I know many of us have stashed pump parts in the fridge in between pumps. Apparently CDC now advises against!
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I pumped with both my babies until a year and honestly it was hard enough as it is. There's literally no way I could follow these. I think everyone has to make their own choices and in a healthy baby the risk of this is so small. I feel the same about the sleep guidelines! Like they revolve around no one sleeping. Which is cool in an ideal world but I have 2 kids and a full time job so I'm gonna take the shortcuts. The benefit of continuing to breastfeed or weighs these risks for me.
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I don't really see this as being a viable option for working by moms (dedicated everything? Dishwasher? Clean sink and countertop?). Sounds like multiple parts is now the best option, ugh.
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@winniebee: Thanks for posting this! I refrigerate parts between pumps for the day.
@StrawberryBee: I agree about bringing a multiple pump parts now. Ugh.
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@agold: I refrigerated parts with my first; preferred to clean them at home instead of out in the open at the kitchenette where everyone does their lunch prep. I always threw them in the bag with the cooler pack at the end of the day. I mean, it's good enough for the bags of milk...
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The CDC is recommending the safest course of action. However, there is a big microbial safety difference between putting the parts in a sink for hours and rinsing them off (as was done in the story and should be discouraged) and storing used parts in the fridge for the next use. One introduces bacteria in a favorable growth environment and one stalls growth to a level where it would be insignificant in the 8 hour work day. I don't see them as equal at all.
My heart goes out to the mama and the baby in the story but it wouldn't change my practices at work.
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@gotkimchi: @StrawberryBee: yes, exactly--I understand why these guidelines were created, but I think actually following them would be prohibitive to the point that many women, especially working moms, would just quit. I would do this if I was pumping for a vulnerable preemie, and I actually do all of these things already *except* for the fridge storage (like I only wash pump parts in a dedicated mixing bowl and they never touch the actual sink, etc). It kind of sounds like the mom whose baby got sick was not properly washing her parts in the first place.
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I get it, and it seems hard. Especially for working moms.
What I plan to do this time around is to get a tupperware bin to store/wash parts in exclusively, fulfilling the "no sink" recommendation, have a dedicated drying towel, dedicated brush, and use the sanitizing microwave bags. I think working moms could use this system too, if they have the time to wash/microwave stuff, as well as the desk space to let everything dry. But keeping everything in the plastic bin, separate and clean should work.
And I agree with @gotkimchi: that it's a lot like the sleep recommendations. Every family is going to do what works best for them, with the best intentions. I'm sure infections happen with formula fed babies too because bottles aren't cleaned properly, etc. It's just a risk of being human. We are all trying our best to feed our babies and keep them safe!
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I just wiped mine with a paper towel at work
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It's hard enough for most women to find a decent dedicated pumping space and time throughout the day to pump at work, let alone finding the time to handwash parts after each pumping session at work! I feel like extra sets of pump parts would be the most convenient option for most women. I'm not going to beat myself up if I have to refrigerate pump parts between uses.
I will admit that despite having a dedicated wash pan, brush and drying space at home there were times where I'd end up letting pump parts and bottles soak because life happens and even with the best intentions to wash them right away a needy baby or other things got in the way of washing them immediately. I would always use my microwave steamer every night after washing though. I will be more mindful of washing them immediately rather than letting them soak this next go around.
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@pachamama: paper towels are as clean as they come!
@Mrs. Microscope: be careful with the microwave bags using Medela parts, they can warp and lose suction
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Agree with @Corduroy: .
If breast milk is good in the fridge for 4 to 5 days, little drops of breast milk in the refrigerated pump parts for eight hours of the work day is not an issue to me, at all.
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Yep I pumped for two kids and I kept the parts in a bag in the fridge between sessions, had a dedicated dishpan I used to soak and handwash parts in scalding hot soapy water at night, had a separate brush that I replaced every few weeks, and air dried on a drying rack or clean dish towel overnight. I did keep two sets of parts to rotate and used a wet bag for storage since its opaque and people can't see what's inside. If I did it for another baby, I might throw a soak in bleach solution once a week for good measure.
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Yeah, no. The only sink I have access to that isn't ten minutes away is in the bathroom and pretty sure the parts would be way more exposed to gems there than in the fridge between uses over a workday. I wash and sanitize the parts every night and feel pretty good about it.
Not gonna lie, if I was a FTM returning to work and saw these guidelines I'm pretty sure I'd just say forget it. I get that caution is needed, especially in a scenario like this, but I feel like statements like this discourage working women from breastfeeding even more.
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@LCTBQE: omg. Really re: warp the parts? I wonder if that's what is happening to mine. I am not pumping as much but still totally have milk when I try manual expression. Ugh.
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@agold: especially the Freestyle parts warp! I handwashed mine after two sets warped.
