Used breast pump?

Question

Other than the obvious bacteria hazard, is there anything wrong with using a used breast pump? I am pondering buying one on ebay to save $...

just for clarification... breast pumps can cost up to $300 and I will have to pump because I work rotating 12 hour shifts and can not afford to take off more time than my 8 weeks of paid maternity leave... Sometimes life just doesnt allow someone to be a stay at home mom like they would like!

Answer 1

Yes. In addition to risking your health and your baby's health, and possibly your *lives* (there is suspicion that HIV can live in a pump), it doesn't make good financial sense. A breast pump has a useful life of about 1 year--the amount of time most mothers use it. The likelihood is that it will be a doorstop before your need for it has passed.

Answer 2

If you're talking about a medela pump, the "cadillac" pump as they say, they are really expensive. Can be up to $400. If you have someone that has a used on, you can buy all new tubing for $40 or less. No body fluids actually go through the machine part of the pump, just the tubing. Or the hospital where you will deliver may even have this tubing available to charge to insurance.

Answer 3

You don't need to buy an expensive breast pump, I am using the ISIS breast pump by Avent . It is manual and works wonder I am not sure how much it costs I got it a s a present, but I am sure is not expensive. Using Items that were used by other parents puts you baby in risk of contracting something I am sure you want the best for him/her. It might be worth the investment you milk is the best thing you can give the baby.

Answer 4

You can usually rent a breast pump from a pharmacy ( hospital quality). Depending on the pump on ebay you may be able to just purchase new tubing the rest never comes in contact with the milk anyway.

Answer 5

Other than bacteria, I don't know of any drawbacks to buying a used one. If you're buying a popular one (Medela, for example), and a newer model, check the manufacturer's website for new tubing, etc. Those are the parts that can harbor dirt and bacteria. They're generally not terribly expensive.

I bought a new Medela Pump In Style Advance (about $325) and realized after trying for several weeks that I wasn't able to breast feed. I sold it to my sister in law's best friend, and she bought new tubing and the other plastic parts (the ones that go over your breasts to suck out the milk...sorry, don't know the name!) Just make sure you ARE able to breastfeed before you buy a breast pump. (Even the used ones can be pretty expensive if they're a good brand.) It made me sick...I paid over $300 for mine, and sold it for only $100.

One more thing...if you're buying from eBay, make SURE you check what shipping is before you bid/win it. Breast pumps are heavy, and even if you win one for $50, they could charge $50, $75, etc. for shipping. I've gotten burned a couple times on eBay for not checking shipping fees. :)

Answer 6

You should never use a used manual pump, but a used electric pump is just fine. You can buy all new parts for it and your body will never touch the parts that the previous mom's body touched. That's the same as hospitals renting them and the WIC dept loaning them for free. You are only getting a used motor, the rest of the parts are brand new.

Answer 7

Rent one if you are not up to spending the money at once!

Regular, non-hospital ones are not able to fully be cleaned and can trap blood, milk and bacteria in the motor. (not good for baby to drink)

I bought a new one, sealed in a box on ebay and saved 100 from the babies r us costs. It is not an item I would skimp on if you are going to breastfeed for long. I did at first and then I had to re-buy the expensive one, the cheaper ones do not produce or work like you will need!

Answer 8

I used a mechanical breast pump lent by a friend. The milk does not touch the machine. I would not re-use the hoses nor the containers. Brand new ones are not expensive. No, there is nothing wrong or dangerous about it.

Answer 9

how expensive can one be? Yeah, I like the baby shower idea...get someone else to buy it for you. Or just go without one! You don't really need a breast pump, It's better that they don't use a bottle for the first few months.

Answer 10

do it like a million-2 minutes on the two aspects and that they ought to start in 12-24 hours and while they do, get in a heat tub and walk, walk, walk. I did it and it have been given me to 3 a million/2 cm, yet my cervix replace into beside the toddler's head and could no longer get any farther without my water being broke. sturdy success yet do no longer do it alot.