Breast Pump Borrower — Beware

Not one day goes by where a mother doesn't admit to me that she's borrowed another mother's breast pump. I hear that it belonged to a sister, a friend, or a co-worker. "She just gave it to me", or "I wanted to see if it worked for me", I'm told. Some days I calmly explain the consequences of using a borrowed breast pump. On other days, I shake my head and slowly let my blood begin to boil. Mothers simply aren't being told how to use a breast pump for breast milk collection, let alone the health risks of using a borrowed breast pump. As a health care provider and board-certified lactation consultant, it is my responsibility to point out the risks and consequences so that borrowers can — beware.

The first thing to know is that a breast pump is a medical device. This type of medical device is classified as a hospital-grade or a consumer-grade breast pump. Hospital-grade breast pumps are durable medical equipment because its electric vacuum motor is designed for consistent and frequent performance. This breast pump can be shared because each mother uses her own milk collection kit that separates her from the pump's motor source. These hospital-grade breast pumps are used in a hospital or clinic and available to lease through rental service providers. Consumer-grade pumps are usually purchased off-the-shelf from various sources and can be electric or manual. This type of pump is labeled for use by a sole consumer and thus, should not be shared.

The consumer-grade breast pump, manual or electric, is often the type of pump that mothers borrow and share. Unfortunately, they don't read the product label and subject themselves to the health consequences of using a borrowed breast pump. Few mothers consider that human breast milk is a body fluid. Body fluids, such as saliva, blood, semen, and vaginal secretions, contain bacteria, viruses and fungi. Some bacteria and viruses, such as Hepatitis A, B, and C and HIV, can cause serious illness and even death. The fungus that causes yeast infections has been found to thrive on the lactose or milk sugar in breast milk. Contact with another person's body fluids can expose one's self to viral, bacterial, or fungal contaminants. Breast pump motors and parts that come in contact with the breast and breast milk of a mother may expose you to bacterial, viral, or fungal contaminants if shared. These are the health consequences to you and your baby if you use a borrowed breast pump.

"But what if I sterilized it?" you ask. First of all, read the entire instruction manual to determine if the pump and its milk collection kit can be sterilized. Many breast pump motors and parts cannot be subject to appropriate sterilization procedure. Second, consider the difference between sterilize and sanitize. To really sterilize a breast pump or milk collection kit for re-use, you must use the same procedure that hospitals and clinics follow for reusable medical devices. Reusable devices are sterilized in an autoclave, a steam-heated pressurized vessel. Surgical and dental instruments are always sterilized in an autoclave between users. This gas pressurized procedure ensures that all bacteria, viruses and fungi are destroyed. The cleaning procedure often practiced in the home setting is sanitization. To sanitize, your device or equipment must be submerged in boiling water for twenty minutes. Fees for an autoclave sterilization service can run double or triple the cost of the milk collection kit or breast pump itself. The purchase of a new kit or breast pump would therefore be less costly.

Lastly, a borrowed breast pump can be a great source of frustration if it doesn't work or hasn't been properly assembled. If pumping efforts result in low or no milk expression, many mothers blame themselves. In these situations, it's often the type of breast pump or the motor's condition that's the real culprit. Since all consumer-grade pumps are labeled for use by a sole consumer, second or third users risk unpredictable results. You should always consult a competent provider to determine the breast pump of choice for your circumstances. An experienced provider takes into account several factors before a breast pump recommendation is made.

As breast pump use for breast milk collection becomes more common, you may find yourself faced with the opportunity to borrow another mother's breast pump. While the offer may be opportune, and the cost minimal, take into consideration the risks involved. Carefully consider the health of you and your baby and remember — borrower beware!

Author of The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Breastfeeding, Anne P. Mark is a registered nurse, board-certified lactation consultant and health care provider. She serves as CEO and Director of Breastfeeding Consultation Services for Mommies & Poppies Incorporated, a business offering professional sales, services, and information to breastfeeding consumers through www.mommies-poppies.com on-line. For further information, please call 317-257-0801 or address e-mail to on-line.

© 2003 Anne P. Mark. All rights reserved. Contact author for permission to reprint.