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@agold: yeah, maybe that's it re: warping. like @gingerbebe: said, it happens with those dumb bags sometimes
have you been pumping less and concluding that your supply is just down? I'm still going strong (4x a day ugh, my baby is the crappiest nurser and I mostly pump), but I'm quitting next month at a year. how much longer are you sticking with it?
ETA FWIW, my ped says bottles and parts have to be squeaky clean, but don't have to be sterilized. I don't mean to be cavalier about the CDC suggestions, but I think if you do a super good job washing and have an older baby with a healthy immune system, things will be okay.
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I might have been able to pump longer than six weeks with my first if I knew the refrigeration trick...and honestly I plan to combo feed #3 and I just can't clean them every time. Especially when I'm gone out of town for work.
This and that story about the baby who died after being kissed by someone with a cold sore (so don't leave the house with a newborn unless 100% necessary, even to go out to eat being one of the things I read) seem a little much to me.
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I pumped until 17 months. There's no way I could meet the guidelines and work. I think they need to figure out their ultimate goal. Safety is paramount, but the same bacteria risk would be found if she was washing formula bottles in a dirty sink.
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As a FTM and pumping, these are guidelines. I'll be continuing pumping and rinsing the parts in addition to using A ziplock bag to hold the parts until the next pumping session. Luckily my insurance paid for additional parts for the first 6 months so I can go more than a day without washing by hand (no dishwasher).
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I am just going to keep on keeping on and refrigerate my pump parts between sessions. There's no way I can wash and dry them AND pump twice a day at work. I barely feel like I can get anything done as it is.
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@Mrs. Microscope: this is exactly what I did. I had a metal tin that fit perfectly in my medela tote bag that I kept all my parts in while in the fridge between pumping sessions at work. I also had a dedicated wash basin and brush. I plan on doing the same with my next one.
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Yeah, if you read the story, they were soaking parts in a sink -- presumably the same sink that was used to wash fruits and veggies and things that may have touched raw meat -- and then rinsed the parts without scrubbing. That seems like it would be a way bigger issue to me than putting used pump parts in the fridge. I store my pump parts in the fridge. Then I take them directly from the fridge, rinse them, and put them straight in the dishwasher. Like others have said, if milk itself is safe in the fridge for several days, I don't see why pump parts wouldn't be. However if those parts sat for awhile in a dirty sink, it would be a different ballgame. I also don't wash my boob every time my son eats either
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My only choice to clean parts at work it's the bathroom and I think I am safer putting them in the fridge. I keep them in a bag in the fridge between the two times I pump at work.
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Well of course you shouldn't leave your parts soaking in the sink and then just rinse them. Sinks are full of bacteria and standing water breeds bacteria. But as another poster pointed out, that's a far cry from putting parts in the fridge, which inhibits bacteria growth. Breastmilk itself also inhibits bacteria. I hate articles like this because it's total fear mongering and not based on actual science.
I always refrigerated in between and then everything got washed in the dishwasher. I did not have babies that were susceptible to infection and this worked just fine for us. I can't imagine doing this while working.
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@LCTBQE: good to know! I didn't use them the first time, and I have a freestyle, so I will rethink that! I will probably just use the dishwasher again. Or do the freestyle parts warp in there too?
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I rinsed after every pump and then stored in the fridge. I did a deep hand cleaning every night. I think that's satisfactory from what I'm reading.
On another note we don't have hot water at all in my work building. 19 floors. Not even in the bathrooms.
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Oh good lord this is overkill in my opinion, but everyone's got their limits when it comes to evaluating the risks and benefits. Most of the time at work I left my pump parts and breastmilk at room temp the entire day. But, also I wouldn't leave anything soaking in water for extended periods of time and then rinse and go. Like that seems like common sense to me for anything, not just pump parts.
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@LCTBQE: I am still pumping three times a day, but I've not been great about sticking to a tight time schedule. Usually one of those three pumps gives me nothing. Ugh. My period also started back two weeks ago. Sucks. So now I'm pumping before I go to bed sometimes, on the weekends. Again, nothing consistent. I just fit it in when I can and try to get an ounce. I pump two bottles a day at work and have enough in the freezer to add a bottle through her first birthday. I thought I would stop pumping at a year. But i think I will keep going. I don't enjoy pumping but I love nursing my baby still. Don't know when I will stop.
This article is good to read but it's not anything that is going to make me stop pumping.@catomd00: I love that your kept your milk and parts in room temperature!
honestly, I let my parts soak in hot soapy water in a bowl for a long time. 
like, overnight sometimes. Ugh. They always still seem clean to me.
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@LCTBQE: how many bottles a day doesnyour boy baby take? I'm wondering if my girl needs less. She takes three bottles and I nurse her three times a work day.
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@agold: F has three bottles at daycare, probably drinking a total of 10-12 oz there. Then he nurses when he wakes up in the morning and before bed. Occasionally he'll nurse around dinnertime, too, but usually doesn't.
