Customer Reviews

Medela Pump In Style Traveler Breast Pump

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have used this pump just about every place you can think of e.g. airport, car, home, work, Super Bowl, restroom, mall I can go on and on. The extra battery pack works great in the places that don't have a AC hookup. This also allows for extra privacy in places such as the airport or mall so you don't have to stand near an outlet to pump. The pump is even detachable in case you don't need the carry the bag. I also have the car adapter which has been very helpful on long road trips and it works well enough to get a 4-6 oz. in about 20 minutes.

The only problem with the bag is that it doesn't have enough space to carry anything other than the bottles needed to pump (I use the Avent bottles and adapter). To save room I use the 9 oz bottles which means I only need to carry two. Other than that, this pump works great and the cost certainly outweighs how much it would cost to purchase formula every week! To make it easier to transport between work and home, I called Medela and ordered a second set of shields so that I didn't need to transport that back and forth but make sure you get the two piece breast shields because the one-piece shield is not as durable and tends to crack after a few uses.

I have tried lots of pumps since my baby was in the NICU at birth. Once I had established some supply with the hospital grade machines (Medela Classic and the Ameda version) I was able to use this a pump for working part-time. The bag is much more stylish and comfortable than the shoulder bag option Pump-in-Style. I love that it is a backpack since I already am toting a shoulder style diaper bag and often have my baby in a front carrier or side sling.

This is not a hospital grade pump, but it is the best portable electric pump on the market. Replacement parts are available though Medela, some breastfeeding shops and lactation consultants. Medela's customer service is great- I had a faulty piece of tubing and the company overnighted me a new one no questions asked. My only complaint is the quality of the included bottles and breast shields/horns. The plastic is opaque and cheap. For such a high quality pump I would expect more. I ended up getting the Avent adapter and pumping into the Avent bottles or into the Medela bags. I do not like that I can not see the milk in the horns very well- hard, clear plastic would be an improvement. All in all this a great pump for high use for moms with decent supplies. If you have a NICU baby or a supply problem I do encourage you to rent the Medela Classic before switching to a portable electric. I have used this pump for 6 months and am confident that I will be able to use it if I ever have another baby. I hear some moms shying away from the $280 price and trying a First Years or an Evenflo portable pump instead to save money. Don't bother- every mom I know who did that ended up buying a Medela after having problems with the cheaper pumps. After all, this is a sensitive area and you don't need a cheap pump breaking or giving you sore nipples! The extra money now will save you money later since you will be satisfied in the long run with this pump.

I tried the Ameda Hollister pump and am so relieved I didn't buy it! I have both the Original and the Traveler (upgraded to Traveler after first baby). They are excellent pumps. I can double pump in 15 minutes. I highly recommend the hands-free kit. It saves me tons of time since I pump 4 - 5 times a day.

I bought the first pump $$$ but saved on the second one a lot from affordablepumps.com

I wasted time and money on the battery powered pump from Evenflo. What a piece of junk! Just go ahead and spend the money up front and buy the Medela. It works very well, and the design is discreet. I work at a hospital, and it's just easier to use my own pump than to trek down to labor and delivery to use the hospital pump. I can pump, clean up, and be back to work in about 30 min. I highly recommend it! Heads Up: I searched around on the internet and found this pump for anywhere from $210 to $299, so do your homework.

My only complaint is that the backpack doesn't have enough storage room, especially for use with Avent products. I bought the Avent adapters, and I pump directly into the Avent bottles. Only two Avent bottles will fit into the cooler, and the cooling element doesn't work with the bigger bottles. I just use gel-ice packs instead. This modified arrangement works for me, but some people might be more particular.

Another tip: If I don't pump into bottles, I really like the Gerber Seal-N-Go breast milk storage bags. I don't like the Medela CSF bags. I improvise with the Gerber bags by using twist-ties (like the Medela) to secure the bags to the horns. Then, when finished, I just zip-lock the bag and store it. I wish all the companies would use zip-lock bags instead of the clips or ties. No spillage!

I actually borrowed this pump from a friend after debating whether or not I needed one. I was going to buy an inexpensive manual. I would not have survived! I woke up very very engorged on the fourth day and the pump saved me. I was able to pump 8 ounces within 15 minutes. If I have another baby, I would buy this pump. It is worth every penny.

A previous reviewer commented that you cannot buy replacement parts. The Medela website sells all parts and the prices and shipping are reasonable. Their customer service is excellent as well. As a thank you for the person I borrowed from, I got all new pieces for her when I returned the pump (and she was again pregnant) for about $35.

