Breast pumps?

charmedlifex3 · February 2016

I am ordering it soon, since if I do it through my health insurance certain ones are free, and after March 31, when our plan year shifts... who knows. So while I know I have the option for sure, might as well use it! Also, going through the health insurance can apparently take a few weeks / months to get the darn thing, and we'll want to have it pretty soon after birth...

The options I was given are:

Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breastpump Starter

Ameda Purely Yours Dual Electric Personal Double

Or I can upgrade it for $119 to:

Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breastpump Tote or Backpack
Or upgrade for $195:Medela Freestyle Breastpump Does anyone have any insight into this? I've been googling, and I'm sure I can't tell the difference. Also, I randomly have a three prong outlet in my car, so pumping on the go doesn't need to be battery powered (which seems to be the big difference to the free style?) Help!

tisunge602 · February 2016

It really depends how often you are going to be pumping. Are you going back to work where you'll be pumping several times a day? Or will you be a SAHM and not need to lug your pump around much?

Check out this low-down on different pump options on Lucie's List:
https://www.lucieslist.com/baby-registry-basics/feeding/#breastpumps

FWIW, I am a SAHM and I have the Ameda Purely Yours you mentioned above. I like it, but it's definitely not as portable. However, it is way cheaper than Medela (my insurance would only cover a manual pump so I had to pay out of pocket).

charmedlifex3 · February 2016

I'll be going back to work full time, but the day care is within reach for my lunch break. Likely I'll be pumping at work pretty often, and occasionally at home.

Would it make more sense to buy an additional home pump for the occasional pumping at home, or to buy one, more expensive one and lug it back and forth? FTM so I have no clue which makes more sense.

Thank you for the link! I admit, I got a little overwhelmed trying to sort which was which and what was different.

tisunge602 · February 2016

Allisun85 said:

I'll be going back to work full time, but the day care is within reach for my lunch break. Likely I'll be pumping at work pretty often, and occasionally at home.
Would it make more sense to buy an additional home pump for the occasional pumping at home, or to buy one more expensive one and lug it back and forth?
Thank you for the link! I admit, I got a little overwhelmed trying to sort which was which and what was different.

I would just lug one back and forth. They're really not that bulky (like a large purse), and the tote they come in is pretty inconspicuous (a plain black bag). I don't think it would be worth buying two just so you don't have to carry it. Plus, an extra pump = more parts/tubing = more cleaning. Cleaning the parts is the most annoying part of pumping IMO. You can always buy another one later if you decide you want an extra since insurance will only cover one, anyway.

Glad the link helped! Check out the rest of her site for other registry/gear/newborn tips. SO helpful.

bananers · February 2016

Speaking from experience, get the Medela Pump in Style and either spring for the tote or the backpack, depending on your style. It's not heavy so "lugging" it back and forth isn't a big deal. I commuted via bus after having DS with my laptop and pump, and it wasn't a big deal bringing it from home to work and back.

texasmama2014 · February 2016

I'm a Medela fan. Batteries helps other times too, depending on your situation. I've had to pump in some weird weird places! (I.e. A science museum in a doorless nursing room)

bsckgb7 · February 2016

Nothing to add that wasn't covered, but the home health companies that I have to order won't let me order it until say 8 or 9th month. Insurance will pay for it whenever I want, but the company won't fill the order until then. Just FYI in case you are trying to get it early. Insurance may let you, but you have trouble getting someone to fill the order.

karaszoo1 · February 2016

Ditto what @bsckgb7 said .
Ours was ordered thru ob office at like 34?36 weeks but order wasn't fulfilled til the day I gave birth. we had to call them and tell them baby was born and they shipped it to the house so I had to use a manual Medela for a day or two .annoying as all get out and hospital lactation nurse said that is standard! I had the Medela pump in style advanced that thing was a dream ! Def recommend that one to anyone who asks lol

PeachGal23 · February 2016

Go for the Medela Pump in Style. My insurance company sent me the starter kit one, so it didn't come with a bag. Really wasn't a big deal as I just dropped it in a cute tote bag I had already, and no one knew what it was. I wouldn't spend $119 extra just for a bag. I've read several reviews that the pump in style is stronger than the freestyle, but I haven't tried both.

