Moisture in Pumps

I'm on a lactation professionals list where we can discuss cases, research and practice and give encouragement. You may have heard the talk online about mold being found in certain open system breastpumps. There are some obvious questions about the possible role that may play in recurrent yeast infections in Moms/Babies. Here is one such place that has mentioned this mold issue by a blogger/ and CLC*, she also goes in to Medela's noncompliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, but that's not the issue that I speak of today.

I had a thought about a possible partial solution to this mold in pumps. I started to write a post for the listserv, but decided maybe I'd like to share this info with my readers too. Here it is.
 
Hi fellow breastfeeding professionals,
So I had an idea. I wonder if anyone has tried it. If you did, what kind of results did you find?

Let's say a Mom is already opening her suspect pump to clean and inspect for mold and mildew. Can she put something in there after it is cleaned to prevent the moisture from causing trouble so quickly? I immediately think of the little silica packets that come in some medication bottles for this purpose.

I also thought of rice. You know how we give our cell phones 'rice baths' to dry them out after they get water logged? Also, what about how we put it in our salt shakers supposedly to absorb moisture? Is rice something that could be used? Would a little fabric pouch of rice fit in there? Would it work to absorb moisture?

                                                  Picture from yumsugar.com

There are also commercial products that seem to be similar to the clays and compounds that are in the little silica packets in our medications. They are readily available in grocery stores. I do not know the safety of this. Is there any such product that would fit the job description? But is it safe near the milk, Mom/Babe?

Damprid is one such company that makes this type of thing.
Here is their MSDS info for their products in PDF form

I will let those of you more knowledgeable than myself about toxic/ nontoxic things wade through that, if you don't mind.

The experience of finding mold in pumps that my colleagues share will change my practice for sure. This is one more factor in resistant yeast. A factor that I have never thought of asking about.

I am also thinking of how this will change my teaching. I'm thinking of a typical situation where a Mom buys a pump, barely uses it, but has a baby two years later and THIS time, has to go back to work after babe. She is ready to reap the benefits of making an investment in an expensive pump a couple years prior. Or is she? It seems it would be in great condition if it was barely used. Well, it sounds like it might depend on how it was stored. I'm considering sharing with families not to store their unused but usable pumps in attics or garages, or other such places where the temperature, and by default humidity level, is uncontrolled.

Also, maybe they should be reminded not to leave or store their open system pump in kitchens or bathrooms where the dampness can creep in. Does anybody know where the mothers kept their pumps which have been cultured positive?

Thanks for all the work you do!


Warmly,
Laura Dunn, LPN, IBCLC

Definition of 'Open System': any single user pump is considered an open system. The only pumps that certain companies, like Medela, makes that aren't an open system are their hospital grade pumps, the kind usually available for rental; these are meant to go from person to person with no troubles, and so have seals in place that would prevent any mold exposure.

*Post about difference between a CLC and all the other alphabet soup of breastfeeding helpers

Disclaimer

Just a reminder: nobody pays me to write what I write. I write to share information, experience and resources.

To my readers, if you are a Mama with a dead Pump In Style just sitting around. Would you consider trying to open it to see what you see how it's insides are faring? Just as an experiment. Photograph and share with me what you see, if anything. Thanks!