https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:15:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2869025 Sun, 27 Jan 2019 02:57:52 +0000 Calibee 2869025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Only pump when traveling, but pump goes into the mini fridge in the hotel room. I don’t wash in between each pump. That sounds so hard! No problems so far with my 18 month old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868815 Fri, 25 Jan 2019 13:29:10 +0000 Mrsbells 2868815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dc yoga bee: oh that's a good tip!<br /> @ElbieKay: yeah thats basicaly what I told my LC. Being an exclusive pumper is already a loy of work. Washing the parts multiple times a day is just not feasible.<br /> @LCTBQE: yeah i think the cdc is just trying to overreach and err on the side of caution.<br /> @irene: yeah you are right people can be easily offended these days! Especially people who arent very educated on breastfeeding </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868724 Fri, 25 Jan 2019 09:16:51 +0000 dc yoga bee 2868724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: I have no access to a sink at work and pumped 3-4x a day. I used the medela wipes in between each session and absolutely loved them. Bonus is I just found out they’re FSA eligible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868703 Fri, 25 Jan 2019 08:01:27 +0000 LCTBQE 2868703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: this suggestion reminds me a lot of the mandate to not drink any alcohol whatsoever during pregnancy: it’s an unnecessarily extreme cautionary rule thrown at everyone to help the 1% (or whatever small minority) who can’t be trusted to use their own judgement, in this case with sanitation measures. I pump twice a day at work and keep my pump parts in a clean ziplock between sessions and apparently so do the women AT the cdc even after issuing this directive. If I had an immune-comprised preemie would I leave my pump parts festering in dirty tepid water and call it a day? No, but that has nothing to do with your actual situation or mine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868690 Fri, 25 Jan 2019 03:55:45 +0000 ElbieKay 2868690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well is it better for my kids to be kept on breastmilk with pump parts that are stored in the fridge and washed once per day, or to be switched to formula?</p> <p>I am pumping and nursing twins who just turned 6mo. I work full time and also have an almost 5yo. I pump twice a day, every day, at home and three additonal times per day when I am in the office. I am barely keeping my life together. It is already hard to fit in pumping at work.</p> <p>There are lots of things that I could do better if I had infinite time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868679 Thu, 24 Jan 2019 23:19:56 +0000 irene 2868679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@katsupgirl: @peachykeen: @Mrsbells: @babypugs: Good to know about the technicalities of it! I work at home for the past 10+ years, and as I said I stored my pump parts in a glass bowl (transparent) in the fridge. It never came to me I could potentially "offend" someone until earlier when I really think about how I may do it when I need to use a shared fridge. You know how people get offended about anything nowadays (eg. people get offended by breastfeeding in a public area even if the mom is super discreet / covered is beyond me), so I thought someone would bound to say something about breastmilk / pump parts in the fridge. True about putting them in opague coolers that would potentially shut anyone up :happy: </p> <p>@babypugs: Hahahaha good point about those "science experiments" going on in office refrigerators :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868634 Thu, 24 Jan 2019 19:34:33 +0000 babypugs 2868634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Even working with a lot of guys, no one cared about milk and pump parts in the fridge (or, if they did, they never worked up the nerve to say anything!). But it's not like anything is spilling or mixing with food, right? And it's deeeefinitely better than some of the leftover science experiments that tend to grow in shared fridges... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868629 Thu, 24 Jan 2019 18:54:33 +0000 LCTBQE 2868629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peachykeen: you work there?! That’s awesome!<br /> OP this exact thread was on hb when that recommendation first came out; I remember everyone said pretty much the same thing as this time :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868592 Thu, 24 Jan 2019 13:28:09 +0000 maddyz 2868592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't wash my pump parts all the time. Sometimes I would keep them in the fridge or put them in the cooler pack. I often worked LONG days and could not bring fresh parts for each pumping session... I was a bit lax. Not to say that you should be. If I felt like I pushed the limits sometimes I wouldn't keep the milk. But that wasn't often. Sometimes I would use disifectent whipes, but i never felt like those did a good job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868584 Thu, 24 Jan 2019 12:25:26 +0000 Mrsbells 2868584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: we have a dedicated mothers room with a fridge and sink. However not to sound harsh but I couldn't care less if a coworker thought my breastmilk or pump parts was gross being in the fridge. Not sure whats gross about it? It would obviously be in a bottle/ bag so its not like it would be any different than anything else in the fridge. I keep pump parts in a ziplock bag and could always put that ziplock into shopping bag to "hide" it if it offends someone but seriously can't understand why it would/should bother anyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868520 Thu, 24 Jan 2019 09:00:57 +0000 peachykeen 2868520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: We have mini fridges in all our lactation rooms, but I usually stored my pump parts in a wet bag (opaque) and my milk bottles in an opaque cooler so that probably wouldn't have been a huge issue. Also people are really cool about the health benefits of nursing here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868478 Wed, 23 Jan 2019 21:50:19 +0000 katsupgirl 2868478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: I had a little cooler bag that I stored the milk. There was a rule at my workplace about everything having to be in lunch bags of stored in fridge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868476 Wed, 23 Jan 2019 21:12:39 +0000 irene 2868476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work at home. Back then I'd put the parts in a big glass bowl, covered it with shrink wrap and put it in the fridge. I think at one point I got 2 sets of pump parts. I only needed to pump 3-4 times a day (nursing first thing in the morning, before bedtime and overnight wakes) so it helped a lot. It is needed anyway especially when we started traveling and there was no fridge. DS grew up fine :-)</p> <p>What I wonder is for all the WOHMs - wouldn't your coworkers find it gross if you store pump parts and breast milk in the fridge? Or do you have to get a mini fridge at your office / cubicle / area?</p> <p>I can see a premature infant would be tricky but beyond the newborn stage I think fridge should be good.... but what do I know... