Medela Freestyle - Spilling Problem (HELP!)

Kaitie910

I just got my Medela Freestyle yesterday - I was renting a Symphony from the hospital for baby's first month, but hubby "let me" splurge on the Freestyle so that I could pump and still get things done around the house (plus, it'll be convenient when I go back to work.)

I've only used it a handful of times so far, but I've SPILLED milk TWICE! The first time it happened, I was nearing the end of my pump session so the bottles were more than halfway full, and I leaned over to (awkwardly) pick up my screaming baby. I all of a sudden felt wetness on my pants, and realized that two ounces had suddenly become closer to one. I was so mad! My milk production isn't super high, so I was upset that I had wasted precious milk! 

I realized that there's a gap in the plastic between the connector body (the part that screws on to the bottles) and the back cap (the other plastic piece that goes on top of the membrane), so when I leaned over, the milk tipped a little and BAM out it came!

When I pumped each time today, I tried to be SO careful about squatting when I needed to pick something up instead of leaning forward, and I was doing fine... Until I was in the kitchen after pumping, taking everything off the put the milk in the fridge, and I accidentally bumped one of the bottles with the breastshield still attached, and again, milk spilled out of the same place!

I'm so frustrated about this design flaw on something that cost as much as this pump did. Has anyone else experienced this spilling issue, or is there maybe something wrong with my pieces that they don't fit together better? The point of this pump is to be able to do other things while pumping - I shouldn't have to be so overly cautious about my movements!

If anyone has any advice or suggestions, please let me know! Thank you!

OhBaby+2013

I have no advice but can relate.  I've also done it twice.

oneyedsally

This happened to me once. I tilted the flange/bottle piece back to catch the last few drops and spilled half an ounce out the back! It's not actually a design flaw. It only happens when the pieces are not connected well. I've done the same move to catc

happy_un-bride

I spilled once like that with symphony and my new swing...  Just medela's way of telling us to slow down and be careful.