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Medela
Breast Pump
Tubing - Replacement Accessories
Medela breast pumps can only work with all of the parts intact. For this reason,
you should keep an eye on all of your equipment to make sure everything looks
and performs right. Whether or not you guessed before, the pump tubing is one of
the parts you should check the most. Why? The pump tubing is one of the most
important parts, for many reasons.
For one, breast pumping is
impossible without the tubing to collect the milk. Secondly, the tubing comes in
direct contact with your milk prior to you feeding your child, so you want to
make sure that the tubing doesn’t contaminate everything. So, be sure to really
check the tubing you use.
When examining this crucial part,
look for the following flaws:
• Kinks in the pump – Kinks can slow
down the flow of milk, which isn’t desirable. Slowing the flow can increase your
pumping times, increase your discomfort, and cause a hassle. It’s very easy to
check for this problem. Visually inspect the tubing for any creases or bends.
You can usually fix this problem by simply straightening the tube.
• Milk residue – If there is milk
residue left in the tubing, you’re asking for bacteria build-up. Breast milk,
like cow’s milk, can go bad, and when it does, it’s not safe to drink. If
there’s bad milk in your tubing, then the germ build-up can pass into fresh milk
the next time you use the tubing to pump. This isn’t safe for your health or the
health of your baby, so be sure to clean the tubing according to instructions.
• Tears or leaks – A tear or leak in
your pump can cause several problems. For one, it means you lose some of the
milk you pump instead of collecting it all. Secondly, this can slow down
collection times, meaning you have to pump for extended period of times; this
can make your breasts tender. Finally, by providing an opening to the air,
there’s a small chance of contamination via a tear. So, needless to say, this
problem needs fixed right away.
If you have any of these problems,
it’s wise to either replace the tubing or buy the necessary products to fix it.
For instance, a thorough cleaning with water and antiseptics would eliminate
contamination, even if there’s some milk residue on your tubing now. Cleaning is
much cheaper than replacing the part. However, replacement isn’t costly. For
tears or leaks, you should buy new. Try Medela’s website. They offer plenty of
accessories and replacement parts.
Also, make sure you have all of the
other materials you need to use with the tubing. Nipple covers, bottles, and
collection bags all work with the tubing, so stock up. Medela’s online store
also offers these useful products:
• Pump and Save Breast Milk Bags –
These are storage bags designed to hold your milk in the refrigerator or freezer
for later use. Store in the refrigerator only if you plan on using the milk
quickly. The freezer is best if you must save the milk for several days.
• Collection bottles – These
products work the same way as bags, however the cylinders are rigid, like
bottles.
• Container Stands – These products
can keep your collection bottles upright and prevent them from rolling around.
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