Borrowing a Breast-pump?

My cousin gave me her breast pump. I didn't buy all new components, I just sterilized them by boiling them in water for 5-10 minutes before use and it has been fine. I would go for it. It will save you about $300! I think they put those warnings on breast pumps to cover themselves plus some makers, like Medela, offer free replacements of tubing and such but only for the original purchaser.

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As long as all parts are sterilized there is not a problem.

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Sterilize and you're good to go!

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I borrowed one from my cousin, in the end it wasn't for me and I ended up renting a better one from the hospital. As long as you sterilize all of the tubing, (or just buy new) it's perfectly safe to borrow!

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The pump companies give that recommendation to cover themselves and because of the very remote possibility of cross-contamination. Very remote. That said I would be comfortable with a pump from someone I know. I did that with each of my little ones. But I bought new tubing and new pump parts. I wouldn't be comfortable using someone else's parts that do come into direct contact with the milk. Plastic gets scratched and such.

Also, get some Medela steam clean bags. They are awesome and make cleaning up after pumping a breeze!

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I rented one from the hospital; Medela was wonderful due to the store bought one didn't do justice. Sure it was bulky and heavy but I left it in the bedroom to pump with. Renting was on a monthly basis of $55 each month; I pumped for a year and after the first 6 months the hospital discounted $10 off every month there after. Yes, we also bought the new components and went back a week later for free consultation to ensure the pumping was going well with the right size nipple shield. (Note: if you find yourself not expressing enough milk and getting marks around your nipple then you need to get the next bigger size shield. Lansinoh gel is great for cracked or sore nipples; plus the gel pads help soothe them too.)

My husband also bought me a hand held medela pump for when we travelled or were out and about. I was very thankful to have it due to I pumped every 2 hours and didn't want to rush back home every time. I would stick it under my shirt while he was driving and pump...was wonderful.

My suggestion would be to try the breast pump from the hospital for one month, if you are not happy return it. That way you can compare its output to a regular one. Trust me once you use a hospital one; you won't want to use anything else.

I just wouldnt do it personally. There are so many germs that can't be sterlized and you could get an infection. It also may not be the right size for your breasts..i would check that. Some pumps you can't change the cup size so your out of luck if you have a bigger chest. Medela pumps are great because you can change the cups on the pump depending on your chest size. They are the only brand that i know does that.

My sisters SIL let me borrow her breast pump. She cleaned it and when I was in the hospital the lactation lady gave me all new tubing that could hook up with the SIL's, along with the one they let you use while in the hospital.

I would borrow your SIL's and forget about renting! You'll save money, and if hers works perfectly fine, why not??

I borrowed one from a co-worker for the last few months I pumped since mine had stopped working after about 2 years of full-time pumping. I did NOT want to buy a new pump (at the time we weren't planning on more kids) but I was also not about to try hand-expressing for a few months. I would find out how old the pump is and about how much use it has had (full vs. part-time pumping, for how long). I used mine 2-3 times a day, at least 5 days a week, for almost 2 years, so it definitely wore out. You can get your own extras (tubing, bottles, etc.) or just sterilize what comes with it. I never had a problem doing that with someone I know but I probably wouldn't buy a used one myself because I prefer the Avent manual pump, which retails for less than $40 and worked great for me full-time. It is easy to sterilize everything because there is no motor or tubing--I never liked using the electric pumps.

Not sure about your hospital but my nurse told me to ask to start pumping T the hospital they will bring you their pump and new components. So I did and used those components with the pump I got from my friend. So didn't need to buy the new components. But if you feet used ones all you have to do is sterilize them.
Good luck....

THe hospital grade pumps to rent ARE more bulky and not good to tote around (like to work)... but if you plan on being home for awhile with newborn - it's fine.

As long as you get new tubing, cups (for the breasts) and the little bits that are part of it - you'll be fine with using a previously owned pump.

For my first baby I had the Medela Pump in Style, which I got a prescription for before I left the hospital. Most insurance will cover the purchase of a breast pump if your doctor prescribes it (ie: for bad latch etc). This worked 'fine' for me but I found it was not quite strong enough. I just had my second baby 3 months ago and I ended up renting a hospital grade pump at the hospital. You rent it for free for 10 months and it is bulky. Most pumps are. But it does work better in my book. I have not had to transport it yet. The Pump in Style had a backpack which made it much easier to carry. As far as getting a used one, I wonder if there is a place you could take it to get professionally sterilized or something? Like at the hospital. Good luck!

I borrowed my first rent free from a hospital friend now that I purchased my Medela with my 2nd I used it off & on but she was only breastfeed for a few months then my 3rd I never used it she was exclusively on the boob.It is nice to save the extra money buy all new compotents clean it well with alcohol & I would never strelize the tubing just buy new becasue it does leaves water inside & that will cause damage to the unit if it happens to get sucked up inside the machine.

I rented a hospital grade double electric pump. All I had to purchase was the tubing, the collection bottles, and the parts that attached to my breasts. The milk NEVER entered the pump itself, just the washable components. I have heard that some pumps pump the milk through the machine and it is these kinds of pumps you would want to avoid because you cannot take the pump apart to clean it. Honestly, I've never seen any pumps that actually take the milk and push it through the machine but I suppose older pumps do. I don't know for sure.

BTW: on rented pumps, at least the one I had, the tubing was never to get wet so if your friend's pump has tubing, chances are it cannot get wet (it's primary function is for suction) so with that said, if it can't get wet, then NO milk is entering the pump. I hope this helps!

If you rent a pump from a hospital, they will make you purchase the plastic components which are the pieces that attach to your breast and the collection bottles. The pump I rented, the milk never went through the tubing that attached to the pump from the collection bottles. The tubing was really just for the suction. I would say you can safely sterilize the pieces from your friend's pump as long as you know that her milk never went INTO the pump itself. You wouldn't want your milk to be contaminated with bacteria and other unmentionables. But in all honesty, I don't think pumps today pull the milk through the pump. Ask your friend how her pump works or research it online.

What kind does she have? I know I got mine from a friend. (Madela pump in style) While I was in the hospital, I had to pump for a couple days. I got to keep everything but the actual pump, and the parts were compatible with the pump I got from my friend. So the only part I was re-using was the pump itself... I figure that as long as the milk doesn't touch any borrowed parts, it's ok.

I borrowed one - I ordered new tubing (even though it claims the milk doesn't get into the tubing), breast shields, etc. online so everything that touched me or the milk was brand new. The pump is the expensive part - think I paid about $30 - $50 for the rest. You have to order for the right model. I think the website was something like moms.com or similar.