Dear Lactnetters,

Hello, Roland Müller from Ameda/Egnell here.  I've noticed over the last
two weeks or so that there have been repeated posts about condensation
and/or mold occurring in the tubing of breast pump collection kits.  While
most of these posts specifically mention one of our competitor's products,
at least two posts indicate that this is a common occurrence with ALL pumps
& kits.  This has prompted me to answer, because I don't want you to have
the impression that this is a universal problem that every mother who uses
a breast pump and kit must face.  Neither mold nor condensation are a
common occurrence with the most advanced line of kits manufactured today by
the company I represent.  Our older generation kits were subject to this
problem on occasion;  however, since the introduction of the new H------K-t
three years ago, we have not been made aware of a single such occurrence.

Condensation occurs because air at a given temperature can contain only a
certain amount of water vapor.  Warm air is capable of containing more
water vapor than cool air.  When warm, moist air is cooled, the excess
water vapor it contains must be released, generally in the form of
condensation onto a cooler surface.  When warm, moist air inside a
collection kit comes in contact with the kit's tubing, the air itself is
cooled and the excess water vapor it can no longer hold escapes as
condensation onto the tubing's inner surface.  This effect can be
compounded if moisture already exists in the tubing because it has been
washed and not completely dried before use.

There are two reasons condensation is a highly unlikely occurrence with our
kits:  1) A silicone diaphragm separates the cool air in the tubing from
the warm air in the breast shield and bottle area, and prevents exchange of
air in either direction.  Air in the tubing NEVER contacts the breast or
milk, so it is never warmed and then cooled again, which would cause
condensation to occur.  2) The silicone diaphragm also prevents milk from
entering the tubing of the kit, which means that the tubing never needs
cleaning.  This completely eliminates the chance that moisture would
accumulate within the tubing and eventually cause mold to grow.

We are all aware that washing and drying long, thin tubing is a difficult
process, to say the least.  That is why our kits have been designed to
eliminate the need to do so.  Even if a mother chose to wash our kit's
tubing (though it is neither recommended nor necessary) and condensation
and/or mold occurred as a result, the diaphragm would prevent it from EVER
coming in contact with her milk.

I encourage you to email me directly if you have questions or would like
more information.

Sincerely,

Roland Muller
Vice President
Ameda/Egnell