Is the Medela Pump In Style Advanced the Right Breast Pump for You?
For moms who must pump breast milk regularly, a reliable double electric breast pump is a necessity. Renting a hospital grade pump is a nice option, but can be expensive over time. A consumer grade pump is a less expensive but effective choice for daily pumping, and that's where the Pump In Style Advanced becomes a possibility. I used this pump daily for more than six months, and incorporated that experience into my Medela Pump In Style Advanced review.
Features
- Two-phase expression mode to mimic baby's nursing pattern
- Can be used as a single or double pump
- Speed and suction adjustments
- Can be used with power cord or batteries
- Manual pump also included
- Includes 4 milk collection bottles
- Removable cooler bag and reusable freezer pack
- Some models have the pump built into the bag
- Metro Bag style has removable pump and 2 additional flange sizes
What I Like About The Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump
When my first daughter was born, I didn't plan to use a breast pump very often. She ended up in the NICU and could not nurse for more than a week, so I ended up bonding with the hospital grade pump, which happened to be a Medela. When we finally got home, I already had the Medela flanges and bottles, so I bought a Pump In Style double electric model to carry with me when I went back to work. That was more than 13 years ago. Medela has improved on the Pump in Style line over the years, but it was a reliable, effective option then, and it remains a fantastic choice today.
The two-phase expression technology is unique to Medela. It mimics the faster initial sucking of the baby when nursing begins to help you let down milk, and then you can push the let-down button to move to the normal sucking pattern. The let-down button isn't as depressing as it sounds. It just signals to the pump that your milk is flowing and a slower pace is needed. The two modes, along with the speed and suction controls, allowed me to pump almost as much milk as I could with a hospital grade pump. Everyone is different, so those results may not apply to all pumping moms. The Medela Pump In Style Advanced let me pump more milk than other double electric models I tried.
The flanges are comfortable as long as you make sure you use the right size. Note: flanges are the "horn" pieces that fit over the breasts. Medela makes several sizes of flanges to accommodate different mom sizes. Most of the Pump In Style Advanced models come with one set of flanges. The Metro Bag version, which is the one I used, comes with two sets of flanges in 2 sizes. I always use a bit of lanolin to coat the inside of the flanges when I pump, so I never noticed any soreness from using this pump. The two knobs on the pump give you easy control over both the speed and the suction. There's quite a bit of range between the lowest and highest settings.
This pump was extremely reliable for me. I never needed to replace any parts, even though I used the pump many times daily and ran all of the pieces through the dishwasher regularly. I also liked that you could use the pump as a single or a double. Most of the time it's more effective to double pump to get the maximum amount of milk. There are times, though, where some moms need to pump just one side. Not all double pumps can be used this way.
It's convenient to be able to switch from the electric cord to battery mode. When you're traveling, you never know when you'll be able to plug in the pump. Medela also includes a simple manual pump that you can use on one side at a time. For emergencies, this is really convenient. Although it's a very simple style, the manual pump is surprisingly effective.
What I Don't Like About This Pump
The higher suction levels are incredibly powerful. That may be a good thing for some moms, but it can be a painful surprise if you bump the knob while you're pumping. I never intentionally set the suction more than halfway through the range, and that was plenty powerful enough.
This is an open pump system. That means it's possible for milk to enter the pump area through the tubing. That could result in bacteria, mold, or viruses growing inside the pump, and they could potentially get back into baby's pumped milk. I never noticed any milk in the tubing. My children rarely got sick at all, so I certainly don't think there was an issue with pump contamination. It is possible, though, so it's something to be aware of.
The open system also means you need to clean the tubing when you clean the other pump parts. That should be every time you pump. Tubing can be a bit of a bear to clean, so that's probably my least favorite feature of this pump. You can put the tubing into a microwave sterilizer for the easiest cleaning option.
Once you've pumped your milk, there's no good place to set the bottles while you get unhooked and prepare to store the milk. The collection bottles are a tip-over risk when they still have the flanges and tubing attached. You have to set them down and balance them carefully to avoid spills. It would be nice if there was a small bottle holder or stabilizing piece to help ensure the bottles don't tip over.
On battery mode, I could get about 6 pumping sessions in before I felt like the pump was less effective and needed fresh batteries. It takes 8 AA batteries, so if you're using that mode regularly, rechargeable batteries might be a wise choice. You should also keep a spare set on hand if you rely on battery power often, so you're not caught out with a less effective pump with dying batteries.
Overall, though, the Medela Pump In Style Advanced is one of the best double electric pumps available. It's effective and reliable, and as long as you take the time to find the right flanges and settings for you, it's also quite comfortable. This pump costs about $250-$330, depending on the bag style you choose. The Metro Bag style that I used is at the higher end of that range. Careful shopping can bring the price down by $30 to $50.
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
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