Curls919 · February 2016

I loved my Medela. I would just lug it back and forth since it had a built in cooler anyway (I also used to pump an extra session before bed once DS was sleeping a long stretch at night to help build my stash so I would use it at home as well as at work).

jmknox · February 2016

I pumped for 13 months for DS with a Medela Pump in Style Advanced. My exclusively pumping forum I'm In - the general consensus for best performing pumps are Medela/Spectra. I have heard that the freestyle battery weakens the pump over time which is why I stuck with the pump in style advanced.
edit- I pumped while driving with the PISA and took it everywhere - just the starter is the size of a tissue box. If you can like @bananers said spring for a the tote/back pack ---it makes it just easier

mmclark10 · February 2016

I pumped until DS was 12 months at work (9 months total) and used the Medela Pump In Style Advanced in the tote and it worked great. The best part, I thought, was that when my pump died about 3 months in, Medela overnighted me a new one! I plan on getting a new pump through insurance this time, but keeping my old one as a backup, just in case! I will say that having a hand pump at home was very helpful as DS got older, sometimes he would sleep for a longer stretch and I would use the hand pump in the middle of the night to be comfortable. Helped with supply, too!

bsckgb7 · February 2016

mmclark10 - That's awesome you were able to pump so long at work. Any advice for pumping at work, keeping up supply, etc. Any tricks of the trade?

ashleybonham · February 2016

With my son I used a ton of different ones. The ameda purely yours is garbage. It's very inconsistent and is not dependeable. I used a hospital grade which is great but it was as heavy as a tool box. I actually had to get it to regulate my supply and build it back up after using the ameda.

I LOVED the freestyle. I exclusively pumped and only charged it once a week. It is amazing. It's TINY. I had pump rooms at work that were more often than not unavaliable. So having the wireless option was a life saver. I would often have to use the bathroom. And I didn't always have an outlet to access. I can't say enough great things about this pump. It's worth every penny.

I also used the madela manual pump. Suprisingly the manual pump is super effective and very efficient. It just takes a little more work.

If I had to do it all over again I would start with the freestyle but also have a manual as back up.

mmclark10 · February 2016

@bsckgb7 I would be sure to ask a lactation consultant for any advice they can give about pumping/keeping your supply strong. I didn't take work in the mother's room with me until I'd been doing it for quite awhile, I would read a book because it relaxed me. I tried to relax as much as possible and kept some videos of my little one available (not tough to do!) to watch as I started pumping. Definitely get a hands free bra! I used the "Simple Wishes" one and loved it, but I ordered three kinds off of Amazon before deciding.

I also started pumping just a few weeks after he was born, usually in the morning after that nursing session. I had a very good supply from the get go and every woman is different, so don't stress if pumping isn't always easy. I only pumped twice a day at work, but I had a friend at my job nursing at the same time and she did three times a day. Go with what works best for you and for your supply.

I loved this website for all things nursing: https://kellymom.com/category/bf/
There is a specific section for pumping at work.

ebilbao · February 2016

I loved my Medela Pump in Style. I didn't have a special tote-I just used a bag I already had and that worked fine. Definitely get a hands-free pumping bra and if you have a long commute when/if you return to work, consider the car adapter so you can pump and drive. It will save you loads of time.

mooncusp22 · February 2016

I had the Medela Freestyle Pump with my 1st. Loved the portable because sometimes you are on the go and need to pump anywhere!! Double pump is great to get it done in 1/2 the time and I also definitely recommend a handsfree pumping bra.

Pepper6 · February 2016

I had the Medela and just used a large purse (not worth $120 just for the bag) to take it back and forth to work.

I'm not sure about your insurance, but I was not able to order my pump until 60 days of from my edd.

charmedlifex3 · February 2016

I checked with my insurance, and they said as long as I was enrolled in their "Maternity Care" program, and had a script from my doctor, they'd be willing to order it. They did warn me it may up 6-10 weeks to fulfill the order.

AliKay20 · May 2016

Exactly what I needed to know. I heard about Spectra (it's newer?) but I think I'm just going to go with Medela Pump in Style as I plan to go back to work FT.

Ceventa · May 2016

I used my Ameda Purely Yours for DS until he was 13 months old. I lugged it around with me between work and home. It worked great, I really don't have any complaints. You do have to change out the valves about once a month to maintain good suction and I liked the ability to control speed and suction power. I did buy additional storage bottles (I totaled 6 storage bottles during a work day) and tubing (changed it out twice throughout the time I was using it). It didn't come with a bag, so I created one (cooler lunch box, ice blocks, and kept the pump in a plastic bag in the cooler).

I have new insurance this time around, I had the choice between the Medela In Style and the Ameda Purely Yours. I went with the Ameda again this time around. This time it comes with the full kit of the bag, ice blocks, and extra bottles. So it was comparable to the Medela that way. I also figured since I already have an older one, if anything happened to this one I have an extra to interchange with.

This video was very interesting too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7gNzdzZRcM

She compares and reviews the Medela and Ameda pumps.

Hope that helps!

ashleymz · May 2016

Ameda is AWFUL. Complete piece of garbage... I loved the freestyle. I pumped exclusively for a year and it worked amazing. It was nice not plugging in bc I often found myself pumping in places with out an outlet. I would totally recommend any medala product. As for the freestyle I would definitely recommend it, I was very happy with it.

Whitewatermomma · May 2016

Is the "Pump in Style by Medela" the same pump as "Pump in Style Advanced by Medela"?

Want a personalized experience?

Breast pumps?

Re: Breast pumps?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards