Medela Swing Pump

[RaisinGirls]

My first baby is due in 2 weeks and I have bought the medela swing breast pump in case I need to express. I am confused as to how to clean it though. I thought I should sterilise it before I use it and after every use. However, when I asked the assistant in John Lewis she said she had never heard of needing to sterilise breast pumps.

I have looked at the instructions which seem to suggest hot water is enough. But can I use a steriliser if I want to?

I think the instructions are to rinse in warm soapy water to get rid of the milk, then sterilise before use. I used a normal advent type steriliser and it was fine.

I used a pump in hospital and was advised to wash in warm soapy water. When I asked about how to sterilise they told me that apparently a leading breast feeding figure has told hospitals to not sterilise them anymore and washing is sufficient. But I'm sure there's no harm in sterilising if you want to!

When the hospital made me express extra every 3 hours for baby 9 weeks ago the pump was washed in warm soapy water then put in a giant tub of Milton after each use until the next.

With my hand pump I now have used to relieve engorgement in the early days I wash then sterilise in microwave (even though i don't use the little expressed milk).

You don't need to sterilise it, hot soapy water is fine.

I run the pump bits of mine through the dishwasher.

With my medela swing I wash the funnel and bit with the valve and then put them either through the steriliser or in a tub of Milton.

I used mine loads as DS had tongue tie. Slung all the bits in a tub of milton solution. It was really easy and one less thing for me to be paranoid about in the early days, Morrisons do a 10litre plastic bucket with a lid that is just the right size

I put the suction cup and valve bit in with the bottles in my steam steriliser (into microwave) after washing it. Hot soapy water is ok though

If you've not yet bought bottles, get the Tommy Tippee closer to nature ones (or one if it's a backup)

I expressed for 10 months and washed in hot soapy water and sterilised the pump parts after every expression. Breast milk is really sticky and quite fatty so if you don't wash throughly and sterilise then it would be a fertile ground for those pesky germs. A shame to taint your well laboured ebm with the possibility of infection!

Don't try to sterilise the tubing in a microwave steriliser, though.

It melts

I wash the funnel, valves and bottles with soapy water and put in a bucket of Milton suction until next use, as this is what was done at the hospital.

I emailed Medela yesterday evening - and amazingly have already had a response (so rare to have speedy customer service these days!). Ive pasted it below in case anyone searches for the same issue in future. Thanks for all your responses

"You can either steam sterilise, microwave sterilise or hot water sterilise the shield, connector, valve, membrane & bottle, please always follow the manufactures instructions.

We recommend that the tube only be washed with warm soapy water rinsed in clean hot water then air dried. Sterilising the tubing will make it warp and therefore may become damaged due to the heat. See page 7 of the attached.

For your information. On the back of the motor unit you will see a battery cover. If you remove this cover you will see a dark grey sponge in the back of your motor unit this is there to catch any residue of milk that may get back up into the tube and therefore as the motor sucks the milk will get sucked up the tube and into the back of the unit, the sponge is there to catch this milk. Always make sure that this sponge is kept clean and dry. You can clean the sponge in clear lukewarm water, squeeze dry and then dry thoroughly before putting back into the pump. See page 12 under troubleshooting.

We would recommend that you sterilise parts before use but you can sterilise as little or as often as you feel is necessary once you start to use. "