However, the true danger of reusing and sharing breast pumps is that you may be putting your health and your baby's health at used breast pump risk.
The most obvious concern with reusing used breast pump or sharing a breast pump is the potential for contamination by bacteria or viruses. Breast pumps are designed to draw milk from the mother’s breasts into a container, so they come into contact with bodily fluids. Bacteria and viruses can survive on surfaces for extended periods of time, so if someone else has used the same pump before you, it could be contaminated with their germs. In particular, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) can survive for more than one week on an uncleaned breast pump surface such as tubing and tubing connectors. This means that if someone who was infected with these viruses had used the same pump before you, there is a chance that you could become infected when using it yourself.
In addition to infectious diseases like HIV and HBV, there are other health concerns associated with reusing or sharing a breast pump. For example, some used breast pump components of breast pumps contain chemicals that can leach out into your milk if they become worn down due to frequent use over time by multiple people. These chemicals can potentially cause irritation or adverse reactions in both mothers and babies when ingested through their mother’s milk supply.
Another key concern when considering whether to reuse or share a breast pump is hygiene practices between users of the same device. Even if a previous user cleaned it thoroughly after each use according to instructions provided by its manufacturer, there may still be lingering bacteria inside certain parts of the used breast pump device—namely those parts which cannot easily be reached without disassembling it completely—which could make its way into your own milk supply after being reused again further down the line by another user(s).
Even if thorough cleaning occurs between uses—as should always be done regardless—the nature of some materials used in pumping components means they will eventually break down from wear-and-tear over time due to repeated used breast pump usage; this breakdown would then potentially lead to bits/pieces breaking away from them which could also contaminate future users’ milk supplies as well as pose choking hazards for babies should any fragments end up in their mouths during breastfeeding sessions afterwards too!
It might seem like an affordable way out but ultimately buying new is usually worth spending extra money on: not only because most manufacturers offer warranties against defects but also because only new devices come with all original parts intact meaning no potential contaminants hiding within them either! Furthermore, used breast pump newer models are often designed better than older ones regarding comfort/efficiency levels while still being just as easy (if not easier) to assemble/disassemble too!
Plus, let's not forget about how many newer models now feature digital readouts which provide useful information such as suction strength settings while also helping track progress along one's journey towards successful breastfeeding goals over time too - something older styles simply don't provide access nor insight towards whatsoever.
To sum things up: Reusing or sharing any kind of used breast pump medical equipment carries significant risks; however this especially applies when discussing items related directly towards maternal/infant care such as breastfeeding products like breast pumps since these involve contact w/ sensitive areas plus direct ingestion too! Therefore buying new whenever possible should always remain top priority - even though price may initially seem like an issue at first - since going second hand doesn't guarantee proper hygienic practices have been followed nor does it necessarily mean all pieces will remain intact either which would then put both mothers & infants alike at risk later on down road.