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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Meleda Swing Maxi second hand

31 replies

Karinoushka · 19/01/2016 21:58

Hi, i have just bought a second hand Meleda Swing Maxi but saw afterward that you are not supposed to use a second hand one as the Meleda as an 'open' system and can't be properly sterilized. Anyone knows about this? I feel i have waisted my money...

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Junosmum · 19/01/2016 22:55

Thing is, you can't fully sterilize an open system but if you bought it new there'd be a build up of old milk after a little while anyway, which you wouldn't be able to sterilize away.

I did watch a video on the medela pump being open and it was pretty gross.

Cerseirys · 19/01/2016 22:58

I know it's only anecdotal but FWIW, I bought a second hand one from a woman who'd had twins but only used the pump a couple of times before realising she needed the double version, and I never had any problems with it. Nor did DS suffer from any adverse reactions or the like.

Original poster

Karinoushka · 20/01/2016 08:40

I have sent an email to Medela to find out if the Swing Maxi has been improved and if it is now a closed system as I found conflicting informations online. Let's see what they say...

OP posts:

Sunshine511 · 20/01/2016 08:56

Oh I'm a bit worried about this now. I had a medala swing which I used when my daughter was younger. I gave it to my sister in law to use when she was breastfeeding and my intention was to use it again this time. Do you think this won't be safe to do? Would it have been safe to use if I hadn't given it to my SIL though? Because it still would have sat for 2 years between babies? Sorry I'm clueless with this kind of thing 😬 X

Oysterbabe · 20/01/2016 09:02

Personally I would use it and not worry.

Original poster

Karinoushka · 20/01/2016 09:59

I am feeling paranoid to use it as well, so i am going to see what Medela says.
It is to do with the milk being able to go where it can't be cleaned.

OP posts:

Sunshine511 · 20/01/2016 10:03

It's confusing though, so does that mean if you have one child, then don't use it for a year or 2, you can't use it anymore? Also, I used it for nearly a year with DD. Surely if it can't be cleaned properly, that would have been unsafe for her? It would have sat for up to a couple of months at the longest periods between me expressing. Doesn't seem to make any sense x

Missdusk · 20/01/2016 10:16

Id run it through the steriliser several times but still use it. Im not so sure about using it when ive had it from an unkown source but if it was a family or friend whod been using it id just wash it as thoroughly as i could and then sterilize thoroughly. Depends what you use to sterilise as well i guess though. I know the medela's say to boil them but i put mine in my tommee tippee electric sterilizer and it steam sterilizers so it gets into everything.

Sunshine511 · 20/01/2016 10:55

Awww thank you Missdusk!! I think that's what I'll do! I've got a steam steriliser too so I'll just give it a good few runs through that! 😊

Original poster

Karinoushka · 20/01/2016 11:05

It is apparently more complex than that. The milk and bacteria can go into the motor itself which can't be cleaned. It is different with pumps which have a closed system.

OP posts:

Sunshine511 · 20/01/2016 11:11

What I don't understand though is if you breastfed for a year, wouldn't that happen over time anyway? Doesn't seem right that the product could be dangerous to babies.x

Oysterbabe · 20/01/2016 11:30

Medela will say you need to buy a new one because they want you to buy a new one. Unless these things have a shelf life, and nothing in the manual to suggest they do, then surely it'll be fine.

Artioo2 · 20/01/2016 11:36

It is confusing, because I thought that if the milk got into the motor mechanism the pump would break anyway? I certainly remember reading in the instructions for ours not to let milk go down the tubes back into the mechanism for this reason.

I suppose the difference between using one for babies in the same family years apart and using a secondhand one might be that you know your own medical history and so can be pretty confident the milk was originally safe? The same reason that you have to give detailed medical information when you donate breast milk.

Original poster

Karinoushka · 20/01/2016 11:45

I just had a email back from Weleda saying: 'The Swing Maxi is not a closed system and should only be used on a personal use basis. The only pump that is closed is the Symphony hospital grade pump'
So i guess it is a personal decision wether to use a second hand one or not but it's not a great feeling to not be sure.

OP posts:

KatharinaRosalie · 20/01/2016 11:55

as others have said, it doesn't really make much sense. Yes the risk is that milk might get into the tubing - it shouldn't really, but could in theory if you tip the bottle or something. And it will then grow mold there.

However, if the pump is moldy, it really doesn't make a difference if it's a mold from your own milk or someone else's. I guess the only difference is that if you're the only user, you would know if you had got milk into the tubing, and with second-hand, you only have their word?

Original poster

Karinoushka · 20/01/2016 11:55

Sunshine511, you have a point. I have just sent an email to Weleda asking the same thing. If it's the case that it is not safe to use it second hand, then it is not safe for a second child.

OP posts:

Original poster

Karinoushka · 20/01/2016 11:56

Correction: MEDELA not Weleda!!!

OP posts:

MantaRayBay · 20/01/2016 12:10

My sister gave me her medala double pump to use. I think I bought new tubing off amazon. I had a prem baby and had to pump a lot. He didn't get any tummy upsets from it. He's a toddler now. Does that help at all?

Original poster

Karinoushka · 20/01/2016 12:16

Ok so this is the reply from Meleda: 'The tube is only for the air to flow through to create the vacuum so therefore no milk should go into it. Also the connectors should prevent this as well.
It will be perfectly safe to use on a second baby. We just recommend that you only use it yourself in case of cross contamination if any milk somehow was able to get into the motor.'
A bit ambiguous no? What do you think?

OP posts:

Cerseirys · 20/01/2016 12:26

If you're really nervous then perhaps you could get replacement tubes?

Sunshine511 · 20/01/2016 12:35

Since you are in contact with them OP, it might be worth asking if the replacement tubing would solve the problem? Makes sense that it would, unless there was mould at the end of the tubing inside the electrical part (if that makes sense)! I may just change it them too for peace of mind, if they say that will solve the issue! Fingers crossed x

Original poster

Karinoushka · 20/01/2016 13:40

I just don't understand how the milk would go in the motor in the first place. They are talking about cross contamination. I was going to change the tube anyway but someone on the internet opened their motor and there was milk in there. But then as someone suggested that could happen with your own child or for the second one. I think Medela are a bit vague, if it's ok for a second child, then surely it's ok second hand?!

OP posts:

Artioo2 · 20/01/2016 14:12

It is possible for milk to get in the motor - if tiny drops get into the tubing it can gradually get sucked back down the tube.

The 'use on a personal basis' must be the key in their answer - the (very slight) risk must be that you don't know the medical history of the person you bought from. There are diseases that can pass through breast milk. The chances of this happening though must be tiny.

MantaRayBay · 20/01/2016 14:41

If that's the case there should be big warnings on the box shouldn't there? I agree their response is a bit ambiguous.

But I think viruses don't survive for long outside the human body.

Sunshine511 · 20/01/2016 15:14

That was just what I was thinking manta! If I hadn't read this thread, and somehow is noticed I'd spilled milk near the motor or I'd spotted some go down the tube, I'd have cleaned it out without thinking anything of it! I have never noticed a warning anywhere about this and I also haven't noticed a warning about lending it to people! If this could cause serious problems to babies, you'd like to think it would be something we'd all be warned about, to never use one that's been used by someone else.x

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