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868355 Wed, 23 Jan 2019 08:51:50 +0000 peachykeen 2868355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I work for a certain large public health agency and pumped here for 2 kids (one before the updated recs, one after). I can tell you that I still stored my pump parts in the fridge in between pumps and so did most of my fellow pumping mamas. For a full-term healthy baby who is not immunocompromised, I see no problem with this practice. If I was pumping over a 12 hour shift as a nurse or something, I would probably bring 2 sets of pump parts just to be extra safe, but the 5 hrs or so between my 1st and last pumps was safe to me. The mother of the baby who got sick also left her pump parts soaking in lukewarm water, which I definitely don't recommend. I hand-washed my pump parts and bottles but always used hot water and if they sat for too long, I rewashed them with new water &amp; soap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868341 Wed, 23 Jan 2019 07:05:41 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2868341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do the fridge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868334 Wed, 23 Jan 2019 05:19:26 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2868334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hate to admit I was disgusting when it came to pump parts. Thankfully, my LO never got sick. For real. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868326 Wed, 23 Jan 2019 01:09:27 +0000 Mrsbells 2868326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone, I'm glad I am not the only one continuing to use the fridge method. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868301 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 21:31:47 +0000 babypugs 2868301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The new guidelines came out while I was pumping for my daughter, who was a pretty healthy 8 month old. I continued to refrigerate between pumps because I felt that cleaning in an office bathroom was more of a risk than refrigeration and am glad all turned out okay. I did wash and steam clean every night. I would reevaluate if I had a premie or newborn but overall felt comfortable with the refrigeration routine and would probably do it again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868300 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 21:25:31 +0000 lady baltimore 2868300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The running water where I work is not safe to drink, so I would certainly not rinse pump parts in it. My routine was to wipe parts off with a cloth diaper and store in the fridge between pumping sessions. I rinsed them each night (I don't like to use soap on plastic), ran them through the dishwasher once a week or so, and sanitized a handful of times over my eighteen months of pumping. Clearly I am not super leery of germs. :silly: </p> <p>I would keep the same routine if I were pumping again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868180 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 14:27:56 +0000 annem1990 2868180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EP'd and always put pump parts in the fridge. Even after reading the CDC's new recommendations I think I would as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868176 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 14:24:50 +0000 jennlin821 2868176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stored them in the fridge at first, but then started using the Pump wipes. I would wash/sterilize on the weekend! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868173 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 14:19:38 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2868173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't even realize the recommendation had changed. Given the case referenced though I feel good about continuing my routine. I have the wipes but don't even use them regularly. At work I rinse when able but always put my parts in the fridge between sessions.</p> <p>I wash them with hot water every night and set out to dry. Then I use the microwave sterilization bags about once a week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868159 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:51:25 +0000 MrsADS 2868159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My baby is 8 months old and since I have gone back to work when he was 3 months, my pump parts are in the fridge at work. I wouldn't with a preemie or immunocompromised baby, but I'm definitely not changing anything. I wash them in hot soapy water every night and steam sanitize once a week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868157 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:49:38 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2868157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: That was always my interpretation. If I could give my baby breastmilk that had been sitting out for 3-4 hrs or in the fridge for 3 days, then what difference did it make on my pump parts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868156 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:48:55 +0000 Mrsbells 2868156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sams Mom: i can see a lot of moms here use the wipes. I'm about to order some now </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868155 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:48:25 +0000 Mrsbells 2868155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: yeah I was thinking the same thing. My only thought is maybe the parts can pick up bacteria from the stand or whereever they are placed down? And also since the pump keeps getting touched? But I think with good handwashing and keeping the surfaces clean that should cover things. Atleast I hope. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868154 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:46:47 +0000 Sams Mom 2868154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine went in the fridge for the most part, but I did use the Medela wipes on road trips and loved them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868152 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:45:17 +0000 DesertDreams88 2868152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ignored the updated guidelines. I rinsed and used the fridge for 24 hours.<br /> My reasoning:<br /> IF breastmilk is good for 3-5 days in the fridge in a bottle, THEN<br /> it's fine as little watered-down residue for 24 hours in the fridge in pump parts, even if those pump parts are used for a total of an hour outside of the fridge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868151 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:45:15 +0000 Mrsbells 2868151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KT326: thanks. I've never tried the wipes will have to give them a try .<br /> @snarkybiochemist: @Beehive: good point! I guess the cdc issued that recommendation out of an abundance of caution.<br /> @Kaohinani: good point about that baby also being immuno compromised. I have a microwave steamer that I use every few days in the 1st few months but have slowed down on a lotc once my baby turned 3 months. I guess 3 is my magic number </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-parts-in-the-fridge-cdc#post-2868140 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:24:16 +0000 Kaohinani 2868140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: I have read those recommendations as well. Please note - I am not pumping atm but will be if/when we conceive again. From my research and understanding, the premature infant who set presidence for the new CDC guidelines had been an immunocompromised preemie (* beyond just having been premature).<br /> To respond to your inquiry, I had always rinsed/washed my flanges and connective pieces after pumping (and let them air dry) and THEN I would steam them weekly (* "Steamy Sundays" 😆). I would clean the tubing every 2 weeks. While traveling, I would use the medella wipes and steam bags. (I'm a bit anal-retentive with cleaning things with newborns until they are about 10 mos old or so ... then I feel I can "relax" a bit. IDK why that is the magic month. 🙄😂🤣😂) </p>