Thanks for all the timely and helpful responses about breast abscesses. I was able to share these with the surgeons as well as provide them the names of hopefully bf friendly physicians at two major universities with lactation centers. The docs at least now know that I don't make this stuff up. Interestingly, one of the docs once called me at home from our ER wanting to know how to order the application of cabbage leaves for an elderly woman with a severe mastitis. He is a pretty good guy. The mother with the abscesses is still nursing, although she has a clogged duct in the breast with the wounds from the I & D. The baby has always refused this breast and continues to do so. She did try pumping recently but had some blood mix with the milk which she could not tolerate. So she is using some warmth on that breast just prior to nursing on the nonaffected side, and gently massage as she is nursing. When this clog is resolved, we've talked about trying ice again to help this breast settle down. I had hoped that with no stimulation the breast would have dried up. Baby is doing well and mom does not mind that one breast is trying to clean itself with milk. As for sterilizing pump parts. Our hospital and the NICU's we transfer to ( Baltimore, D.C. & Hershey) for the most part give each mom her own kit and instructions to wash the washable parts with hot soapy water, rinse in hot water and air dry on a clean towel. The air drying can be tricky in a hospital, but can be done with a little creativity. There have been no problems with this clean technique that I am aware of. Kathy Bell, RN, IBCLC