Melody and Gail have mentioned that mothers have had some rather serious
problems with a particular kind of breast pump, First Years. When I was
giving a lecture on pumps and pumping, someone in the audience mentioned that
a mother had gotten both breasts stuck in the pump and could not get them
out. She was ready to call the fire department when they finally came loose.
Damage to the nipples from a medical device is a reportable event. In the US,
the FDA is charged with oversight on medical devices and has a web site
called MedWatch where adverse events can and should be reported.

Every time a mother is injured by a pump or experiences an adverse outcome,
this should be reported. It is extremely important to report this, as part of
the federal legislation that Representative Carolyn Maloney has proposed
contains a section on breast pump standards for employed mothers. The place
that is checked for reports regarding substandard pumps is the FDA. If we do
not report these incidents then mothers will continue to waste money and be
injured. This is part of our responsibility as health care professionals.
Anyone, including the mother can report an adverse event. Please consider
reporting pump problems to this site as a service to the mothers and babies
we care for.

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA

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