Can I share a nursing pump with another mother, and what are the hygiene risks involved?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

The question of sharing a nursing pump with another mother is frequently asked, particularly concerning cost-saving and sustainability. However, healthcare professionals and pump manufacturers strongly advise against sharing personal-use nursing pumps due to significant hygiene and health risks. Based on thousands of verified purchases and expert guidelines, personal pumps are considered single-user devices. They are designed with open systems or closed systems that still have parts that cannot be fully sterilized.

Open-system pumps, which allow milk to come into contact with the pump motor and tubing, are impossible to thoroughly clean or sterilize between users. This can lead to the transmission of bacteria, viruses, or fungi, potentially causing infections in either mother or baby. Even closed-system pumps, which have a barrier to prevent milk from entering the tubing or motor, cannot guarantee complete sterilization of all milk-contacting parts that are not typically replaced. Shared parts like flanges, valves, and bottles are expected to be sanitized, but the internal mechanisms of the pump itself cannot be adequately disinfected for multi-user safety.

Hospital-grade pumps are an exception, as they are specifically designed with robust closed systems and high-quality motors built for multiple users in clinical settings. These pumps usually have components that are fully sterilizable or disposable between users. If you need a multi-user solution, consider renting a hospital-grade pump from a reputable medical supplier. Otherwise, for personal pumps, using your own dedicated device is essential for the health and safety of both mother and infant.