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The most helpful favorable review
The most helpful critical review
89 of 90 people found the following review helpful:
Simply the best for working moms
After a few weeks of feeling like a pack mule dragging my Medela Pump in Style from my first child back & forth to the office and using the Avent hand pump when I traveled, I finally splurged and bought the Freestyle. It is so light and easy to use it was worth every penny. I have now used it at home, in the office, in the car, on airplanes, at airports...
Published on March 24, 2008 by Amy R.
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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
Great little pump despite motor & performance problems
I have had the motor replaced after 3 months of using it 3X per day.
The pump just stopped working (output gradually got lower until it was barely pumping anything).
The new motor worked well for about another month (so it wasn't my supply but the pump) but I am again loosing suction.
So I have replaced the motor, the spare parts kit twice, and the hose...
Published 21 months ago by Tina
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89 of 90 people found the following review helpful:
Simply the best for working moms, March 24, 2008
This review is from: Medela Freestyle Breast Pump (Baby Product)
After a few weeks of feeling like a pack mule dragging my Medela Pump in Style from my first child back & forth to the office and using the Avent hand pump when I traveled, I finally splurged and bought the Freestyle. It is so light and easy to use it was worth every penny. I have now used it at home, in the office, in the car, on airplanes, at airports...
Why I love it:
1) It's superlight...the entire Freestyle pump feels like it's about the same weight as the power brick from my Pump in Style.
2) The fact that you can take the unit and put it in any bag you want is terrific.
3) The valves and tubes are easier to deal with than the Pump in Style (esp. the valves).
4) The digital display with timer is surprisingly useful.
5) The rechargeable batteries make it easy to pump in places where there may not be outlets.
The only negative: I think the hands-free mechanism is kind of convoluted, but I just use the Easy Expressions Bustier (which looks ridiculous but is nonetheless effective).
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46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
I Love the Freestyle, April 7, 2008
This review is from: Medela Freestyle Breast Pump (Baby Product)
I previously used the Avent IS IQ duo and while the hospital grade pump was helpful in maintaining my supply I had a number of other complaints about it that left me very frustrated (you can see my review on this site for more details).
I purchased the Freestyle immediately after it came out and have really enjoyed using it. There are very few negatives.
Positives:
* Small size- can even put it in my purse!
* Battery power works great. I only charge it once a week, and pump off battery at work for the entire week. It is also handy for travel- no need for a manual pump when this one is so small.
* Ready supply of accessories- we don't have a sink in our lactation room at work. It is quite easy to purchase additional parts (kits and horns) for this pump (compared to the Avent). I have 3 sets and wash them at night.
* The Medela Quick Clean Wipes are great- I keep some in my bag and have come in handy a couple of times when I have forgetten pump parts at home. Likewise the Medela Pump & Save Storage Bags are nice as well. I have used them in a pinch when I didn't have enough bottles. Medela says that they are not recommended for the Freestyle, I haven't tried them with the pump- just pour the milk in there.
* The hands free kit really works!!! I can't pump without it now. It really allows me to work on other things while I am pumping- reading, computer, surfing the net, etc.
* The pump is so small, portable and lightweight and the bag is really discreet. No one ever knows that I am carrying a breast pump.
* The envy of all the moms in the lactation room. Not that anyone looks at what any of us are doing, but everyone who has seen my pump (I often show it off before I pump) wants one.
* All the parts that come into contact with the milk as well as the bottles are BPA free. This is NOT the case with the Avent Isis IQ Duo
Cons:
* The lining in the bag is a little flimsy- kind of like a lightweight silk. This make it hard to put the pump in the pump pocket- takes two hands. I usually just dump mine in any old place because of this.
* The bag is a little small. It is a tight fit with 3 sets of parts, and other accessories. Even if I only put one set of parts, I cannot fit the cooler, which becomes one more thing that I have to carry. Would be nice if I could at least clip the cooler to the handles of the bag.
* The pump isn't quite as strong as the Isis IQ Duo. My milk supply tends to drop off a little over the week, but it may partly be my fault due to getting lazy from time to time and only pumping twice. Don't get me wrong though, this is no wuss of a pump. On the highest setting you really feel the pull.
* I wish that the automatic setting would let you save just the suctions for the let down and the regular phase rather than also the time for the let down phase. I am not consistent in how long it takes for let down.
* I wish that I could control the length of the "suck" like I can with the ISIS- I like a slightly longer time than the Avent allows me.
However, all of the cons are really minor, and I wouldn't trade this pump for any other. Thanks Medela for making a product that really takes into account the needs of us working moms.
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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
Great little pump despite motor & performance problems, December 9, 2008
This review is from: Medela Freestyle Breast Pump (Baby Product)
I have had the motor replaced after 3 months of using it 3X per day.