I got this breastpump after several of my friends told me that they spent money on other pumps only to throw them away and buy this one. They advised me not to waste my money on the others because I would probably end up with this one anyway. I am a stay at home mom and I was feeling guilty about the price until I read that formula feeding costs about $2000 a year. I didn't feel bad about it anymore.

My daughter is 5 months old and i have used it so much. I pump every morning and store the milk in the freezer for nights out or for the occasional times when my milk won't let down. And I want to keep her on breastmilk only for at least 6 months and this is the only way I can do it. I can't keep up with her milk needs but I can use the milk that i pump every morning and I can give her the bottle later in the day when my milk supply gets low (as is usual for many women).

I would highly recommend this breastpump! It is fast and easy. And I would recommend getting the sterilization bags from Medela to clean the parts. It takes 3 minutes instead of 20 for boiling!!! TIP: I tried to sterilize the tubing and it melted it even though i put the recommended amount of water in the bag. We called Medela and they sent me replacement tubing for free! I was impressed with the customer service!

This pump is the best available in the store (haven't tried hospital grade pumps.) I first had the AVEDA hand held and returned that, followed by the Harmony and then another Pump In Style (in the bag) and the face plate kept popping off and it had lousy suction. I wish I had just gotten this one to begin with. The backpack is great. I leave the pump where I use it (it has it's own case) and use the backpack for my diaper bag. I get asked all the time where I got the bag. The double pump is fast and easy. I keep it on mid suction and mid speed and that's all I've ever needed to fill two bottles in about 15 minutes without discomfort. My baby always drank from the Medela bottles/nipples without problems. Get this pump! Also, if you have any problems Babies R Us will let you return the pumps so I'd advise purchasing there.

I went back to work when my son was 3 months old, and had purchased this pump because I had heard many good things about the pump in style. I like the fact that this comes in a backpack, and at first glance doesn't look like a breatpump. I only have 1/2 hour to pump at work, and the double pump allows me to empty both breasts and still have a few minutes to clean up. The only drawback is the fact that Medela bottles are too small, (I pump 8 oz from each breast at a time), and my son does not like the nipples. To solve that problem, I purchased several sets of Playtex's One Step Breastmilk storage kits. The adaptor ring fits right onto the pump, and allows me to pump into a 4 or 8 oz liner. When I get home, the bottles go right into the freezer, and when my husband needs one, he puts it in warm water and then into the bottle. It makes pumping, storing and feeding our son so much easier. I would recommend this pump to anyone who will be going back to work but wants to continue giving their child breastmilk.

My husband bought this for me while I was still in the hospital with my daughter (born 5 weeks early) I was so excited to try it out once I got home since she was having problems latching on and I wanted to make sure that my milk came in.

I tried using it and after 4 attempts of pumping for at least 20 minutes each time, I couldn't understand how everyone loved it since the suction was horrible and I may as well have been hand-expressing!

It took another month of this sitting in a corner and me renting a Lactina before I read somewhere to try re-seating the faceplate. It works just as well as the Lactina now.
Boy did I feel foolish for not checking that first!

I LOVE the backpack and how everything fits really well in it.
The bottles and the cooler pack that come with it have been wonderful and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone!

I purchased the Medela Pump In-Style because of all the recommendations. Yes, it is very good pump. It works good, but NOT as good as a medical grade pump like the Medela Lactina. The suction is NOT the same. If you plan on working part time, then this pump is for you. If you plan on working full time and nursing up to six months, then this pump is for you. HOWEVER, if you plan on working full time and nursing for one year, please listen to my advice. RENT A MEDICAL GRADE PUMP!

My son is 8.5 monthes, and I went back to work when he was 3 monthes old. I work full time and I am still nursing. My milk supply went down about month five, even with pumping (using the Pump In-Style). My lactation consultant explained to me that there is a definite suction difference between this pump and a medical grade pump. I now use the Medela Lactina at work (renting) and Pump In-Style occassionally on the weekend.

Furthermore, my co-worker, whose son is four monthes experienced the same exact situation that I did. About two months after going back to work, her milk supply went down -- same as me. She went back to work when her son wes six weeks old. We are now sharing the Lactina that I rented. It works great.

I have never written a review before, and I'll probably never again because I am so busy, but I wanted mothers to-be to be more informed then I was when I spent big bucks on a pump that did not suit my needs. I am now spending about $50 a month on renting a Lactina. By the way, a Lactina goes for over $800, so if you plan on having more than one child and working full time, then just buy it. However, be aware, some insurance companies do cover rental expenses.