've been using Milton tablets which is ok but it'd be quicker in the microwave. I didn't research it properly as I was in a panic to buy one and a friend offered me her unused, boxed one.

Hope someone can help?

PS: About to start another thread on tips for establishing and maintaining feeding from the breast (at the moment he's tube fed)...

I don't know personally but if there are any metal parts then you can't. Do you have a food steamer? You could use on of those although not sure how long you'd have to do it for. I'd assume only 5-10 minutes as I can sterilise my pump with cold water in the microwave and it only takes 6 minutes.

Thanks fhdl34. There are no metal parts - it's just the plastic collection funnel, valve and silicone suctiony bit at the top. Im not sure why it shouldnt be ok in the micro but it does say in the instructions not to, and I want to know why!

Ive not got anything suitable to steam at home (the one at hospital takes 6 mins), I have a metal colander from IKEA that I do my broccoli in but not sure thats suitable! Although I guess no reason why not?

The milton solution takes 15 mins, and at 4am those minutes could be better spent sleeping!

I have the Lactaline and put mine in the milton solution before I go to bed. Because I've never got the hang of double pumping, I can rotate the two sets and can always have a sterilised one ready :)

I have absolutely never sterilised a pump in the 5 plus years I have been breastfeeding. I've shoved the washable bits in the dishwasher, washed stuff in the sink with very hot soapy water but never sterilised. Just saying.

Congratulations on your DS!

Could you talk to the midwives about whether it's necessary to sterilise between every use of the pump or if a wash in hot soapy water would be enough, with sterilising say once per 24 hours? Certainly for older babies it's not necessary to sterilise every time the pump is used, but appreciate it may be different for younger ones.

Thanks everyone

I definitely think I need to sterilise before every use - he's only tiny and the sooner he's taking more milk and keeping it down, the sooner he can come home. So I'd rather not chance not sterilising something in case it makes him ill. I was told at the start I had to sterilise right before expressing every time - but I'll ask again just in case.

Would love to hear if anyone's used the microwave to sterilise the Lactaline, without melting it or something?

I do appreciate and understand how you feel. Worth searching the archives here, there were links to a consultant in Cardiff SCBU who advised NOT sterlising for very young babies. But you really need to find the links and make your own informed decision.

My friend used a cold water steriliser with Milton and washed after each use and popped it in there.

Best of luck and congratulations.

I don't know. But I have a Lactaline and would have thought that there is a risk that those seal bits (don't know what they are properly called, the cylinders with one sealed end that separate the pump from the tube) would melt? They look like that sort of plastic.

As others have said, you can leave things in Milton, so I would pop the relevant bits in sterilising solution after use, rather than before. Mind you, I don't like those tablets either so used to rinse in freshly boiled water (which isn't exactly sterile, but is pretty clean) myself.

Sorry, just read your update. When you leave stuff underwater in sterilising solution, you are sterilising right before use IYSWIM. It is in a sterile solution.

Personally I'd stick it in the steriliser for 30 sec, 1,2,3 mins and see if it gets stupidly hot.

Some plastics contain water and absorb microwaves.

Melamine does. I've spoilt kids plates, you bubble the printing. They get insanely hot.

If some part of of the breast pump doesn't like MW I'd guess it would feel hotter than the rest, long before you melted it.

I microwave sterilized mine. The valves seem to degrade faster so worth buying extras as the seal/vacuum goes if there's a tear in it. I double pumped for 4m at work and didn't have anywhere to boil. Saying that I found a great travel steam steriliser on amazon too that I used regularly..fitted everything in. I would sterilise and transfer to sterile lunch box all made up...that might be easier for you to do so can just keep by bed at night? Do need to put milk in fridge after though. Good luck!