Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump Backpack
by Medela
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List Price: Our Price: $252.99 You Save: $47.00 (16%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $229.00 (click here) Category: Baby Product See more product details |
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Baby Products Reviews of Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump Backpack
Customer Review: good but not great
Summary: 3 Stars
I got the Medela because I knew I would have to return to work and wanted the pump with the best reviews. Well, this was it, but 9 months into the pump-life I am not perfectly happy.
Pros:
1) Discreet, convenient
2) Pumping 2 at once and electric is really convenient. I purchased one of the handsfree kits (really just a tube top with holes around the nipples) and I can continue to work at my desk while pumping. (Door closed, of course).
3) Easy to purchase parts for. This is really important. I can go to my local Target and get parts for this. It is not so easy with some of the more obscure brands.
Cons:
1) Motor seemed to wear out some after about 6 months of daily use. It still pumps, but I have to turn the power higher to get the same amount of voltage. I don't feel that I could use this for a second child. It's not only a "one person" product as described in the manual, I think it's meant to be a "one baby" product as well.
2) Battery-operated feature doesn't work well at all. It requires 8 AA batteries, and loses power by the end of the first session. For pumping on the road I recommend the car charger (sold separately).
I ended up purchasing an Avent Isis hand pump to supplement this one. It is easier to use when I am home and I actually get just as much milk from one breast with the Avent as I do with this, in about the same amount of time. The difference is that I can strap the Medela on and keep working. If I didn't have the handsfree kit it would be very inconvenient to use the double pumping feature.
Customer Review: Great pump
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been using this pump for 2.5 months now, and it's been great.
* The double pump: you can pump both sides at once. That saves time (I pump between 5 and 10 minutes) and you get more milk. It has the let-down feature that kicks in after 2 minutes, I usually push the let-down button before the two minutes. It's tricky to work the pump while pumping cause you need both hands to hold, so I tried a rubber-band trick I learned on workandpump.com for handsfree pumping.
* Battery operated: works great! I used it on two very long flights (3 pumping sessions each). The 8 AA batteries lasted perfectly for both flights. I covered myself up and used it in my seat. No one noticed or heard anything.
* Sound: It's very quiet
* The bag is great, cute, I take it to work with me. Very convenient, there is room for 4 bottles in the cooler with the ice pack. There is room for all the pump equipment and my wallet, keys, work badge and a few more small items.
* The bottles: The bag comes with 4 bottles, 3 or 4 caps (can't remember), and one nipple top. Which was great, i tried the bottle for my baby and she took to it very well. I since bought another set of 3 more bottles and nipples, she uses only those.
* Cleaning: Like all pumps you need to clean all the parts after every use. At home it's no big deal. At work I use the Medela wipes, which are okay for work, but I clean everything again when I get home. There are also microwave steam bags to sanitize them quickly, I haven't tried them yet.
That's all I can think of. Good luck!
Customer Review: "Internal Diaphragm can't be fully sterilized..."
Summary: 4 Stars
Medela, Inc., "...There is some evidence, however, that certain serious viruses may be transmittable through breastmilk. For this reason, it is not advisable to use a previously owned breastpump. ... For safety, breastpumps should never be shared, resold, or lent among mothers. Medela strongly discourages mothers from re-using or re-selling previously owned breastpump equipment. The Medela Pump In Style Breastpump has an internal diaphragm that cannot be removed, replaced, or fully sterilized. Therefore, the risk of cross-contamination associated with re-using a previously owned pump such as the Pump In Style cannot be totally dismissed..." If it can't be fully sterilized, is it safe for anyone to use, regardless of virus contamination? Would we re-use baby bottles if they couldn't be fully sterilized?
They lose at least one star for that reason alone - ditto for the Avent Isis! If I were to buy a pump again, I would search for one that is approved for multiple users, thus eliminating mold and other issues. (Apparently the bags can leak in the milk compartment of the Pump in Style and get into the motor. The Hygenikit of a subsequent user should prevent the milk and any pathogens from the previous user from entering the bottle but it may still reach the ends of the tubes which could become a source of contamination if you touch them and then touch the storage bag.) A side note, dipping sterilizable pieces quickly in a solution of 1 gallon of water and a few teaspoons of bleach and then letting them air dry should thoroughly sterilize.
Customer Review: Life Saver
Summary: 5 Stars
MY wife had planned on breastfeeding my son from the day She found out that she had finally gotten preganant! But the day my son was born I was very happy that she and I had made the decision to buy this pump! This pump could easily replace hospital pumps!!! She used the hospital pump one time when she forgot to bring her pump to the NICU with her and she said it felt like she only pumped out in ten minutes time what she could have pumped in five minutes time with her pump! My son was born premature and was too weak to eat so they had to feed him through a tube. She was in a totally different hospital at first and could not get her milk to them until later that night when she recovered a little bit from her emergency c-section. They tried formula and his body could not tolerate it! When she and her milk arrived at the hospital that my son had been transfered to The Medela Pump In Style Advanced pump had already had her supply built up so much that they were able to give my son the milk right away and not wait until she had enough of a supply. And thanks to this pump my son is alive today because of breastmilk and the supply that this pump had built for him! I think Medela because my son would not have made it if it was not for my wife's milk and the pump! So if there are any mothers out there who are debating on whether or not to breastfeed this should be your answer to the question. And as far as this pump goes it would have gotten more then five stars but thats all you can give! I hope this pump helps every woman who uses it!!!Customer Review: Best bet for working moms!
Summary: 5 Stars
My little guy is about three and a half months old and I have just recently started back to work. Because I am in a job where I work 12 hour days, I have needed to use this pump quite a bit to keep my little guy fed. As a nurse, I cannot be away from the floor for too long and, therefore, needed a breast pump that was fast and efficient! Well, I have found it with the Advanced Medela Pump in Style. From start to finish (including set up, pumping, and clean up), it takes me about 15-20 minutes to empty my breasts (I get about 7-8 ounces total when I pump) while I'm at work. In addition to being efficient, the pump is not too loud and is aesthetically pleasing to the eye as well (everyone just thinks it's my backpack). It comes with a storage cooler that fits four bottles (also included) and a molded ice pack that I just throw in the freezer when I get to work. If desired, 2 of the 4 bottles have caps that can fit nipples. The pump is also compatible with the bottles I use (Dr. Brown's) if you want to pump right into the bottle. Clean-up is a snap--only a few parts to wash. The pump tubing does get a little condensation in it while you're pumping, but I have not had any problems with this. It always dries before the next time I use it. I have had the face plate pop off only once (as I see other people have had happen as well), but it snapped back on very quickly and I have not had any problems with it since (this was 2 months ago this happened). I still give this pump 5 stars and am very happy I purchased it.