As moms, we love feeding our babies. but it’s hard to be tied down for hours every day holding a breast pump in place, wishing you could multitask instead. Thankfully, hands-free breast pumps exist!
This Medela Freestyle Review will help you figure out if this is finally the breast pump that will set you free and let you have a life even while you’re pumping.
Product Overview
The Medela Freestyle is a double electric breast pump designed to be used multiple times a day.
It has a lightweight motor that makes it easy to take with you outside of the house without having to lug a heavy bag around. The weight of this kit is just over 5 pounds.
It can be used to pump both breasts at the same time or one at a time.
This set comes with:
- The pump unit.
- One 24 mm Personal Fit breast shield.
- One 27 mm Personal Fit breast shield.
- Four 5-ounce bottles with lids.
- One breast pump bag.
- One cooler bag and an ice pack.
- One 12-volt AC power adapter.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact enough to carry anywhere.
- Illuminated timer function.
- Tubing doesn’t disconnect easily while in use.
Cons
- Not the easiest pump to clean.
- It’s an expensive pump.
- If pump pieces aren’t completely dry, the suction doesn’t work as well.
Key Features and Benefits
Digital display
It has an illuminated digital display, with a timer and a memory button. It can help you organize your pumping sessions.
Carry bag
The breast pump carry bag fits all the essentials you need for a pumping session. Plus, with how lightweight the Medela Freestyle kit is, moms can carry it outside of the home without breaking a sweat.
Rechargeable battery and lightweight motor.
This is great for moms with a busy, on-the-go lifestyle who want to fit breastfeeding into their packed schedules. The battery charge will get you through a lot of pumps.
A complete charge can last a full two days of multiple pumps each day.
Cooler set
The included cooler set makes it easy to pump and keep your milk fresh when you are on the road, at the office, or away from home.
Breast shields
The Freestyle includes two sizes of Personal Fit breast shields so moms can find a comfortable fit that works for them.
Hands-free
With a specialty bra, this pump can be used hands-free. This leaves busy moms free to do other things, even chores, as they pump.
Quiet
The quiet pump means moms can discreetly pump milk at work without everyone in the office hearing the pump operating.
Durability
For such a small, lightweight pump, this one seems to be well built.
It is compact enough to fit in a purse, and being able to use it hands-free with a specialty bra is a good option for busy mothers.
Short tubing
The short tubing on the unit is a nice touch. They aren’t so long that they easily pull out of the pump, which is good during feedings. Moms don’t like tubes popping on their breast pumps mid-squeeze.
Easy to use
This has a few more parts to it than some other pumps do, but it doesn’t feel complicated or intimidating.
Moms should be able to understand how this unit works quickly and they won’t have to spend too much time studying the instructions. They should be able to start pumping fairly quickly after taking this unit out of the box.
Great mix of performance and portability
You likely won’t find a breast pump that is this solid of a combination of performance and portability.
You can truly carry this bad boy around anywhere, and you won’t feel like a pack mule having to carry all the heavy equipment.
Drawbacks and Disadvantages
Not as fast
It doesn’t work as fast as some other pumps (such as the Spectra S1), but it is more gentle than a lot of them. Moms with sensitive breasts may appreciate that.
Must be dried
You have to be careful not to leave any of the parts damp, or you’ll pay with reduced suction.
Some leakage
Some moms have reported that the bottles sometimes leak if you bend over while pumping.
How Does It Compare?
Philips AVENT Double
The Philips Avent double electric breast pump may be a good choice for moms with lower back problems. The unique design of this breast pump eliminates the need to lean forward while pumping, like many breast pumps, require you to do. All that leaning can be hard on your lower back.
Freemie Freedom
Moms who want to have friends or family over, but who still need to pump may enjoy the Freemie Freedom. Because this pump allows you to express milk while fully clothed, moms will be able to visit and pump at the same time without fear of embarrassment.
Medela Pump In Style
Moms who want the same quality performance they’ve come to expect from a Medela pump, but who don’t have the money to spring for the Freestyle may want to choose the Pump In Style. It’s more affordable and has an impressive amount of suction.
Ameda Purely Yours Ultra
Moms who want to make sure the breast milk they feed their babies is as pure as it was when it was coming out may like the Ameda Purely Yours Ultra pump. It has a Proven Airlock Protection feature that will help keep your milk safe from contaminants.
Should You Buy It?
There aren’t many hands-free breast pump options available for moms. These days, moms are busier than ever – we’re juggling work, families, and trying to cram a little bit of a social life in as well. The Freestyle offers a solution for busy moms everywhere.
What You Should Know Before Buying A Pump
You’ve probably heard some scary stuff from other mothers when it comes to breastfeeding, but you know it will give your baby a great, healthy start to her life if you can just suck it up for a few months. You’ve already done the hard part – the birthing experience is over. Compared to that, breastfeeding is a walk in the park.
You’ll likely want a pump because, even though you may want to be, you won’t be able to be with your baby around the clock. At some point, you won’t be with her when she needs to feed.
So the main thing you need to do now is to find the best breast pump that will work for you. Breasts and nipples come in all shapes and sizes, which means what works for one mom might not work for another.
Consider these factors when choosing a breast pump:
- Price: It’s best to stick with tried and true over cheap when it comes to breast pumps. Cheap pumps simply may not work as well.
- Adjustable fit: Make sure the brand you use can work with a variety of breast shield sizes. Breast shields come in different sizes to ensure a correct nipple fit, which can make the process less uncomfortable and more fruitful.
- How much you plan to use it: Will you use it every day? Or will you only need to pump occasionally? That will help you decide if you want your pump to be manual, electric or battery-powered.
- Buy new: Used breast pumps aren’t a good idea. There are health issues with using them and they could break down on you at any point with no warranty or buyer’s protection.
