Medela Freestyle or PIS

Updated on October 15, 2008
J.K. asks from Hurst, TX
13 answers

First time Mom looking for recommendation on whether to purchase a Medela Freestyle pump or a Pump in Style? I like that the Freestyle allows you to walk around etc. but wondering if that really works?? I am using a rented Symphony hospital grade now and it works great. Want to make sure whatever I purchase will work just as well. I do hate having to be locked down to one spot to pump so many times a day. I also travel for work so that is important too in my decision. Looking for recommendations (good & bad) on these. Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for your help. I went with the PIS and I am pretty happy with it so far! Always helps to have users opinions when you are spending a good amount of money on a pump. Thanks!

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H.H.

answers from Amarillo on

I have a pump in style that I have used for both of my babies (still using it now, first used it in Sept 2005). I can recommend it. Have had no problems and have used it a significant amount. STill works perfectly. Extra Parts are easy to find. I have a car adapter that plugs in to the cigarette lighter that has saved me multiple times and power is the same using it. I don't know about the other kind. Would you really be able to walk around while pumping? I don't know. Hope this helps a little.

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C.M.

answers from Dallas on

My kids are way past that stage now (6 and 2.5 yrs), but I would say PIS. I had 2 - one lived at home and one lived at the office. (I bought 1 new and 1 off ebay). I was very pleased with mine. I worked full time outside the home with both kids and pumped sucessfully for over a year with both.

And, if you get a foot stool to prop the bottles on your knees, you can type/use the phone hands free once the suction takes hold. =)

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K.Y.

answers from Dallas on

I rented a pump from a lactation consultant. Everything is new except for the actual machine part (so everything that touches you or the milk is new :). It was good because the pump I thought I would like I ended up hating and she let me switch to a different pump that did work for me. If I had purchased one at the store I would have been stuck with the one that I didn't like. Your pediatrician or local hospital can provide you with a list of lactation consultants in your area.

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K.K.

answers from Dallas on

I would recommend, like another already said, to rent what you think you might like and then decide. I bought a Medela PIS and it did not work one bit. In fact, it made me have very little breast milk for my son (my first). I was very confused about what to buy and everyone says it's great but it really depends on the woman. Also make sure that the cup size fits you. You don't want small plastic cups if you are a bigger bust size. You can get different ones at Babys R Us. I found out that I REALLY liked the Medela manual pump. I pumped 3 times a day for 9mons with that. I got SO much more milk from that then the PIS. So again I suggest rent before buying because now I'm stuck with a PIS that doesn't work for me. That's $250 I'm out. The manual only cost $40! I could have saved myself a lot of time and frustration if I would have rented first. Also make sure you talk with a lactation consultant to properly work a pump, etc. Good luck!

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E.T.

answers from Dallas on

I have the PIS and have been very pleased with it. I pumped for 7 months with my first son, and now I am pregnant again, so I will use it with this one too. I also had the hands-free bra (Easy Expression), which was very helpful. Also, I have the backpack model, and there is a battery pack that you can use, so you can wear it around and pump. I usually just would pump while I ate my meals, so I didn't really ever walk around and pump, but it is an option with the PIS.

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G.M.

answers from Dallas on

Wow, that Ameda sounds really good, but I don't personally know anything about it. I'm pumping at this moment with my PIS and hands free bra band. I used this pump with my first and am now using it again. I've never had any problems with it, and I love it. It came with a battery pack you can use, and I've also bought the car charger. I use it 4-5 times everyday, and I love it. Good luck!

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N.J.

answers from Dallas on

PIS all the way. You can get a pumping bra that holds the pumps on and have hands free. PIS comes in a backpack and has a car adaptor. I used it at school for almost a year- worked great!!

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N.R.

answers from Dallas on

I had a Medla Pump in Style and had it set up in the bedroom. It was great. I also had a small manual pump in the diaper bag incase I needed to pump.

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S.L.

answers from Dallas on

I had a pump in style when my son was a baby (he's now 6). I was very pleased with it, very high quality, and my husband's cousin used it with her son 2 yrs later. I had to pump at work/home/on the go so I also had the car adapter which worked just as great as sitting indoors plugged in. I would definitely recommend it, and will probably be looking at purchasing a new one next when when my 2nd child is due in April.

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

Our pump in style has been passed around between my sister and I in-between kids. She pumped every day for a year with it with one child, and then occasionally with the other. I used it with the new baby for 11 months, and it's still going strong! She's pregnant again, and will be using it again!
It has a car adapter for travel. It's very easy to use and is high quality.

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M.G.

answers from Dallas on

I did a really whole lot of research on these and was just about to buy a Pump in Style when I found the Ameda Purely Yours. Don't waste money on a Medela. Yes, they are good, but the Ameda is EXACTLY the same thing with the same everything except for just a couple of things: It's quieter, it's motor only weighs 1 lb (as opposed to the 7 lbs of the Medela), and it's much MUCH smaller and easier to carry around (just looks like a purse) OH AND MOST IMPORTANTLY it's much cheaper (like 100 bucks cheaper!). I used mine 3 times a day for 12 months with never even the slightest problems. I'm pregnant now, and I will continue to use my same one.

I also bargain hunt, and the cheapest place you can find it (which also has free shipping) is http://www.healthchecksystems.com/ameda-breastpumps.htm You can even do a comparison to the PIS if you'd like to see how they have the same features. The Ameda actually has a little bit stronger pump, though. Good luck, and I hope you find what works for you.

OH! It takes 6AA batteries, and I only had to change them out one time in the 12 months!!

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A.B.

answers from Lubbock on

Pump in Style for sure!!!! Bought it at Baylor and also got 10% off bc I was a new mommy! love love love it!!!!

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K.F.

answers from Dallas on

I have no clue about the pumps but if you don't already have one, I would suggest you go to Wal-Mart and buy the adapters for the car that allow you to plug in regular plugs. This will save your life when your children are older and you do any traveling because anything can then be plugged into the car. We are like a traveling arcade, anything to keep them occupied. The comment about the car adaptor is what triggered the comment because if you have a couple of these, throw one in the glove compartment or like I do in a built in under the front passenger seat, you are never stuck unable to use it if you need to be in the car.

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