Hi Wendy and Toni
Please give me advice on how often I need to sterilize my breast pump parts. My baby is full term and very healthy, but I want to make sure that I am doing this right.
Celia in Phoenix
Answer from Toni & Wendy
Celia, you are clearly a smart mom who wants to do the right thing. You probably don’t need to work too hard to keep your breast pump clean and healthy for pumping your breast milk.
Following each use, wash all pump parts that come in contact with your milk. I like using the dishwasher, because it is so much easier and does a good job with sterilizing. You can also use hot, soapy water and rinse the parts thoroughly.
Wendy was smart and kept an extra set of breast shields and tubes. She would put one set in the refrigerator or freezer after using it to save washing all these parts every time. The second time she used them, she washed them. This saved her a lot of time, especially when Gabrielle was an infant and she had less energy to spare.
If you do have a fungal infection or any infection on your breast, you need to thoroughly sterilize your parts every time you use them. The best way to do that is to boil the parts. Also, if you have any type of fungal infection, put vinegar in the water, it is a natural antifungal agent.
As a new mom, Wendy and I know you have a lot on your plate. Maintaining a healthy breast pump does not mean you have to work hard.
Lastly, if breast milk does not get into the tubing, you do not need to clean or sterilize them, unless you have an infection or bleeding from cracked are damaged nipples.
Take good care of yourself.
Archive for May, 2009
How Often Do I Sterilize My Breast Pump Parts?
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Why Does My Baby Dislike Frozen Breastmilk?
Monday, May 25th, 2009Freezing Breastmilk Without Changing the Flavor
Sometimes, we put breastmilk in the freezer and don’t realize that food flavors get into the milk from other foods that are stored in the freezer. Here is an idea that will help prevent food flavors from getting into the breast milk.
Use a plastic container that will hold plenty of breastmilk.
Sprinkle ½ inch of baking soda in the bottom of the freezer container.
Place your bags of breastmilk in the container (sprinkled with baking soda) in the freezer.
This will keep smells and tastes from other foods from getting into the milk. It is even better if you have a container that has an air tight lid.
Flavors like onion & garlic get into other foods, even breastmilk.
Kids say the funniest things
Friday, May 22nd, 2009As I was nursing my baby, my cousin’s six-year-old daughter, Krissy, came into the room. Never having seen anyone breast- feed before, she was intrigued and full of all kinds of questions about what I was doing.
After mulling over my answers, she remarked, “My mom has some of those, but I don’t think she knows how to use them.”
Monday, May 18th, 2009
Wendy and I feel so blessed. We get to work together everyday and we still really like and love each other after a year and a half working in tight quarters. The second part of the blessing is that we get to do what we are truly passionate about. Helping moms feed their babies is wonderfully rewarding.
The emails and thank you letters we get, keep us pumped up, even when the economy stinks and the bottom line is more red than black.
Yesterday, we got a really special gift. The Advocate, our local newspaper, wrote a wonderful article about our company, GotBreastPump.com.
We say thank you and we love you, our loyal readers and customers.
Wendy and Toni
YUCK, My Breast Pump is Gross
Friday, May 15th, 2009Â
Cleaning Your Breast Pump
Dragging your pump to and from work, and you pump at home too, you pump can get really messy looking.
Cleaning your pump is not nearly as hard as you might think. I’ll break it down to the big chunks, no pun intended, Maybe.
Your mom’s & grandma’s old standard solution mix, bleach and vinegar, are amazing for cleaning your breast pump. Use a dilute bleach (1 oz) and vinegar (2 oz) solution in a gallon of water. Soap makes a mess on the fabric bag, but a little for all the plastic parts is ok, but too much is also a bother and not that necessary. Bleach and vinegar kill nearly all microbes (virus, bacteria, and those funky fungi) that might be in or on your pump.
The outside gets all spotted with splashed milk and the manufacturers haven’t done anything to make this easy. They could make cool patterns that don’t show all the spots, or at least appealing colors. That’s a whole nother blog.
