2 Tips On Preventing Mold From Breast Pump Tubing

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
6 min read

The first step in removing mold from breast pump tubing is to separate the various parts of the machine. After that, you’ll have to clean each piece one at a time.

Breast Pump Tubing And Mold Growth

Two types of breast pumps are available. Closed or sealed versus open or non-sealed describes the first.

There is a backflow protection in the sealed breast pump, which acts as a barrier. Closed system breast pumps reduce the risk of mold exposure.

Prevent Mould from Growing in your Breast Pump Tubing - Spectra Baby

Open-system ones, on the other hand, may result in moisture or milk condensation. When these components condense, mold will begin to grow.

Breast milk that is tainted by mold development in your breast pump is harmful to your child. Our knowledge of mold’s negative health impacts is well known, and children are particularly susceptible.

Moisture is a major factor in mold growth in breast pump tubing. In order to avoid the growth of fungi, it’s best to dry up the tubing completely.

A tip on removing condensation from a breast pump tubing

Keeping a close eye on breast pump tubing condensation is essential for preventing mold formation. Here’s a trick for keeping your tubing free of condensation.

Remove the breast pump’s tubing instead of putting it in the sterilizer, which puts it at risk of being wet. Grab a can of compressed air that is typically used to clean keyboards.

After that, insert it into the tubing and let the air to flow through it from the can. That’s all there is to it; your breast pump tubing is now free of condensation.

Removing Mold From Breast Pump Tubing

Step one is to switch off and unplug the breast pump. Then, take apart each component and give it a thorough cleaning.

Disconnect the tubing from the breast shield, flange, and container. Unscrew the breast pump’s tubing from the machine.

How to prevent mould in Tube of breast pump - YouTube

When removing the tube, take care not to twist it and break it.

After that, rinse your breast pump tubing with clean and drinkable water. To get rid of tough stains, try a soap made specifically for removing breastmilk stains.

Re-rinse the tubing after it has been cleaned with soap.

Step 3: Sterilize the tubing with rubbing alcohol once it has been washed. Using this method would remove the residue.

If your tubing is strong enough, you can put it in hot water to kill the mold. If you’re looking for proof that mold dies at a specific temperature, check out this article.

The tubing must be dried before it can be reinstalled on your machine. Mold spores can collect on your tube with only a small amount of moisture.

There are several ways to dry your tubing. You can put it outside to dry.

There are several ways to dry your tubing. You can put it outside to dry.

You may dry your tubing in a variety of ways. Your garment can be hung outside for drying.

You can also use the compressed air advice we provided earlier.

Tips on preventing mold from breast pump tubing

1. Choose a breast pump with a barrier

Make sure your youngster is protected from mold exposure by purchasing mold-resistant equipment. Those who want to learn more about mold intake can check out this article.

2. Clean after use

All parts that come into contact with breastmilk should be thoroughly cleaned after each use of a breast pump. The components must also be completely dried before assembly.

The valves, bottles, breast shields, tubing, and flanges should be cleaned. Rinse them in hot water after using dishwashing detergent.

You can use a paper towel to dry them on a rack, but if your dishwasher has a drying cycle, you can also do so. Cloth towels may be contaminated with germs.

Mold in breast milk: what to do next?

The first step is to notify your baby’s caretaker, if they drank any of the milk. Mold can harm a premature infant, making this a challenging scenario.

Before giving your infant a bottle, make it a practice to check your stored breast milk. Remove any foreign matter from the milk before drinking it.

Dealing with Water in Lactation Pump Tubing

Then, discover how your breast milk became contaminated with mold. Note that even if you cleaned your pump three days ago, any milk you’ve pumped since then has been tainted.

In the meantime, think about what you can do for your children. Make sure to explore at hypoallergenic formulas or milk from a donor

Concerns like this can be addressed by consulting with your physician. There’s a chance they can point you in the direction of lactation consultants or other medical specialists.

Conclusion

Accidental mold consumption can land you in the hospital, so learning how to remove mold from breast pump tubing can spare you the trip. Mold-related issues should be dealt with quickly so that they don’t have a negative impact on your health.

Thanks for reading our article on breast pump mold.

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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