Freestyle medela reviews: Amazon.com : Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Breast Pump

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Medela Breast Pump Review: The Freestyle Vs. Sonata

Manual or electric? Single or double? Choosing a breast pump can feel like a daunting decision—I know I found myself totally perplexed scrolling the insurance website as a first-time mom.

Fast forward to today: I have two children and feel lucky to have been able to breastfeed them both (lucky because I know how hard it is and that this dynamic doesn’t work for every mommy-baby duo). I nursed my son until he was 14 months old and happily guzzling cow’s milk from a cup. My daughter is 8 months old and is still chugging along. So far, I’ve logged 24 months of pumping between them, relying on two popular pumps from Medela. If you’re trying to decide between the Medela Freestyle and the Medela Sonata, read on.

Pumping with the Medela Freestyle

The biggest thing to consider when selecting a breast pump is how often you’ll need to express milk. I knew I was returning to work after the birth of my son, which meant I’d have to pump multiple times a day at the office, on-site at photoshoots and while traveling. I was in pursuit of a super-portable breast pump, and landed on the Medela Freestyle.

Image: Courtesy Medela

I was delighted to be able to produce milk for my son but disgruntled by the amount of time it took (about 3+ hours a day of pumping). Having a double electric, portable pump made the commitment feel a little easier. In the morning, I could slip on my hands-free bra, pop the Freestyle into the pocket of my bathrobe and multitask, from makeup application to baby wrangling. If I was on location at a photoshoot or traveling, I didn’t need to be tethered to an outlet. Was it a little noisy? Yes. But the battery life was awesome, the parts were easy to assemble and it helped me feed my baby.

I didn’t want to set unrealistic expectations for myself when I started breastfeeding, so I made small goals—a couple of weeks, then three months, and then I just kept going. If I knew I would have logged so many hours pumping over the course of my son’s first year, I might have bought a second pump. I know it’s a luxury (they’re not cheap!), but it was one I could justify by amortizing the cost per use and the fact that I would have had less to lug back and forth from the office.

Pumping with the Medela Sonata

When I was pregnant with my daughter, a handful of new pumps were available (like the Spectra and the Willow). I considered switching things up but knew the Freestyle worked for me. Over the course of that year nursing my son I had also purchased a couple of bonus sets of Medela parts and bottles, and thought it was silly to make that investment all over again with a different brand. I planned to order a second Freestyle—but then I stumbled upon the Sonata. The feature that mattered most to me—portability—was part of this new model, plus it had a slew of additional features and upgraded technology. I decided to give it a go.

Image: Courtesy Medela

The Sonata has great suction, and I find I actually express more milk (which is what the pump promises) when I use this pump vs. the Freestyle. I’m only talking about an extra ounce or so, but every bit counts! It has two pumping rhythms: one that’s modeled after Medela’s hospital-grade Symphony pump and another that saves on battery life. Better still, it’s quiet (even my husband commented on the difference between the two pump’s whooshing sounds).

The Sonata is twice the weight and size, but like the Freestyle it can run on battery (about an hour between charges) in a pinch. A convenient carry handle makes it easy to move from surface to surface. Both the Freestyle and the Sonata let you time your sessions and save preferred settings (like suction power) in between uses, which ultimately saves on setup time. Both pumps have the same number of parts to clean and assemble (the breast shields are interchangable) and don’t require much maintenance.

The Bottom Line

So which do I prefer, and which one is right for you? It’s hard to say. I use them both equally but at different times. The Freestyle is exceptionally small and lightweight, great for toting to and from places or using on the go (like on an airplane). But I can’t ignore that extra ounce I get from the Sonata. My supply fluctuates throughout the day, but pretty predictably. I try to use the Sonata during pumping sessions when I know I usually make less. Now that I have both breast pumps, it’s hard to imagine going back to using just one.

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons to help you tip the scales.

Medela Freestyle

Pros:

  • Is a double electric pump
  • Has 2-phase expression
  • Is super lightweight (less than a pound)
  • Is exceedingly portable; comes with a belt clip for pumping on the go and a car charger adapter
  • Has a very long battery life

Cons:

  • A little noisy
  • Takes a little more time to pump

Best for:
A mom who often travels (read: isn’t near outlets) or needs to pump while standing (like healthcare professionals).