Use a sponge that has the scrubbing surface on one site with the solution mix to scrub the fabric carry bag. A fairly wet sponge and a good scrub will remove spots that most people say they can’t get out. Just air dry it.
Pull the face plate off the front of most Medela models. Wash the face plate and wipe the diaphragm with the solution. This will kill any hiding microscopic critters.
Here’s the Yucky part. Those tubes get really gross if they are not cleaned often enough. Milk fat builds up on the connecter to the breast shield and gets milk all up in the tubing.
The milk will come out of the tubing, but it needs to soak in the solution for at least 30 minutes. I use a cool trick to force the solution through the tubes. I use a baby medicine syringe dropper. I push it into one end of the tube to force the solution in and out of the tube several times.
I blow the water out of the tube and attach the tubing to the pump. Turn on the pump and let it do the drying. The tubes come out spot free and looking like new.
All other parts go in the dishwasher. It actually sterilizes all those parts and no hand washing or boiling needed, even for bottles and nipples. Use one of those mesh bags or your utensil holder if it has a lid for small parts.Â
Oh yea, keep all this on the top shelf, melted plastic is not cool.
You’ll be pumpin’ clean. Life is Good!
Travel & Breast Pumping
Thursday, May 14th, 2009What Really Happens at the Airport and Other Important Stuff
Now, a Mommy that is flying without her child will be able to bring breast milk through the checkpoint, provided it is declared prior to screening.
Horror stories abound of what happens to Moms with breast milk and breast pumps at airports. In recent months, the Transportation Security Administration apparently, hopefully dealt with their problems and they are now aware of the needs of breast milk moms and their breast pumps.
Here’s the website for TSA that explains how to travel with children, breast milk and formula.
TSAÂ is also modifying the rules associated with carrying breast milk through security checkpoints. Mothers flying with, and now without, their child will be permitted to bring breast milk in quantities greater than three ounces as long as it is declared for inspection at the security checkpoint.
Breast milk is in the same category as liquid medications.
When carrying formula, breast milk, or juice through the checkpoint, they will be inspected, however, you or your infant or toddler will not be asked to test or taste breast milk, formula, or juice. Our Security Officers may test liquid exemptions (exempt items more than 3 ounces) for explosives.
When traveling with your infant or toddler, in the absence of suspicious activity or items, greater than 3 ounces of baby formula, breast milk, or juice are permitted through the security checkpoint in reasonable quantities for the duration of your itinerary, if you perform the following:
1. Separate these items from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size and zip-top bag.
2. Declare you have the items to one of our Security Officers at the security checkpoint.
3. Present these items for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. These items are subject to additional screening.
Best advice is to be prepared, know the regulations, even carry a copy of the TSA regulations in your breast pump bag, in case you encounter personnel that may not be up to date on the regulation changes.
Prior to departure, check the TSA site to see if there are any changes that might impact you as you travel.Â
Also, carry your breast pump on board as carry-on baggage. The last thing you want is to get to your destination or home without a pump. Engorgement is no fun.
Travel & Breast Pumping
Thursday, May 14th, 2009What Really Happens at the Airport and Other Important Stuff
Now, a Mommy that is flying without her child will be able to bring breast milk through the checkpoint, provided it is declared prior to screening.
Horror stories abound of what happens to Moms with breast milk and breast pumps at airports. In recent months, the Transportation Security Administration apparently, hopefully dealt with their problems and they are now aware of the needs of breast milk moms and their breast pumps.
Here’s the website for TSA that explains how to travel with children, breast milk and formula.
TSAÂ is also modifying the rules associated with carrying breast milk through security checkpoints. Mothers flying with, and now without, their child will be permitted to bring breast milk in quantities greater than three ounces as long as it is declared for inspection at the security checkpoint.
Breast milk is in the same category as liquid medications.
When carrying formula, breast milk, or juice through the checkpoint, they will be inspected, however, you or your infant or toddler will not be asked to test or taste breast milk, formula, or juice. Our Security Officers may test liquid exemptions (exempt items more than 3 ounces) for explosives.
