Pumping at work?

Question

I have recently began working again and I am pumping breastmilk 2-3 times a day during my 9 hour shift. My question is what is the best way to clean the pump until I get home? I have the Medela wipes, but when I use them, the pump seems very "sudsy". The directions told me there was no need to rinse after? I don't have access to a clean sink where I can thoroughly wash it, or to a microwave so I can use the bags. And what happens if the pump is not cleaned good enough? How will I know?

Answer 1

Since you're only working/pumping for 9 hours, you can actually just leave the pieces alone. You don't have to clean it. Freshly expressed breast milk is "good" for up to 10 hours at room temperature, and if your job is below 72 degrees, you can just pump and put the parts back in the bag when you're finished. You can also store them in the fridge between pumpings, if you feel queasy about leaving them out. I just put them in a brown paper bag and stick them in the fridge. If you don't have a fridge, though, they will be fine unwashed. Breastmilk comes out sterile and has anti bacterial properties, so instead of festering and growing bacteria, it just kind of sits there and does nothing.

I've been pumping at work and leaving my bottles in the bag recently (about a month) because there is no refrigerator or clean place to wash the bottles, and my son has had no adverse reaction to the breastmilk pumped into the bottles.

Answer 2

because it is breastmilk which can be left out at room temp for that many hours anyway... either keep using the medela wipes, use just some bottled water on a papertowel, or just leave it alone!!

As long as you wash it when you get home it should be fine.

I'd worry if you were on 24 hour shift w/out access to clean water!! you could just bring some bottled water, and rinse it outside - let the water drip in the grass or parking lot :)

Answer 3

Breastmilk is ok at room temperature for 8 hours. If you're using a cooler bag (recommended) with an ice pacck wipe the pump a bit with a paper towel and throw it in your bag until you pump the next time. There's not going to be anything wrong with any of the residual milk that's left on it.

Answer 4

Personally, i'd bring a gallon jug of bleach water to work every day, very diluted. Use the wipes and then rinse it with the water each time.

Bleach breaks down to sodium when its in air, so its non toxic.