New To Pumping, silly question!

[TexasMomma]

I am now nursing my 3rd baby girl. I am a stay at home mom, so I've rarely used my pump. My baby girl (3 1/2 months) will be going though a major surgery in a few weeks. She will not be able to nurse for 2 days after the procedure they tell me. I was told to pump(dugh) untill she could eat again.

When I have used the pump I threw it in the dishwasher to clean it. I doubt my room with come with a full kitchen! LOL So my question is how do I clean the thing every 3 hours?

Any help would be much appreciated!:confused:

By the way I'm new here. ( Howdy Y'all)..thought I was an old dog that didnt need any new tricks but I could use some help with this!

[aussietwirler]

More and more 'experts' are saying that you can just use warm soapy water to clean these items with a young baby, so if you don't have access to a dishwasher or sterilizer you can do that. Also what I did sometimes was express & then shove it straight in the fridge for next time.

HTH

[tracylee]

if you have a medela they sell there microwave bags that sterilize your pump parts. I think very hot soapy water will do fine. that is what I use in a pinch. Just make sure everything dries out so you don't get mildew. Good luck!

[maabell]

Everything said here, plus there are quick wipes made by medela. I use those at work, because we do not have hot water and I want it sterilized at work.

Also, you could buy a microwave sterilizer, I got mine for about $20 at Babies r us.

[revvie]

When they say she's not going to nurse for two days, does that mean she's not going to receive any food/nutrition for two whole days? If not, what will they be feeding her in the place of breastmilk? If formula, why would they tell you to dump breastmilk in favour of giving her formula?

[bronco4grl]

I use a bottle brush (with the large brush for the bottle and the small brush for the nipple). I use the large brush to clean the collection bottles and the small brush to clean the small parts. Some brands aren't quite small enough to get into the nooks and crannies. If you still see some buildup or whatever you can soak the small parts in warm soapy water and/or use a toothpick to scrape it off, the clean again with the small brush.

[TexasMomma]

Thank y'all so much for your help! My pump is not a medella brand... but I hope the nurses will help me out too.

The reason she cannot eat is because she is having an extra colon removed. She was born with a rare defect called a duplication. The extra colon empties through an opening just inside her vagina. She can't have any food in her gut before and after the surgery cause it could cause an infection . She will be given iv fluids that should also help her not feel hungry, and give her calories and neutrients.
They told me they would save my milk for her. We might have to use a bottle for a while. I don't know if I will be able to hold her to feed her.

But I do know I won't feel silly when it comes to cleaning my pump because of y'alls advice!!!

Thanks bunches!!!

[TexasMomma]

I do have to say, we are so blessed that the decision to brest feed was made years ago... My babywas two days old when we discovered her problem, and we were told
to be very cautious of constipation,that would be a very bad thing. If she were a formula fed baby we would have one more thing to worry over. Yet more proof breast is beast!!!

Praise the Loard!!!!

[Mamacita]

Where in texas are you from?

I didn't read all of the other responses but if you have a cooler or fridge handy you can put the pump parts in there and only wash them once a day. I hope all goes well good luck to you!

[mfirst]

When my son was in the NICU, the LC told me to use hot tap water and Castille Soap (Trader Joe's sells it) or plain Ivory dishwashing soap (can't be antibacterial). She also recommended I purchase a second set of sheilds etc for the pump so that I always have a clean set.

[Tufftitty]

I second what everyone else has mentioned. Just wanted to say Welcome!, and I hope the surgery goes great.

[TexasMomma]

Everything went well! Thanks to you all for the help! I took my pump, a bottle brush, milk storage bags, and a bottle of dawn. I did forget my milk up there at the hospital....a nurse called me the next day to say there was a whole bunch of brest milk and what should she do with it! I told her to keep it cause we may need it next time.

We are 3 weeks post op, and she will have a colostomy reversal in 6 more weeks, so I'm more prepaired for next time.

Mamacita I live near Greenville TX, about 60 miles east on I30. How about U?

Thanks to you all again!
God bless you!