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@agold: yeah, I'm easing up on the tight schedule, too--I think it's a good way to start backing off, and it's been a relief to give myself permission to pump an hour or two later than ideal as I've been so regimented since I went back to work. it's like my breasts are in the fucking marine corps and I'm sick of it.
So do you think that if you did stop pumping, that your supply would diminish to the point that you could no longer have just a straight nursing relationship with your girl? I thought that I'd want to stop lactating completely, but now I'm wondering if I'll just quit the pump and see how it goes to still do bedtime/waking nursing (assuming I can). The other thing I'm considering, though, is if I want to quit to encourage my period to come back because I'm already thinking about trying for #2 (!!)
@agold: @MrsSCB: re how much milkies, over here boo is still taking around 28-30 ounces a day, along with two decent-sized meals of solids. He has about 8 upon waking, 16 at day care, and 6-ish before bed. We need to get our act together and start giving him breakfast solids, too--it's so hard on weekday mornings, but no more excuses. Our ped told us she wanted him drinking more in the range of 20-24 oz per day. @MrsSCB: did I see the other day you had a post about transitioning to cow's milk at day care?? I can't find it but I intended to read it, would you send me the link if I'm not hallucinating? -
@babypugs: Not a first time mom but I didn't pump for my first. My supply is better this time so I'm considering but it seems so complicated and I don't even know if it's worth it!
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I don't even have potable running water at work, so fridge it is!
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@MrsSCB: thanks for letting me know how many bottles he takes during the day. Do you send three 4-ounce bottles? Are you still pumping that much each day or are you relying on frozens? I have to rely on frozen now to help.
@LCTBQE: so I was planning to stop pumping at one year to help my period to come back. But it came back two weeks ago at 10.5 months. I'm sure that my baby sleeping through the night for the past few months, followed by my lax pumping schedule, is what did me in in that regard. So I'm actually happy though because I want to try for #2 also! But, I chickened out this first cycle. Which is silly because my girl is an Ivf baby. But ideally I won't have a second one too soon because of child care issues I will have. I need to talk to husband tonight about when we will start trying! I'm so glad to hear that you are already thinking of #2, also!! I think that easing up on the pumping schedule will help you, but your supply will likely dip. Mine sure did. I would say try that first before you quit altogether. I'm really hoping that even when I quit pumping, I can still nurse morning and evening when I'm with her. I'll let you know how it goes when the time comes!! I don't know anything about switching to cows milk. But I did just give my girl a bottle of breast milk straight from the fridge and she had no problem with it. I'm giving my girl meals three times a day. Jar food usually but also things like bananas, avocado and little pieces of things we are eating at the table.
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@LCTBQE: here's the link: http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pump-to-whole-milk-transition-how-much-to-send I also messaged our pediatrician about it. She said it's fine to start supplementing his bottles with whole milk at this point -- either by adding some whole milk to breast milk bottles, or just offering whole milk after he has a breast milk bottle (if I'm worried about wasting breast milk if he doesn't like the whole milk right away).
@agold: I'm basically sending what I pump, which is typically between 3.5 oz bottles and 4 oz bottles. Also, I'm currently in the middle of my second period, and omg, my supply really takes a hit while AF is happening. So annoying! It came back after the first one, so I'm hoping for the same this time.
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This is such a sad story. In case it is helpful, I've attached photos of the cleaning instructions I received from the NICU during my dd's hospital stay (no dedicated bottle brush used to scrub the parts necessary as included in the CDC's recommendations). They also gave me a set of pump parts to keep at the hospital, and they didn't recommend I take them home to sanitize them, the doctors/lc's said cleaning them per instructions was sufficient (they did emphasize pumping into sanitized bottles though).
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I mean, I guess stricter guidelines are better than the other way; but I feel like people will still do what they do. I feel comfortable with what I do (refrigerate parts during the day). Also, I pretty much breastfeed during the first 3 months anyway. I feel like all these really sad stories out lately (herpies killing newborn, this) is just to remind people to be more cautious...
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This stuff drives me a little crazy because it just adds more to the mom guilt. While I feel so bad for that little baby and the family, it was a very specific case. Most moms are not pumping for premies, are not soaking their parts for hours on end, and do not have rare bacteria hanging out in their homes. My baby is almost 8 months old and there is no way I am going to change my habits now. The stuff on the floor at daycare that I'm sure he puts in his mouth all day long is definitely dirtier than my pump parts.
I feel like this is type of guideline that was meant to help but may ultimately turn off moms from pumping.
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I exclusively pumped during the day for 7 months. Before I learned the fridge trick I was going to give up, the washing alone was overwhelming. I don't think the fridge trick and what happened in the story is the same at all. Its a good reminder to be as clean and careful as possible but I don't think this will change my practice for #2.
like, overnight sometimes. Ugh. They always still seem clean to me.
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