Medela Sonata

Pros:

  • Is a double electric pump
  • Has 2-phase expression
  • Has great suction
  • Is Medela’s quietest pump
  • Offers hospital performance
  • Connects to the MyMedela app, which tracks activity and offers support

Cons:

  • Short battery life
  • Is bulky and hard to move around with

Best for:
A mom who will be pumping in a designated space with outlets (most of the time) or someone who only plans to express a few times a day.

Published December 2018

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Medela Freestyle Breast Pump Review

Contents

  • 1 SAFETY + HYGIENE | BPA and Lead-Free Parts
  • 2 COMFORT | Includes Two Breast Shield Sizes
  • 3 EASE OF USE | Easy Interface, Difficult Parts
    • 3.1 Size
    • 3.2 Performance
  • 4 PRICE + DURABILITY | Many Accessories and Great Features
    • 4.1 Durability
    • 4.2 Price
  • 5 PROS
  • 6 CONS
  • 7 THE BOTTOM LINE | Best for Light Use

Made for on-the-go Moms, the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump is a great option for portable pumping.

SAFETY + HYGIENE | BPA and Lead-Free Parts

Safety for the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump is very similar to other Medela Pumps. The Freestyle has an open design, making it a one-user pump because of the risk of cross-contamination. All parts that come into contact with breast milk are BPA-free, and all parts are lead-free. A great option with Medela parts is the option to use standard-mouth glass bottles instead of the plastic bottles that come with this set.

All parts that come into contact with breast milk are BPA-free, and all parts are lead-free.

The connectors that come with the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump are a little more complicated than the parts that come with the Medela Pump In Style Advanced and Medela Symphony Breast Pump. With a harder to clean design, some moms say they dislike taking everything apart each time to clean and that they have a lot of crevices, upping the chances for hygiene issues.

Medela Freestyle Breast Pump parts

One issue that some moms have brought up is that this pump has the tendency to collect black residue over time. Medela states that it is a non-toxic substance that builds up over time after repeated use. It is said to come from the inside of the pump, a buildup from the parts on the inside of the pump. This has only happened to few users and is just a side note. Otherwise, many moms have reported that this isn’t an issue with newer Freestyle pumps.

COMFORT | Includes Two Breast Shield Sizes

There are a few great comfort features that make the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump unique to tradition pumps. This package comes with two different sizes of Personal Fit breast shields, allowing you to pick the best size for your comfort. Breast shield size is extremely important for optimal comfort, and also for the best emptying of breast tissue. Incorrect breast shield size can lead to engorgement issues as well as mastitis and even cause nipple and breast tissue irritation. The Medela website has a great resource for finding your ideal breast shield size.

The most unique feature of the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump is its portability.

The most unique feature of the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump is its portability. For moms that hate sitting still while pumping, the Freestyle makes it possible to move about the house or office without being tied to an outlet by using a battery pack. A portable and stylish microfiber carry bag is also included and is designed specifically for the Freestyle breast pump parts. It also makes it optimal for transporting between point A and point B.

Clips to pants for easy portability

Another big comfort point to mention is the option to use this pump with a hands-free pumping bra (like the Medela Hands-Free Pumping Bra. A hands-free pumping bra is a product that makes the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump portable, so it’s a great tool to have with this pump. Otherwise, you’ll be left constantly holding pumping parts to your chest which can get frustrating very quickly and won’t be able to be mobile with this pump. Another great option that many moms have done is to make your own pumping bra at home by cutting holes in an old sports bra that you are able to fit the breast shields through. Either way, a hands-free bra is a must for your milk’s safety and your comfort!

EASE OF USE | Easy Interface, Difficult Parts

Size

The small size of the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump makes this a perfect portable pump. It’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand but still packs a punch for power. The included belt clip makes it easy to snap onto the pants and use around the house. Also, the portable carry bag is the perfect size to include all your pumping essentials while still having a stylish feel. A great aspect of the Freestyle is that it’s small enough to move to any transport bag you want to carry it with.

It’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand but still packs a punch for power.

Performance

Many features of the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump make this unique to other pumps on the market. It comes with a rechargeable battery, and the lightweight motor provides a mobile pumping experience to keep up with a busy lifestyle. However, because it has a smaller motor, the suction and power don’t measure up to higher grade pumps. Also, many users have reported that there’s a lack of power when using the battery pack, making the portable pumping experience obsolete. The rechargeable lithium ion battery pack has a 3-hour battery life and takes 24 hours to recharge. In addition, the lack of suction can cause supply issues, engorgement, and mastitis because the breast tissue isn’t being emptied completely.

