Electric Breast Pumps

Medela electric breast pumps




Medela Swing Breastpump

The Medela Swing pump features Medela's 2-phase system, which consists of an initial fast rhythm which is designed to stimulate let-down and get your milk flowing, followed by a slower, deeper rhythm designed to extract your milk as efficiently as possible. It also has a SoftFit breast shield which massages your nipple and areola, the point being to simulate the way a baby naturally feeds. The motor tends to be quieter than other electric breast pumps, which makes it more user friendly than some and means you can even use it to pump while your baby is feeding on the other side.

Reviews

S Thomas, UK
As a maternity nurse I am always advising mothers on breast feeding and expressing is a must to keep up a good milk supply. I have come across many different pumps and Medela are the only make I ever recommend. Others will be fine if you have a good let down and are not engorged, but if you have any slight issues the other pumps soon show their flaws. If you are serious about breast feeding and especially if you are considering more children, this one is a must. If you only need it short term however and may not have more children, consider hiring the Medela freestyle (which is the best pump there is, but expensive if hired over a long period).
K Blair, Glasgow
This works well and efficiently (as far as I can tell, since I haven't used any other breast pump!). It's small, neat, and easy to use. My only problem with it is that the tubing which connects the two parts is very loosely attached and falls out a lot, which is a minor but annoying design flaw.

Medela Pump in Style Advanced Electric Breastpump

The Pump in Style features the same 2-phase system as the Swing model - a fast stimulation phase followed by a deeper, slower extraction phase - and also has the same SoftFit breast shield to further stimulate your milk flow. This machine allows you to pump both breasts at the same time if you wish, so can be a real timesaver if you're on the go. And it also comes with a detachable cooler pack to keep your expressed milk fresh for hours.

Some users have reported problems with milk getting into the pump tubes which suggests a possible design fault, although there are instructions on what to do if this should happen.

Reviews

Alicia, Louisiana
I have had a Pump In Style Advanced for approximately 6 months. I've used it daily since returning to work and have generally been happy with it. Recently, the face plate of the pump broke such that I cannot use the pump. I called Medela customer service and was told that they only have a 90 day warranty. Eventually the rep agreed to provide a replacement faceplate but told me I would have to pay for expedited shipping. After I asked to talk to a supervisor, the rep eventually offered to provide expedited shipping without charge. Even with expedited shipping, I was unable to pump for a day. If I had it to do again, I would rent a hospital pump - they provide loaners and replacements same day. Medela makes you jump through hoops to get the pump fixed even when the pump breaks through no fault of your own.
Laurie, Minnesota
This pump is definitely not what everyone else makes it out to be. I regret the day I opened this pump because once you "break the seal" it is no longer returnable. When I started looking for a pump everyone I spoke with said that this pump was the end all do all of personal pumps. I am really upset with myself for listening to what they had to say rather than evaluate whether it would be right for me.

I was not at all impressed with the quality of this pump when I received it. Especially since everyone said it was the best. The pieces seem to be made of a lesser grade plastic than all of the other bottles that I have.

I have had more trouble with this pump than success. Why is it that this pump has speed control, but only two suction options? The suction was always too much for me even after I’d been using it for a few weeks. Every time I used it there were twinges of pain in my nipples.

For some reason I have managed to get milk in the pump tubes on more than one occasion. You would think this is an odd thing, but in fact it is not because the pump instructions have detailed steps of what to do "if" it should happen. The valve membranes are also quite difficult to deal with. I have lost two of them down the drain, torn a couple and several have gone missing because my husband didn’t know what they were or how vitally important they are to the functioning of the pump.

In my opinion, the Medela Pump In Style Advanced breast pump is not worth it. I really wish I would have at least taken a look at the other pumps that were available. If I ever need another pump, I will definitely consider other brands because there has to be something better than this.