Have you ever wondered around in a store and looked at baby items? Feel overwhelmed? Don’t know a flange from a membrane? Or maybe I just confused you with that last question?
Well, take a deep breath. I got you. Here is a complete list of pump parts and accessories and where to buy them so you never have to set foot in the maze and mess we call a store.
Breast Pump Parts – What are they?
When you buy a breast pump, no matter the brand, there are a few standard items you will want to get extras of for a few reasons –
- Things like valves and tubing should be replaced every so often on most models.
- If you will be pumping often, you will want several sets of parts so you don’t have to wash and sanitize the parts 100 times a day.
- Have some extras on hand “just in case.” I have a Great Dane and she actually chewed on a flange one day. Backups are a beauty of a thing to have.
Before we get into actual products, let me give you a glossary of pump accessory terms so you don’t get confused:
- Tubing – This is simply a clear plastic tube that connects the pump motor to the flanges
- Flanges – Also called breast shields, are the plastic, cone-shaped horns that fit over your breast
- Valves – small plastic pieces that fit at the bottom of the flange that is fitted with a membrane to let the pumped milk fall into the collection bottle.
- Membranes – The membranes are a little flexible plastic piece that attached to the valve. This creates suction. This is the most common item you will replace. A worn out membranes can actually affect the performance of your pump and have a direct effect on how much milk you pump.
- Milk Collection and Storage bottles – The bottles that connect to the flanges to collect the milk while you pump.
Now that you are an expert, let’s get to it.
Breast Pump Parts by Brand
I have created a page for each of the Brands listed below to help you navigate through the items you will need for your specific pump. Simply click on your Brand and shop away!