Rechargeable Lithium ion battery

It comes with a rechargeable battery, and the lightweight motor provides a mobile pumping experience to keep up with a busy lifestyle.

A few other features that make the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump a great option is the 2-Phase Expression Technology, a popular feature with all Medela breast pumps. The two phases mimic the natural nursing rhythms of your baby. It starts with a faster suction to promote the let-down reflex, and then automatically switches to a deeper suction after one minute. There’s an adjustable knob that lets users adjust for their most comfortable suction setting. 2-Phase Expression Technology is proven to promote more milk expression in less time than just using one setting.

The Medela Freestyle Breast Pump comes with a backlit digital display, timer, and memory button to help personalize and control pumping sessions. The backlit display helps for night pumping, and the memory function allows users to easily return to their favorite pumping pattern without having to readjust every time.

It comes with a backlit digital display, timer, and memory button to help personalize and control pumping sessions.

Accessories that come with the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump include: (2) 24 mm Personal Fit breast shields; (2) 27 mm Personal Fit breast shields; (2) Breast shield connector assemblies; (4) 5 Ounce breastmilk bottles with lids; (1) Tubing set; (1) Rechargeable lithium-ion battery; (1) Microfiber Tote carry bag; (1) Cooler Bag and Ice Pack; (1) 12 Volt AC power adaptor; (1) Instructions for use. This makes it extremely easy to unpack your Freestyle pump and immediately start using it. However, many users state that the pump parts are hard to put together as well as clean. The pump parts for the Freestyle are also very specific to this pump and aren’t interchangeable with other Medela breast pumps.

PRICE + DURABILITY | Many Accessories and Great Features

Durability

As far as durability goes, the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump is a great pump, but still has areas where it could be improved on. This is a great pump for moms who want to set aside some extra breastmilk to freeze. Daily and heavy use could take its toll on this pump due to its smaller motor.

This is a great pump for moms who want to set aside some extra breastmilk to freeze.

This pump has been known to lose suction, creating the need to replace parts. Also, pumping power wanes as the battery life gets low. When plugged into a wall, the pump works wonderfully. However, this eliminates the portability feature which is one of the top reasons moms buy this pump.

Price

For the price, the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump comes with a lot of accessories and features. Included in the box are: (1) Freestyle double electric breast pump; (2) 24 mm Personal Fit breast shields; (2) 27 mm Personal Fit breast shields; (2) Breast shield connector assemblies; (4) 5 Ounce breastmilk bottles with lids; (1) Tubing set; (1) Rechargeable lithium-ion battery; (1) Microfiber Tote carry bag; (1) Cooler Bag and Ice Pack; (1) 12 Volt AC power adaptor; and Instructions for use. This is quite the package and allows users to open the box and start pumping.

For the price, the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump comes with a lot of accessories and features.

The unique features like the timer, backlit display, portability, and memory button set the Freestyle apart from other pumps. These special features justify the higher price. But, these features are known to be a little inconsistent, unlike the Medela Pump In Style Advanced which has fewer features, but more consistency for daily use. Yet, this pump would be a great option for moms who want the portability and can’t be tied to a power outlet.

PROS

  • Best for on-the-go pumping
  • Rechargeable battery option
  • Includes all accessories needed to start pumping
  • Unique features like a timer and memory button

CONS

  • Loud motor
  • Poor suction
  • Difficult pumping parts

THE BOTTOM LINE | Best for Light Use

The Medela Freestyle Breast Pump is best for moms who pump only once in a while, not for heavy daily use. It’s also great for moms who need to move around the house and hate being tied to a power outlet. This makes it easier to get chores done and to chase any other babies you might have prowling about the house. However, the parts are hard to clean and replace and users often have issues with the parts creating good suction.

A few unique features make the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump a fun pump to use, and different from many pumps that have standard features. The portability, backlit display, 2-Phase Expression Technology, timer, and memory button set this pump apart from other pumps on the market. In the end, the Freestyle is another great pump created by Medela and is made for a specific group of moms who need a portable and easy transport system.

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RE-PUBLISHING: Note that we sometimes update and/or re-publish articles from our archives that are informative or highly-relevant… like this one!

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