Early Mornings

I tend to sneak out from the house real early in the mornings while the baby is still asleep to get to the office. This morning, when I was about to leave the house, I realised I hadn't fed the bb, or at least 1 side felt quite engorged. With no time on my hands, I just quickly grabbed some bottles n the pump and dashed out of the house, sterlising them only on reaching the office.

Threw everything together n dumped into the microwave while organising stuff in the office:

I pumped while in the office. Nay, baby doesn't take the bottle, but at least the expressed milk can be kept to be put with his morning cereal.

Sterilizing Breastpump

Many mothers returning to work often question as to how they can sterilize their breastpump parts at the office. Firstly, do determine what parts you need to sterilize. Quite likely you would be bringing freshly sterilized bottles (for milk collection) from home to the office each morning, so you won't need to sterilise these at the office. So for instance, the Ameda & Avent pumps, these would be the only parts you would need to sterilise (see below):

Ameda Dual Pump:
Funnels, Valves (the Bellow & Tubing does not need to be sterilised)

Avent Isis:
Funnel, Valve, Petal Massager

Methods you may use - choose methods considering your preference for convenience:
1. Microwave (Ameda does not recommend microwave sterilising).
2. Cold Water Tablets





1. For those with a microwave in the office, you could easily fill a container with a little water, partially cover the container and put it on medium high for 5 minutes or so. This should sufficiently steam sterilize your pump parts. You could also use Microwave steamers (cheap to buy), or specially designed Microwave steam sterilizers from baby bottle brands (may be too huge for office). Photos above are just some example of how you can use everyday containers to steam sterilize your pump parts using the microwave.


2. Another very simple method is to use the Cold Water Sterilisation tablets. Just put one tablet a day (according to instructions on the box of tablets) in a container filled with water. Submerge your pump parts or bottles in the container. It will all be sterilised within 30 minutes. You may leave the bottles & pump parts in the container until the next time you need to use it. If you don't like the chemical smell, rinse the pump parts or bottles with plain boiled water first before use. This container may be placed just under your work desk! You only need to change the water once a day - every morning before you start work perhaps? The tablets can be easily bought from most supermarkets and pharmacies.

For those with babies who are older and have started on solid food, you may be a little more relaxed with sterilising. Here are some methods used by mothers:
1. Scald bottles/pump parts with Hot Boiling water before use
2. Put pump parts in the fridge (to preserve?) and then scald with hot water before use (so it's not so cold on your breasts!).

Hope the tips help!