EcoMom: Recycle Your Breast Pump!

Breast is best, right?  But what happens once you've transitioned your baby over to solid foods and you no longer need your breast pump?  Do you shove your pump away in a dark closet never to see it again?  Maybe you have no idea what to do with it?  Here's a breakdown for us mom's with Medela Breast Pumps and the process of recycling our pumps once we're done with them.

Medela Recycles

If you're like me and you opted to buy a Medela breast pump, there's a really cool program that you NEED to know about.  It's called Medela Recycles.  This is a program where you can send off your old electric breast pump to be recycled at zero cost to you.  Added bonus?  Each month Medela sends a donation of two Symphony Preemie+ Breastpumps the Ronald McDonald House Charity thanks to the mom's that are recycling their old pumps through Medela Recycles - FANTASTIC! 

Many of these mom's have babies in the NICU and the only option to get breast milk to their little ones is through pumping on a daily basis.  Getting a free pump can take away just one of the added stresses that these mother's face during such a difficult time.  

Fun Fact: Medela began this recycling campaign through learning of a Change.Org petition started by a regular EcoMom looking for a way to recycle her old pump in a way that was ecofriendly.  It just goes to show that us mom's CAN make a difference!

Get more details on the program by clicking the image below!  So far, they've received almost 3,000 donations.

What if I have a Manual Pump?

Not everyone is going to have an electric pump, though, so what can you do if you'd still like to recycle your pump, but don't qualify for Medela Recycles?  If you have a manual Medela pump, you need to know that they aren't "closed system" pumps - so, essentially, they aren't really made to be used my multiple moms.

However, the good news is that Medela does make their pumps out of recyclable materials for the most part, so all you need to do is take your pump to your local recycling center and Ta-Da!  You've sent you pump to breast-pump-heaven without hurting the environment.

That's great, but my pump isn't Medela...

There are so many brands of breast pumps out there and I'm sure a few readers might not have gone with Medela as their pump choice - But it's important to empower yourself with knowledge!  Check the materials your non-Medela pump is made from and see if they're recyclable.  Go to the manufacturer's website and see if their pumps are suitable for multiple mom's - you may be able to give your pump to a friend or family member for sterilization and re-use.

Breastfeeding Guilt - My Story

We all know that breastfeeding is the best way to feed your infant.  There's no contesting that fact.  As you progress through your first pregnancy, you'll likely look up nipple creams, breast pads, and breast pumps - all in preparation for feeding your baby the way that everyone agrees is healthiest.   Way to go, Mom!

What no one ever seems to talk about is when a baby has a bad latch - or what happens when mom's milk never comes in - or when mom can't produce enough.  What people never seem to talk about it the fact that breastfeeding doesn't always work, and it can be devastating for a mother.

With my first baby, breast milk caused my son excessive levels of reflux, regardless of the diet I maintained.  Every time I fed him, he would spit up most or all of what he ate.  He began losing precious amounts of weight and both myself and my son's pediatrician were worried for his health.  I worked with lactation consultants, ate nothing but plain oats and water, pumped my milk and gave it to my son in a bottle... Nothing worked.  The result?  Formula feeding.   I cried and felt like a failure - My own breast milk was harming my baby.

My sister, who had two children of her own when my son was born, had breastfed her kids without ANY issues, even feeding her daughter until she was almost two years-old - how had she done so well and I couldn't manage even a single month?  These feelings of inadequacy fed into my "baby blues," which eventually crossed the threshold into full-on postpartum depression.  What should have been the most beautiful time of my life turned very, very dark.  My husband was hugely effected by it, and I couldn't control it.

How to Stop the Guilt

"Breastfeeding Guilt," as I call it, should be stopped before it even starts.  I think that mother's nowadays are under so much pressure from EACH OTHER to be "all natural" and "green" moms, that it creates unrealistic expectations of how we should raise our kids.

Yes, breastfeeding is best.  But for your own peace of mind, go into any pregnancy ready for the potential problems that might arise - you can't know how your breastfeeding journey will turn out until you and your baby work on it together.  There are a lot of options to correct issues with a "bad latch," various positions to help with nipple pain, nutrition plans you can try to increase milk production, etc.

But if everything you try doesn't work?  Don't hate yourself.  It's okay.  You aren't less of mother for needing to feed your baby formula.  If it turns out to be the best option to help your baby grow, then do it.  It was a really hard pill to swallow for me - but I got over and moved on.

Don't give up.

With my newborn daughter, I was scared to breastfeed because of the memories of what happened with my son - but I tried anyway.  I'm SO glad that I did.  Both her latch and my milk supply have worked together like a dream and she's grown quickly, gaining weight as expected.  I've had a few issues with pain and pumping is a nightmare sometimes, but we've achieved a balance that works and I'm hopeful that we'll have her on solely breast milk for at least the first six months... but if that doesn't happen, I'm not going to blame myself or feel like a bad mother.