The pump just stopped working (output gradually got lower until it was barely pumping anything).
The new motor worked well for about another month (so it wasn't my supply but the pump) but I am again loosing suction.
So I have replaced the motor, the spare parts kit twice, and the hose.
When I received the new motor, my output immediately went back up, but its now going down again.
I am running out of stuff to replace on this pump.
Even though I love the size and convenience of hands free, bottom line is that since the suction starts to get weak after a few months, then its not worth it.
I will be contacting company AGAIN (ugh) to try and get the pump in style advanced.
My recommendation, hold off on getting this.
Hands free looks nice, but the overall quality of the pump is lacking.
And not to mention, cleaning all the spare parts everynight on this kit is so very exhausting. Yet another issue I have with this pump.
Bottom line: Pump did not hold up for full time use. (I've been using it for 7 months now - 3 months at 3X per day).
UPDATE:
Since I've written this review, I did get the pump up and running well again. I did however have to contact Medela who decided the second time around to send me a new motor and a new battery. When both of these were replaced my pump started working like a charm again. Of course I cannot say how long the newly replaced parts would last for since I stopped pumping for my little guy only 3 months later. However, all in all, I was able to successfully pump for a total of 15 months with the freestyle. I was able to pump everywhere from my car, plane, in my room while on lunch break, in a bathroom (I know yuck) while at a conference. I wouldn't have been able to do that as easily with a bigger/bulkier pump. I was able to pump enough to feed my little guy exclusive breast milk with this pump. Despite the hurdles and obstacles and troubled maintenance I am still happy with it and I hope it does last if we chose to have another little one someday. Although I would definitely have a backup, even a single electric pump if I were to do this over again.
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32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
Fantastic!, February 25, 2008
This review is from: Medela Freestyle Breast Pump (Baby Product)
I was one of the test moms for this pump before its release. Initially, I was leary because I have always needed a hospital grade pump. I was happily surprised that with the Freestyle, I was able to pump the same amount of milk as with my Medela Lactina Select hospital grade pump. Also, the hands free kit really works! I have tried several different types of hands free "contraptions" but none worked for me. It was great to be able to pump in my office at work, using the hands free kit, and still be able to work on my computer, etc. I strongly recommend this pump.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
Buy Pump is Style Advanced Instead, May 31, 2009
This review is from: Medela Freestyle Breast Pump (Baby Product)
I own both a freestyle and pump in style advanced (PISA) and PISA is far superior. Freestyle does not result in as much milk and over a few days my milk supply decreased. Also the large rubber valves and rubber cone cause uneven suction, resulting in uneven rubbing on the nipple and chaffing. The rubber cone is prone top chaffing whereas the old fashion plastic cones get wet and slippery. The rubber catches on your skin and rubs your skin off over time and frequent use.
As a working mom a good pump is key to successful breastfeeding. The freestyle does have some advantages: 1. the digital face lets you know how long you have been pumping so you don't lose track of time and forget 2. It is super lightweight 3. It is tiny and cute. 4. You can tend to your crawling infant and wash dishes while pumping.
The bells and whistles for this pump are wonderful, but it does not deliver well for comfort and its actual purpose, to express milk and stimulate more milk production. Buy the PISA instead.
Medela would be wise to manufacture a PISA pump with a built in rechargeable battery. That would pretty much eliminate the need for the freestyle pump although the PISA is a bit heavier to tote around while washing dishes and tending to your crawling baby.
One last thing, I would not dream of using any breast pump without:
Easy Expression Hands Free Bustier Nursing Bra (Medium)
This is completely necessary item and I would not buy pump without buying this too.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
Great for commuting and multitasking, December 2, 2008
This review is from: Medela Freestyle Breast Pump (Baby Product)
As someone who commutes on the subway every day with a laptop, I needed a small, lightweight breastpump, and this really fits that bill. I also love the hands-free straps so I can keep working on my computer while I pump.
A few minor warnings - issues not hard to resolve:
- The SoftFit breastshields that came with the system sometimes caused chafing. I got Medela's hard breastshields and had no problem.
- Careful about doing too much with the hands free system - you have to keep your chest upright. If you bend over the milk will leak out.
- Sometimes when I turn the unit on there is no suction. This means the pieces of the pumping mechanisms weren't snapped together properly. If you take it apart and reassemble it should work fine.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
Working Mom, January 12, 2009
This review is from: Medela Freestyle Breast Pump (Baby Product)
At first I loved this product, but it's now my nemisis.
Why I loved it: Small and light, dual-phase pumping, the thought of hands-free was alluring.
