Breast Pumps - regular or hands free?

[Anonymous]

For those of you who pump, I'm looking for feedback on the regular medela pump vs the new hands free pump. The reviews I've read online talk about how great the hands free is because you can do work, cook, make calls but I have a window in my office so I'll be in a lacation room at work anyways so I couldn't do that if I wanted to. Just wondering if there are any other advantages that I'm missing? The cost difference is about $70 I think so I'm inclined to forgo the handsfree.

Also, how long should I expect each pumping to take? Is 15 minutes realistic?

THANKS!

[Anonymous]

I had the regular Pump in style and used a hands free pumping bra - by easy expressions i think. It was GREAT! I couldn't have pumped nearly as long if I didn't have it. I give it as a gift to all my new mommy friends who pump.

[SMcCartney]

I recommend the hands-free. Even in a separate room, you can make cell phone calls (work related, or personal catch up calls, which moms always have a ton of, whatever on or off the clock you are doing during the time) you can read, turn the pages of a magazine, or issue brief or book. You can eat your lunch, make notes from your morning meeting, write a letter to your BFF/husband (some are both, lucky that we are

What I am saying here is this: you can and will do a lot with those free hands! Do it! It allows you to totally relax if you are free to, or do stuff that needs to get done that will weigh on your head and prevent you from relaxing, anyone. (Which, btw, is bad. Tense prevents full let down, less production.) In the end, do whatever relaxes you most, this will lead to the best use of your pumping time. Tip: bring a picture of your little sweetheart, studies show it promotes let down!

PS No, 15 was so not realistic for me. That is why the hands-free was great. I did a full half an hour and almost always used the whole of it to org my work and feel prepped to get back to my desk. Best of luck and go nursing mom, go.

[SMcCartney]

PS And do a get the pumping bra. It's the only way to ensure that pumping is actually hands-free, regardless of what pump you get!

[Anonymous]

Despite their marketing emphasis on "hands free" I don't really think that is the main advantage of the Freestyle. I've read lots of moms say that they have jury-rigged a "hands free" set up with any pump, although I never tried it.

I think the main advantage instead is the Freestyle's compactness and portability. Plus I believe Medela incorporated a lot of newer features into this pump, like a timer, softer horns, memory settings, etc (although I never owned a PIS, so I'm not exactly certain which features the Freestyle has that the PIS doesn't).

I own a Freestyle and highly recommend it. I too hesitated at the price, but I figured I'll be pumping daily for a long time and hope to use it for my next child so it seemed worth it.

To answer your specific questions -- if you did the hands free you could also read a book. Or a magazine. Or scratch your head. Or answer your cell phone. Or change the channel on the remote at home. There's nothing more mind numbing than sitting and holding the pump up to your chest several times a day. And for me it takes about 15 minutes to pump.

[Anonymous]

I had a regular PIS and used the hands free pumping band. Worked great! I'm not sure how they'd make the pump hands free but I haven't seen it...

[Anonymous]

Isn't the main difference between the PIS and the Freestyle portability since you can certainly use a hands-free bra with the PIS? I used a hands-free bra w/ my pump, which I LOVED. But, even if I had the option, I can't imagine walking around while pumping. Does that really work? I imagine a lot of slippage and spills...

[Anonymous]

OP - PP, that was what I was thinking. I couldn't imagine how they would make something that would have the suction to hold on while you walked around and dusted or whatever. I will be at work and will have to be in the lactation room so the most I can do is read a book. But if I can get teh same 'hands free' with a bra, I think I might go with that. Unless I want to really shock my DH by having him come home to see me vacumming while pumping one day...hmmm

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP with the Freestyle. Yes, I think you can get the same hands free with an expressions or other bra. The freestyle just comes with a bunch of plastic strapping and instructions on how to rig it your bra. I haven't used that feature yet, so I am can't totally speak to it.

As for walking around, the Freestyle is also operated by a rechargeable battery, rather than an AC outlet, so you don't have to be tethered to the wall. Is the PIS only operated by plug? I guess this is why in theory you could walk around vacuuming with the freestyle, but I agree I probably wouldn't be doing that It is nice not to have to sit right by the outlet though, and to get up and walk to the other room when you hear the baby crying or something.

If you were only looking for hands-free, and only plan to pump in the lactation room and not at home down the line, then I agree its probably not worth the extra money. However the portability of the Freestyle is nice. You can get a second set of pump pieces for work and slip the Freestyle in your purse.

[Anonymous]

I love the fact that my Freestyle is not attached to the bag. I can take it out and stick it in the diaper bag to consolidate things a bit, so I am only juggling baby and one bag instead of baby and two bags. Also, with the hands free attachments, I can hook it up to any nursing bra-- gives me more bra flexibility. It does come with a belt attachment so that you can literally wear the pump and walk around with it, but I have never tried that. One thing about shopping for pumps-- don't buy them at Babies R Us or Target-- you will pay an extra $100 mark-up. I got mine through the hospital lactation center for much less money.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP about not buying pumps retail. I got my Freestyle for about $50 less than retail from a lactation consultant. Plus you have someone to call if you have questions about using the pump, before and after the sale.