Second hand breast pump - yay or nay

[Anothermrssmith]

Have been looking on eBay for various bits and pieces and ended up looking at breast pumps. I'm planning on breastfeeding but unsure about what pump to get so while the money saver in me says buy a cheap one second hand to see how you get on, so if its crap you've not wasted a fortune on it, there's a bit if me that finds it a bit gross! Dont know why,obviously would clean it before I used it but in my head its a bit like buying second hand underwear, one step too far for the sake of saving a couple of quid.

Am I being a total idiot or is this one of those things I'm best buying new?

I bought one second hand. Was fine :)

Are you in the UK? I can send you my medela hand pump if you like. Was just going to throw it away and it was barely used.

Either way, I would avoid buying until baby is here.

My friend lent me her breast pump that shed finished with and once I'd finished with it it was passed on to another friend. Don't see a problem with it as you'll be sterilising it before use anyway.

I am not sure exactly how it works but some are 'closed' pumps and you can't get to all the bits to clean them, and some.are 'open' and you can. Sure someone will be.more helpful in a bit.
I used one from the local Surestart centre and it was fab and my dd is fine!

I have used friends madela swing pumps second hand both times but would somehow feel a bit yuk about a strangers because you can't sterilise all the tubing. Bigger hospital type ones I think you can so they can be used by multiple people no problem.

i wouldn't get one at all unless you actually need one.
if you think you might want to express a bit for the occasional bottle a manual pump really is fine.

if you're in a situation where you need to express totally then you will need a really good hosp grade pump. you can hire these from NCT to see how you get on and then buy if you need to.

if you DO end up buying a second hand electric one make sure it's a closed system one. some of them don't have the necessary valves to prevent milk getting into the workings which could then cause contamination.

american site, but explains the differences between open and closed

See I got it the wrong way round! Thanks Bundaberg

i thought about this myself but as i was only planning on pumping rarely i.e trips into town or day out i bought a manual off ebay for £12 if your going to be pumping alot your def going to need a decent grade of electric pump