Why I hate it:
1. Suction is horrible. I've switched shields, replaced parts, replaced tubing. The next step I guess is the motor, but it never comes anywhere close to emptying my breast. Today, after pumping for 20 minues (and not pumping anything for the last 5 minutes), I was able to hand express another ounce myself when it was done and could have done more had I had the time. I've been pumping less and less and was wondering what was going on - I'm doing everything they recommend to keep my supply up and nothing was working. I happened to forget my pump at home last week and luckily a friend at work had extra parts/tubing for her Pump in Style Advanced. Yes, I know you shouldn't share pumps, but I was desperate since I work an hour from home. With her pump, I pumped twice as much as I usually do in half the time. Actually stopping at the hospital tonight to rent the Symphony just so I can get my supply back up quickly.
2. Hands-free is a pain. First it takes way too much time to get the handsfree set up - frequently re-adjusting the elastic straps that hook to the side to make sure the shield is on straight, not to high, too low, not leaking out of the bottom, etc. Second, if you don't like the SoftShield provided (sticks so your skin and causes pain over time), you have to use a the Personalfit. Unfortunately, the Personalfit have longer tubes at the back of the shield and since the elastic handsfree strap only stretches so far, it essentially flattens your breast against your chest which is very uncomfortable when you're full and ready to pump. Third, similar to the PersonalFit Shield issue, if you're anything over a C-cup, your breast ends up a flat to get hands-free strap to properly fit.
3. Loud, Loud, Loud. My mother-in-law laughs that she can hear my cow mooing everytime I call her to check on my baby while I'm pumping.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
Worth Every Dollar Spent, March 5, 2009
This review is from: Medela Freestyle Breast Pump (Baby Product)
The Medela Freestyle was definitely one of the best purchases I have ever made! Prior to purchasing this pump about 2 months ago, I was using a Medela Symphony when at work (where I had to travel down 3 flights to a lactation room to use it) and an older model Medela Pump in Style when at home. I feel the Freestyle is as good if not better than the Symphony (because of the features) and definitely better than the Pump in Style. The best features I like are: 1)The THREE HOURS of RECHARGABLE battery! (10-12 15-20 minute pumping sessions before having to be plugged in to charge! and now I can stay on my floor's breakroom at work without needing a plug in.), 2)The timer feature on the display (no more searching for a watch or view of a clock and guestimating how long it's been), and 3) It's compact size (you can put it into any bag, although the bag it comes with is very discreet and handy). The hands free set up for nursing bras is fairly simple to set up, but personally, for me, it is a little bit more of a hassle because I have nursing bras that work just as well. But I LOVE being able to clip the lightweight (only about a pound or two) and compact pump on my pants pocket or belt and not be tied to one spot. It operates fairly quiet also. I use it in the break room at work and sometimes people don't even realize that I am pumping. I also like the lighted display. I have used my breastpump while traveling (as a passenger, never while driving) at night a few times, and the soft glow gives me just enough light undneath my drape to see what I need to see, but not give other motorists a show. :-) The only thing I didn't like and changed were the breast shields. It comes with the soft breast shields, but I couldn't get a good seal with them and prefer the hard plastic breast shields. However, I definitely recommend the Freestyle to anyone looking to purchase a breastpump. It is by far a great purchase that is worth every dollar spent. My only regret is that I didn't buy it sooner.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
Why I Prefer the Pump in Style, August 13, 2009
This review is from: Medela Freestyle Breast Pump (Baby Product)
I've got both the Freestyle and the Pump in Style breast pumps.
The Good:
Having a timer is awesome, no more squinting to see the time. Not having to hunt down an outlet is nice when I'm traveling. It's portable. It's cute.
The Neutral:
I'm not a big fan of the rubber shields. They make a mess when I pull them away from my breasts when I'm done pumping. It's not a big deal at home, but at work, in work pants, it's a hassle. I'm buying the plastic shields this weekend.
Why I Prefer the Pump in Style:
It pumps more milk in less time. My breasts feel more empty when I'm done which makes sense because the bottle is more full. Bells and whistles are great. But, when push comes to shove, my primary criteria for evaluating a breast pump is its ability to pump breast milk. And, on that count, the Pump in Style wins, hands down.
Disclaimer:
I haven't tried hands-free mode yet, so I have no idea how well it works.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
WOW!!!, March 2, 2008
This review is from: Medela Freestyle Breast Pump (Baby Product)
The medela freestyle is great!!! I use it with a hands free pumping bra instead of the hands free kit that is included and it works just fine. I can cook, do dishes, clean bottles, change the baby EVERYTHING while pumping.
This is a must have for women who are on the go and can't commit to sitting down and holding contraptions to there breast for 20 minutes.
If you are thinking about getting a freestyle don't think anymore just get one because they are WONDERFUL!!!
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