When traveling with your infant or toddler, in the absence of suspicious activity or items, greater than 3 ounces of baby formula, breast milk, or juice are permitted through the security checkpoint in reasonable quantities for the duration of your itinerary, if you perform the following:
1. Separate these items from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size and zip-top bag.
2. Declare you have the items to one of our Security Officers at the security checkpoint.
3. Present these items for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. These items are subject to additional screening.
Best advice is to be prepared, know the regulations, even carry a copy of the TSA regulations in your breast pump bag, in case you encounter personnel that may not be up to date on the regulation changes.
Prior to departure, check the TSA site to see if there are any changes that might impact you as you travel.Â
Also, carry your breast pump on board as carry-on baggage. The last thing you want is to get to your destination or home without a pump. Engorgement is no fun.
Surviving the First Month with Enough Breast Milk
Friday, May 8th, 2009From the moment of your baby’s first wail through the next 4 – 6 weeks as your hormones are on a wild roller coaster ride. But that’s only the beginning. You may need help. You can get help from GotBreastPump.com. We are just a call or email away. Our passion is helping new mothers to feed their babies.
Your New World: New Baby, Breastmilk and OMG Exhaustion
Before delivery of your precious new baby, you were bright, hopeful as you prepared for every aspect of your new baby’s life. You bought the cute baby clothes, painted the nursery the perfect color, set up the diapering area, and bought a breast pump to make sure that you could give your baby breast milk for a year or more. You also read everything you could get their hands on to know how to care of your new baby. You planned to be the best and most capable mom in the whole wide world.
But, after several nursing sessions, your nipples started to really hurt. Your baby can’t quite latch because your breasts are beginning to change shape because they are beginning to fill with milk. You had an exhausting 10 hours of hard labor. You didn’t even get to rest that night, because your baby wanted to nurse every hour. Reality has it home, and you know you are not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.
Two days later, you are home but you and your baby are struggling.  Thank goodness the lactation consultant is coming before noon to check on how the breastfeeding is going. The next feeding is a little better, because the lactation consultant gave you a couple of tips on how to get the baby to latch on better, but the nipples still really hurt. After the feeding, you diapers your sweet baby and place it back in the bassinette and try to get a little rest.
Less than an hour later your baby whimpers and begins to cry. You muster up the strength to nurse again, but this time, the pain in your nipple that the baby latches on to, causes searing pain. A small tear comes to your eye. For the first time, you wonder how you will ever be able to keep up breastfeeding, or even if you can be the kind of mother you always dreamed you would be. You did all that preparation and everything should be great.
So very many mothers have faced this challenging moment. Even with 30 years behind me, since my last baby was born, I totally remember. The only difference is that 30 years ago, there were no lactation consultants.Â
GotBreastPump.comknows that mothers need support, especially after they leave the hospital. We offer free advice to breast pumping and breast feeding mothers.
The first days together for you and your new baby can be challenging but also beautiful, when help is available.
Call us at 888-640-2266 or email us at GotBreastPump.com.
Please take good care of yourself. Your body has been through so much and your hormones will remain in flux for about a year.
My Mother’s Day Tribute to My Daughter Wendy
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009Â 4 Important Things I Learned From My Daughter
As a life-long hyperactive person I have always overdone things. I work too hard; I’m involved in too many things. I will, too often, take on too much responsibility.
Wendy has taught me that a patient and wise approach to life and raising kids reaps wonderful rewards. Now, unlike other grandmas, I am not simply prejudiced toward my grand angels. They really and truly are amazing, kind, interesting and funny kids.
And, without question, these young people are a product of a wholesome and thoughtful home life created by my extraordinary daughter and her equally special husband.
So, here I go with my list of 4 things I learned from my daughter.
Patience – When the kids are doing things that I would have monitored too carefully, Wendy uses her relaxed manner to let them learn from their mistakes. Gabrielle will build towers of unstable boxes and climb to explore. My old world thinking is to over protect. Wendy’s philosophy is that kids will be kids and will learn as they go. Her children are easy going and well adjusted sweeties.
