Pump Loans
OBS has a small number of Ameda Lactaline personal double electric breast pumps that can be borrowed for a period of 3 weeks, in cases of urgent clinical need.
These are some other places you might be able to borrow a pump:
- If you are still under the care of a midwife, please ask your midwifery team about borrowing a pump from them first
- The Oxfordshire Health Visiting Service also has pumps that can be loaned out at no charge to parents who need support or who are working on increasing their supply.
- Hospital grade pumps can also be hired commercially from Ardo and Medela online. This list is not exhaustive and OBS has no relationship with these providers.
Pumps will normally only be loaned to those who have used our services or who have been referred to us. If you need feeding support, or are not sure whether you need to express your milk, you can book a slot in our in-person sessions or book a video and phone breastfeeding support. Please see the Our Services section of our website to see a full list of how you can access help.
If you are interested in borrowing a pump please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please tell us how you heard about this service.
If you have already collected a pump, please register it using this form.
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Cost
Loan of an OBS pump costs £15 for the first week and £5 per week for the second and third week. If this is not affordable for you, please contact us in confidence at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Pump stocks are limited. We ask that pumps are borrowed for a maximum of three weeks; please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you need to keep it for longer.
Payment details will be given when you register the pump on collection. Payment is normally due on return of the pump.
Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support is a charity and receives no statutory or health funding. Our pump loan prices are set to ensure that we are covering the costs of running the pump loan service. We are grateful for any donations you can make on top of this to support our work.
If you need ongoing use of a double pump, they can be commercially hired from Ardo and Medela. This list is not exhaustive and OBS has no relationship with these providers.
Pump Instructions
You will also find a sheet with the most important information in various language in the pump box.
Breast pump kits & pump cleaning instructions
For environmental reasons, and to keep the cost of pump loan as low as possible, we supply used kits with OBS pumps.
We have cleaned the silicone parts (diaphragm and valve) by boiling, in accordance with the supplier's instructions. The hard plastic parts (flange and collecting bottle) have been washed in hot, soapy water..
If you prefer to buy your own new pump kits, you can by them online. You need kits compatible with the Ameda Lactaline pump, and remember that you will need two kits if you want to pump both breasts at once. Note that brand new kits are not guaranteed sterile - you will still need to wash and sterilise before you use it for the first time.
Pumping should not hurt or damage your breasts
You can get flanges, the part that goes on the breast, in different sizes. If your nipple is rubbed during pumping, you may need a larger size. Please see this article on how pump fit matters. If you need a different size please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or you can buy your own.
We recommend that you sterilise all washable parts before you use the pump for the first time
After each use:
1. Remove the tubing (and cap) from the kit; these do not need to be washed.
2. Dismantle the pump kit completely.
3. Carefully and thoroughly wash all parts of the kit in hot soapy water (or in a dishwasher). The small white valve tears easily, so it is important to wash it carefully.
4. Rinse thoroughly with running water and place each part on the upturned lid of the container prior to drying.
5. Dry the kit and the lid of the container on a clean paper towel or kitchen paper – not on a tea towel or cloth.
6. Place the kit in the clean, dry container and cover with the lid.
Before each use:
1. Remove the lid of the container.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling / assembling the pump kit.
Once a day:
Wash the container in hot soapy water, rinse and dry on a paper towel. You do not need to sterilise your kits, or any bottles/teats used that are used solely for your expressed milk. You may choose to sterilise if your baby is premature, unwell or has an underlying health issue. If you have any concerns about hygiene requirements for your baby, please check with your midwife or health visiting team.
Before returning the pump to OBS:
Please wash all parts thoroughly, as you would after every use.
Extra information about pumping
A short video about how to use your hands as well as a pump to get more milk when you pump
Information about expressing and storing breastmilk
Information on increasing your milk supply
Information and tips using bottles and other tools with a breastfed baby
A short video about paced bottle feeding video
Exclusively expressing breastmilk for your baby
Hand expression of breastmilk
Holding your baby close as much as you can and having skin to skin contact will help release the hormones in your body that will make your milk flow. This is especially important if you are pumping and not breastfeeding directly.