Breastfeeding – How Often Should You Change Breast Pump Tubing?
Sterilising and replacing breast pump parts are an integral part of pumping. How often these need replacing will depend on a number of factors:
Valves and membranes (the thin white flaps connected to valves) can become worn over time, losing elasticity and impacting suction power. Therefore, replace these every two to three months.
1. Valves
No matter where or when you pump, keeping all your breast pump parts clean and in good condition is key for optimal use of your breast pump. Routine replacement of parts such as valves and membranes ensures suction remains strong while producing top quality milk; keeping up with replacements especially important for moms who exclusively or supplementally use a breast pump to produce their milk supply.
Breast pumps typically feature two types of valves: silicone duck valves (duckbills) and hard plastic valves. Duckbills stretch and release each time the motor pulls on them to create suction, allowing milk production. If your suction decreases or milk production declines, changing or replacing duckbills could be one solution.
White valve membranes that connect to duck valves must also be regularly replaced in your breast pump, acting similar to duckbills but being less durable. They should be switched out every two months depending on how often you pump, or if they no longer fit flush against its respective duck valve. If the membrane doesn’t lie flat against its respective duck valve, that indicates its time for replacement.
Tubing and flanges are key pump parts that must be regularly replaced. Stretched or damaged versions can severely restrict suction power, leading to ineffective attachment to your nipples and decreasing suction performance. Therefore, having fresh tubing that fits snugly around them is critical. Flanges (sometimes referred to as shields in some brands) may need replacing more often depending on brand; for instance when they become visibly stretched or warped or when residue accumulates on them.
Tubing backflow protectors may also lose their elasticity over time, allowing air and moisture to enter your breast pump motor and decrease performance. Therefore, it is wise to regularly replace these elements to ensure they remain flexible enough to protect it effectively against contamination of its motor.
2. Membranes
There are various breast pump parts that need replacing on a regular basis, including valve membranes and backflow protectors. How often these breast pump parts require replacement will depend on your usage patterns and maintenance practices – it is wise to keep an extra set on hand in case something wears down quickly or gets dirty quickly.
Purchase an additional backflow protector and valve membrane as soon as you begin pumping more frequently or have been using your breast pump for some time, particularly if your suction strength decreases and milk drains less effectively. Over time these parts can wear down or lose elasticity which reduces suction strength resulting in less efficient milk drainage.
Tubing is another key aspect of breast pumps that may stretch and degrade over time, compromising suction strength. If the tubing slides easily onto or off of motor and backflow protectors or moisture pools within it, that is an indicator that it needs replacing immediately.
Typically, it is suggested to replace valve membranes every 2-4 weeks and backflow protectors every three months for optimal performance from breast pumps. However, as this schedule may differ depending on your breast pump manufacturer, please consult your manual in order to ascertain when to replace these parts for your particular pump model.
As with your breast pump flanges, they too should be monitored closely as cracks or tears may form over time, allowing milk and debris into your tubing that could potentially reach your baby when feeding him or her. If any signs of wear or damage appear on them, replacement should take place immediately in order to ensure baby safety and prevent infection.
As many new mothers discover, having an extra set of breast pump parts on hand is invaluable for keeping their milk supply high and ensuring regular pumping sessions. Most manufacturers provide kits of spare breast pump parts; alternatively, some mothers choose to have a hand pump as an emergency back-up should their electric pump stop working.
3. Backflow Protectors
Backflow protectors are essential in protecting breast milk from entering the pump motor and tubes, so they should be changed every three to six months depending on pump usage or when there are signs of wear such as tears, warping or discoloration.
Valves are another critical pump part that should be regularly replaced, consisting of both plastic valves and white membranes. You should replace your valves every week or more frequently if exclusively pumping. Before replacing them, check that all membranes are lying flat against their respective valves without any milk residue build-up.
Flanges are another common pump part that can collect bacteria over time, especially in difficult-to-clean crevices between it and your skin. Over time, bacteria may spread to the baby and cause illness; to ensure optimal hygiene it’s important to use a wash basin with warm soapy water as part of an effective sterilisation routine – something which flanges can do too.
Pumping tubing connects your pump motor with valves, membranes and the collection bottle. You should change this regularly to ensure it remains completely sterile and mold free; any sign of mold should prompt immediate replacement of this component of your system.
Cleaning and sterilizing pump parts and tubing regularly can help ensure an ample supply of breastmilk for your baby, while also protecting them from infection. If you have any concerns regarding sterilizing or replacing your pump, reach out to your lactation consultant immediately for guidance.
Note that each breastfeeding situation will require different cleaning and replacement schedules; always follow the advice provided by both your lactation consultant and manufacturer of your breast pump. Your lactation consultant is more than willing to advise you on maintaining the highest levels of cleanliness and safety in breastfeeding environments.
4. Tubing
Over time, breastfeeding moms may discover their breast pump parts becoming worn or stretched from regular use, especially the flanges, tubing and collection bottles. Regular wear can lead to bacteria build-up in crevices that are difficult to sterilize, decreasing performance. As such, it’s vital for breastfeeding mothers to replace these hardworking parts as soon as necessary so their baby receives safe milk.
Valve membranes and plastic valves should be regularly replaced to maintain proper functioning of breast pumps, with replacement needs depending on frequency of use and timeframe of use. Valve membranes connect white flaps that connect hard plastic valves that act as duckbill valves for creating suction during pumping sessions – these must also be in good condition without visible signs of stretching out or warping to be useful; replacement should take place promptly otherwise these parts could become less efficient as you continue pumping.
Tubing that connects a breast pump motor to shield connectors and collection bottles should be changed every three to six months or sooner if mold is present, while it should also be changed if its elasticity begins to deteriorate as this can allow moisture into its path and damage its motor.
If you need help knowing how to clean breast pump parts properly, consult the instructions from your manufacturer. Most parts can be put through the top rack of a dishwasher; others might require hand-washing with soap and water instead. If opting for hand-washing instead, ensure they are fully dried before returning them to their respective breast pumps.
Maintaining an effective breastfeeding routine or experiencing difficulties with your pump’s performance, seeking advice from a lactation consultant could be invaluable to ensuring your baby receives clean, sterile milk that meets their evolving needs.
