How to clean your 24-hour expressing kit in hospital information sheet

Introduction

A guide to learn about how to clean your 24-hour Medela Symphony Electric Breast Pump expressing kit in hospital.

This information sheet is for educational purposes only. For further information regarding this topic, please talk to your health care team.

Instructions

Step 1

Clean sink and surrounding area with a disinfectant wipe. 

Step 2

Clean hands with hand sanitizer.

Step 3

Gather equipment:

  • White bucket/clean container
  • 罢辞辞迟丑产谤耻蝉丑听
  • 鈥楻ediwipes鈥� (clean cloth wipes)
  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Your used expressing kit

Step 4

Undo all parts. Place cap and tubing (4 and 5) to the side- this should not have been in contact with any breastmilk, and doesn鈥檛 not need to be cleaned. Can be wiped with a disinfectant wipe.

Step 5

Rinse the breast shield (1), connector (2) and white valve (3) as separate pieces in cold water.

Breast shield (1) Connector (2) White valve (3) Soft yellow membrane (4) Cap and tubing (5)

Step 6

Use bucket/container as a 鈥榮ink鈥�. Do not place parts in kitchen sink itself. Add warm water and a few drops of detergent to bucket and clean the pump parts inside the bucket using the toothbrush.

Step 7

Rinse all parts well with clean warm water.

Step 8

Place clean expressing kit parts on bucket lid.

Step 9

Clean and rinse bucket with warm water. Dry with clean cloth wipe.

Step 10

Dry all clean expressing kit parts with a second clean cloth wipe.

Step 11

Place all parts back into dry bucket for later use. Dried toothbrush goes into the zip lock bag for later use. 

Step 12

Clean and dry bucket lid. Place lid loosely on bucket.

Step 13

Wipe down sink and surrounds with a disinfectant wipe ready for the next parent.

Step 14

Clean hands with hand sanitizer.

Points to remember

  • Clean as above in between uses.
  • Do not throw set away. One set is to be used for 24 hours (or 8 sessions), whichever comes first.
  • Clean kits as soon as possible after expressing.
  • Make sure all parts are dry before placing them back into the bucket. 
  • If there is any moisture in the tubing, suction cold be affected- ask for a new set in this instance. 
  • Make sure there is a sticker with your baby鈥檚 name on your bucket or container.
  • The hard plastic parts of the expressing kits can be recycled in the yellow mixed recycling bin. 

There are different steps for cleaning kits whilst in hospital compared to when at home with a well baby. 

Ask nursing staff for further advice. Or see the for more information.

Further resources