How do you keep your nipple shield sterilised while out and about?

[Shanti]

DD2 is 3.5 weeks old and under the advice and guidance of an LC from my hospital, I was given a nipple shield to use 1.5 weeks ago. It's for my L nipple as it's flat/inverted (been told different things!) and feeding on this side is very frustrating for both DD2 and I as she pulls on and off and finds it hard to grasp it properly to draw the nipple out. She slides off it etc.... anyway, so the nipple shield is working really well!! I wish I'd used it last time with DD1 as it would have made BF easier last time on this side but the LC I had at the time with DD1 wasn't keen on nipple shields.

So, for those who use nipple shields, my question is.... when I take it out with me, how do I keep it clean or sterilised enough to use again?? It's a medela one and it comes with a little yellow hard case it goes in to protect it. When I'm at home I stick it in a cup of boiled water straight from the kettle and let it sit for at least a few minutes before using it.

I'm hoping to only use the shield for a few weeks until DD2 works out how to feed well without it for that side. In the meantime, I am interested in how others go about taking theirs out and how you keep it clean?

TIA

[Onelittleprincess]

I used Avent brand and always had about 4. I used them on both sides. I sterilized in the morning, put them in a snap lock bag and went out.

If u only have 1 u could always go to a cafe and ask for a cup of boiling water to soak it before using it.

[Olive]

does it need to be sterile? after all you dont sterile your breasts

[Onelittleprincess]

Technacially you can get away with washing throughly.

[Shanti]

does it need to be sterile? after all you dont sterile your breasts

Well, that's what I thought too.... even if I went to the bathroom and washed it under hot water under the tap?? and pop it straight back in it's container?

My belief is that with anything to do with formula then you need to be careful with sterilising but breastmilk is antibacterial....

So annoying having to remember my 'nipple condom' LOL can't wait to get rid of the thing!

[Olive]

my thoughts too darl you're doing an ace job xxx

[onthefly]

I dont' think you need to sterilise it.

[megs]

If I was out for a whole day ( I live on a farm so a trip to town would involve a couple of feeds) I would ask the cafe for a cup of boiling water, I would dip it in the water and I then had a plastic container that I would put it into.

[kiwimummy]

I used to sterilise them in the morning and keep them in a sealed container until I needed to use them. I used to take two pairs out in fear of dropping them on the floor when using them (which happened a few times before I started taking two pairs)

[aussienic]

i used to pour boiling water over it and put it in the fridge.. Then when I was going out I would empty the water and take the container. I would put 2 in and when I used one I put the other in a little zip lock bag..

[mad4e]

I used them on both for 3 months cause DS just wouldn't attach any other way.

I was told they only needed to be sterilized once a day and that they could just be rinsed with preferably hot soapy water after use. You can also buy liquid steriliser and keep it in a small bottle in your bag just in case, I'm pretty sure you can get it at any chemist.

[helle]

I'd probably just take a bottle of cooled boiled water and rinse in that after use and pop back into it's container..
I never sterilised EBM bottles even

[~clover~]

My health nurse/LC told me I didn't need to sterilise & only wash with detergent every few days. I just rinsed them in what ever water was available at the time. Hot if I could, otherwise cold.
With the antibodies etc in BM there's no need for sterilising

[njon2]

My LC told me I didn't need to sterilize, just warm and if possible, soapy water after each feed. I found if I used cold water the fat in the breastmilk didn't wash away completely and left it a bit "cloudy" looking.

I have to admit that sometimes in the middle of the night all I did was wipe the milk away with my hand as I was too tired!

[Shanti]

Thanks everyone! That's what I thought.... BM is anti bacterial, it's not like formula so not as much need for hygiene and sterilisation. I just pour boiling water over it if I'm at home and it's been used and let it sit in the water for a while and sometimes use warm soapy water to rinse it in too... lately I have been feeding on that particular side without the shield therefore not really needing it anymore as she's 6 weeks now and getting good on that flat nipple side!!

[MantaRay]

I never sterilised mine. You don't need to sterilise bottles that are used with just EBM so I didn't even think of sterilising the shields. I am sure rinsing them would be fine - probably like pump parts, a rinse each time you use them and then a good wash with detergent every 24 hours or so.

[trishalishous]

I used Avent brand and always had about 4. I used them on both sides. I sterilized in the morning, put them in a snap lock bag and went out.

If u only have 1 u could always go to a cafe and ask for a cup of boiling water to soak it before using it.

this is what I did, just carried a few in case