Using a second hand breast pump?

I have just bought a second hand breast pump off ebay a Medela Pump in Style. I am having second thoughts now due to risk of infections such as HIV (which I know is minimal). How would I clean the pump? Has any one else bought a second hand breast pump and it has been fine?

A Medela PIS is considered a single user item, like a toothbrush. You can boil the collection kit portion of the pump or even buy new horns and tubes, etc. BUT there is no way that you can consider it thoroughly cleaned after use by another mom because the PIS is not a closed system. This means that it is possible for milk to actually back up into the motor itself, which can't be boiled or cleaned. This is why you should only ever buy a used pump from someone you know and trust to be free of disease or illness. Another risk that comes with a used pump is thrush.....if the previous user had trouble with thrush then it could possibly be passed to you through the pump as well.

If you would be interested in buying a new pump and live in the USA, I'd suggest you look for a Canadian company because the exchange rate with the USA is usually good and you can sometimes save money that way. I bought my PIS from http://www.babyloveproducts.com a few years back and saved money that way. Also, make sure you don't pay tax on it as it is a "medical supply." You can also try having your doc write you a prescription for a pump and submitting it to your insurance and see if you get anything back on it. Keep in mind that even if you buy an expensive pump, it's still cheaper than buying a year's worth of formula!

No, I never owned one or needed one. But you can use rubbing alcohol or bleach to kill any germs. You won't get HIV or AIDS from anything because the disease is only transmitted through direct contact. It dies when the air hits it.

Sterilise, Sterilise, Sterilise!!!!!

I don't think you need to worry about HIV, it wouldn't be transfered on a breast pump. Just make sure that it's all clean and sanitized before you use it since it's already been used by someone else. As long as it's clean, it's fine!

I wouldn't worry about HIV since the pump won't puncture you skin. But if you are worried about skin infections you should definitely sterilize it. I bought my medela new, but it is easy to sterilize. I deep clean it once a month. Run a few drops of alcohol through the two rubber tubes. And for the actual sucking cups and containers, wash them really well with an antibacterial soap, and then put them in your bottle sterilizer. That should do it!

HIV is very easy to kill when it's outside the body, which is why it's spread through direct-contact sources like blood and semen. Anytime you buy something off eBay, clean it like a fiend, and you should be fine.

Soak all the parts that will come in contact with your breasts in VERY VERY hot water, sterilize them in boiling water for 3 minutes, soak them again in HOT water, wash with mild detergent, and let them dry.

I think the risk is very very minimal - as others have said, the HIV virus doesn't surive long outside perfect conditions. I would really ask your dr about how to properly sterilize it. Good luck.