It is not necessarily true that just because there is mold in the tubing that
you can then draw the conclusion that milk has been backing up into the pump.
 Even moisture on the pump parts left after washing and rinsing can back up
into the tubing and cause mold growth.  This seems to happen on occasion with
the Pump In Style.  I have not seen it with Lactinas.  For this reason, I
recommend people make sure their parts are dry when they attach them to the
tubing.  It can also help to allow the pump to run for a few minutes after
pumping to dry the tubing.
With the Pump In Style, even if milk did back up into the pump mechanism, the
only way bacteria from the pump could get back into the bottle would be the
following scenario:  milk would have to again overflow into the tubing; then
it would have to "mix" with the bacteria in the pump; and finally, it would
have to flow back into the bottle.  Seems very unlikely to me. If a mother
fell asleep pumping and if she had a huge milk supply, then it might be
likely.  All she would have to do, though, is throw that bottle of milk away
and wash or change the tubing.  From a legal standpoint, if people were
sharing pumps and there was a question as to illness related to this, all one
would have to do in a court of law is show that there is a possibility of
this happening.  From a practical standpoint, though, it would be very
unlikely.
Cher Sealy, RN, BSN, IBCLC
The Breastfeeding Encounter
Montgomery, Alabama

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