Chill/Chill Out – I will never be called ‘chillin’. I am forever pushing envelopes and myself to make the most of every waking moment. My beautiful daughter will work at her peaceful pace, albeit very long hours. She will not be swayed by my strong opinions or pushed into doing things too quickly. She ponders as she works through the many important decisions necessary to keep a young business going. I find great comfort in her cool style that has taken us so far.
Dirt Don’t hurt – Gabrielle and Seth have always been allowed to run barefoot, even in the winter. Gabrielle plays for hours in the mud hole that she and the dogs have conjointly dug. She will come to the back door, so covered in dirt, that Wendy or I will have to pick her up by the under arms and pop her in the shower just to take the big mud off, before we put her in the tub. I actually grew up like this and loved getting down right dirty, but I didn’t let my girls get dirty. I wish I had let them have as much fun as Gabrielle.
The 5 second rule can be extended based on circumstances. Wendy does not follow my neat nick issues about food on the floor. I never allowed food to be eaten if it fell on the floor. Again, in my childhood, that wasn’t such a big deal. My mom came up in the Depression. I, unfortunely was strick about food that touched the floor. The other day, I was very proud of myself. After school, Seth had put last piece of Wendy’s delicious Biscuit Pudding on a plate, then dropped it on the floor. He stood stunned and brokenhearted, as this is a very special treat. I jumped up and grabbed the slice of Biscuit Pudding and popped it back on the plate and said it wasn’t even 5 seconds. It was more like a painful, slow 30 seconds for Seth. He looked at me to be sure that it really was okay and look of obvious relief spread over his face. And you know what? He ate it and survived, just like I did when I was a kid.
One day, when I grow up, I want to be just like my daughter.
Maybe the Most Important Thing You Can Do, to Increase Breast Milk. But You Won’t Like Hearing It
Friday, May 1st, 2009Once you get your breast milk supply going good, it is troubling when you begin to see a drop in the amount you pump. You used to get 5 ounces per breast during most feedings, then it dwindles to 3 ounces and sometimes only 2 ounces.
This is fairly predictable, unfortunately. Finally, your baby is sleeping from 10 PM to 3 or 4 AM. You take advantage of this sweeeet opportunity to rest your abused and exhausted body.
Then, you sit down and pump as usual, but you are getting less breast milk. Why? You think, “I’m doing all the same things I did before. Why am I getting, less milk?â€
Blame mother nature. She cruelly created a hormone called Feedback Inhibitor. This nasty hormone pays attention to changes in breast milk production. When you catch those extra Z’s when your angel is sleeping through the night, Feedback Inhibitor rears its nasty head.Â
Here is how Feedback Inhibitor works. If it notices a time when less milk is being used, it signals the mammary glands to make less milk. This will affect the amount of milk you make all day long.
It is a good hormone when you are weaning, but it is not smart enough to know that you are just trying to get some much needed rest. It only knows that less milk is used, so it keeps the milk supply lower.
So, here is how to fix Feedback Inhibitor. And you can’t shoot the messenger.
Start pumping or breast feeding at least one time between 12 and 3AM. This will begin to get it back, but it may be slower than the next option.
If you are determined to get your supply back to normal, pump at least 2 times between 10 PM and 4 AM.Â
The moms who breast pumped or breast feed for 12 months or more will tell you that night pumping or feeding is super important.
I wish I could tell you that you could sleep through the night. It has been a couple of decades since I had my last baby; I still remember how much I desired a full night’s sleep.Â
This is the truest example of delayed gratification. Your reward will be a healthy, happy child.Â
Remember to take good care of yourself. Take your vitamins, eat well, ask for help and rest anytime you can sneak in a little shut eye.
My name is Wendy, and I began this website as a place to have one central location for breast pumping and feeding babies. I pumped breast milk for my daughter for over a year and during that year looked around on hundreds of websites to get the information that I needed. Since then, the website has grown and there is now tons of information and great products here at GotBreastPump.com. Thanks for stopping by.
