Has anyone or is anyone using the Freemie pumping system? It looks really interesting, and could be really useful while on my long morning commute when I go back to work. Any reviews??
You have to buy the correct Freemie for your pump and it comes with a little plastic piece that attaches the Medela tube to the freemie tube. Super easy
Omg...I had never heard of this and I am so excited to try it!! I've been pumping and trying to teach babies to breast feed since birth/leaving the NICU. After much debate and mom guilt, I've finally decided to become an exclusive pumper (for many reasons) and I HATE pumping. I just ordered these for my Medela pump and I can't wait for them to get here! Thanks for posting!!
Omg...I had never heard of this and I am so excited to try it!! I've been pumping and trying to teach babies to breast feed since birth/leaving the NICU. After much debate and mom guilt, I've finally decided to become an exclusive pumper (for many reasons) and I HATE pumping. I just ordered these for my Medela pump and I can't wait for them to get here! Thanks for posting!!
Definitely report back after you try it, I am going to order mine this week!
Please give feedback! I've been debating on buying these and having my sister bring them when she visits along with a pump. It'll be a hassle for her so I want to know if it's worth it. TIA!!
Just ordered them tonight. I have two work friends who loved them too. I'm a teacher and I know how hard it was for me to find time to pump at work with my son. I'm hoping to be able to pump in the car on the way to work(!) as well as pump at lunch in my room with the door locked instead of in one of the staff bathrooms like last time. I'll report back on how it goes!
Alrighty! I've been using the Freemie collection cups with my Medela pump for 24 hours now and I think I really like it them! Here's some specific feedback:
1. So much more comfortable than normal breast flanges! I usually use the 24mm Medela shields and, despite it being the best size (tried ALL of them), they still pulled in a ton of areola and were pretty uncomfortable. I use the 25mm Freemie shield and it is great. I think because the tube is shorter, so not as much tissue gets pulled in.
2. You'll need you find the right bra and/or shirt. I first tried it in my regular bra and definitely felt the shields were pressed too hard against me. I think I'd end up with clogged ducts or lowered supply if I did that regularly. Then I tried just putting it in my nursing tank under the first layer, but that felt like they were just going to fall off. Finally, I put it under both layers of my nursing tank and that seems to work well. I think I'm going to get a leisure or sleep bra that will work nicely.
3. More suction needed! I have to turn up the suction on my pump, which is fine for me since I was on a really low setting anyway. I feel more best tissue being stimulated by these shields rather than just my nipple being tugged.
4. Totally hands free! They really are! I can actually hold/feed my babies or eat dinner while wearing them and not have to hold my arms in some strange position to avoid milk bottles. However, you CANNOT lean forward or backwards or you are just asking for milk in the tubes.
5. Not at all inconspicuous!! These are also marketed as inconspicuous, which they are most certainly not! They look like perky, flat alien boobs. Luckily, I work mostly from home with the exception of a few hours a day, so this isn't an issue. However, if you are in a more public place, I saw a great suggestion to use a decorative scarf to drape over yourself to hide any alien perkiness.
6. No noticeable supply drop. A common review I read is that people experienced a drop in supply with these. I tracked my supply for a coupe days with the Medela shields and so far I am right on par. I think people probably had issues because they didn't adjust their suction or because they had them to tightly against their breasts.
7. Finally, these have a simpler set up. These don't have as many parts as my Medela set ups. No tiny membranes that I'm constantly trying to keep healthy.
So that's my feedback! I hope they continue to perform well because they are so much less awkward and uncomfortable.
I actually stopped using mine regularly because my boobies apparently demand compressions to fully empty (it does mention in the instructions that if you have to use compressions, they might not work for you). I gave myself a bit of mild mastitis after a coupe days. I still use them occasionally when I absolutely have to multitask, but I can't use them as much as I'd like.
@candace4erich oh no! I didn't realize they can't be used with compressions, that makes pumping go so much faster and more efficiently for me. This may be a game changer...
Yeah, they aren't forthcoming with that tidbit on the website, but it does say it in the instruction manual. I thought I wouldn't actually need to do compressions, but I was very wrong! You can massage the upper areas, but it's really difficult to get anywhere near halfway down your boob and further (at least for me).
Well I'm not getting them after all! The website wouldn't take my card because my billing address is not in the states. My plan was to have them shipped to my sister since she's coming to visit in 2 weeks. Anyway I called their customer service because usually when that happens they can process the order over the phone. The guy was a twat waffle! He laughed at me and said "yeah no I'm not going to take your card over the phone"
Re: Freemie pumping system: any reviews??
1. So much more comfortable than normal breast flanges! I usually use the 24mm Medela shields and, despite it being the best size (tried ALL of them), they still pulled in a ton of areola and were pretty uncomfortable. I use the 25mm Freemie shield and it is great. I think because the tube is shorter, so not as much tissue gets pulled in.
2. You'll need you find the right bra and/or shirt. I first tried it in my regular bra and definitely felt the shields were pressed too hard against me. I think I'd end up with clogged ducts or lowered supply if I did that regularly. Then I tried just putting it in my nursing tank under the first layer, but that felt like they were just going to fall off. Finally, I put it under both layers of my nursing tank and that seems to work well. I think I'm going to get a leisure or sleep bra that will work nicely.
3. More suction needed! I have to turn up the suction on my pump, which is fine for me since I was on a really low setting anyway. I feel more best tissue being stimulated by these shields rather than just my nipple being tugged.
4. Totally hands free! They really are! I can actually hold/feed my babies or eat dinner while wearing them and not have to hold my arms in some strange position to avoid milk bottles. However, you CANNOT lean forward or backwards or you are just asking for milk in the tubes.
5. Not at all inconspicuous!! These are also marketed as inconspicuous, which they are most certainly not! They look like perky, flat alien boobs. Luckily, I work mostly from home with the exception of a few hours a day, so this isn't an issue. However, if you are in a more public place, I saw a great suggestion to use a decorative scarf to drape over yourself to hide any alien perkiness.
6. No noticeable supply drop. A common review I read is that people experienced a drop in supply with these. I tracked my supply for a coupe days with the Medela shields and so far I am right on par. I think people probably had issues because they didn't adjust their suction or because they had them to tightly against their breasts.
7. Finally, these have a simpler set up. These don't have as many parts as my Medela set ups. No tiny membranes that I'm constantly trying to keep healthy.
So that's my feedback! I hope they continue to perform well because they are so much less awkward and uncomfortable.