Recycling pumps

[Guest guest]

I know, I know, I know all the ramifications of passing down a personal use pump once it has been used by its original owner. However, in working with groups of women who have little or no resources, may not get an Ameda Elite from local WIC unless they have a premie, may get a manual pump depending upon circumstances, may not feel comfortable with hand expression particularly if they are teen moms, and either want to or need to pump -- what to do? I frequently get calls from women done with their pump that they used a few times, paid $300-400 for asking what can they do with it now that they are done having kids, asking isn't there anywhere to donate??? I don't know what to say because of the Medela and FDA warnings. However, as hard as it is to imagine, we may then lose this mom to formula feeding which is of course readily available from WIC, when she has no way to pump efficiently. Any ideas of how to recycle these very viable pumps and give them to needy women?? Thanks Ann

Ann Conlon-, IBCLCTriangle Lactation Consultants1875 Carrington Drive, Raleigh, NC 27615 www.trianglelactation.comGreat breastfeeding site http://www.bestforbabes.org/"Remember, you're not managing an inconvenience; you're raising a human being." Kittie Frantz