Medela Freestyle VS Ameda Purely Yours ..ONLY..

[coachmommyofmin]

Here's my dilemma! I need a good double breastpump, had the evenflo with my last pregnancy and it took forever to get milk out... sooo this time around I need something more "efficient". Here are my 2 choices that I need help with:

The Medela Freestyle-

Cons:
I don't care about the Handsfree or the Bag
I don't know how easy it is to keep clean (like tubes)
The price is quite HIGH considering this may be my last baby

Pro:
Brand Name, well known for its good reputation (?!)
Easy to buy replacement parts at the store
Lightweight
2-Phase Expression- first it stimulates- then you can press the button or it will adjust to express by itself
Works on Re-Chargable Batteries and AC

Ameda Purely Yours-

Cons:
I don't care about the bag or its "extras" either
I don't know if this has any special expression/stimulation at all, it's got a knob that you adjust for speed by yourself- is that good enough?
Don't know if it even has an "let down button"

Pro:
The price is a lot more affordable
I read good reviews (the tubing is supposed to always stay cleaner than others?!)
It's just as lightweight as Medela
Got a car charger and also works on batteries and AC

I don't know that much about AMEDA purely yours, but whatever reviews i have read online were very good about it. I need something lightweight, efficient and I'd love to have the stimulant before it actually pumps, (but do I really need that?) and both companies praise their products so much-
I've been trough every product medela has to offer, and a lot of other brands... I know that I want either one of the above two, but not sure which one. Both have pro's and con's. I'd love to safe money as well, but I don't want to waste money and not buying the right thing. This is such a hard decision. Can you help me? Tell me your experience with both/either one of the above- like-

...can you put it in the dishwasher?
... are both easy and quick to assemble?
...does the tubing stay clean on both brands or does milk leak into the tubing?
...does the pump itself leak?
...does ameda stimulate let-down?
...is let down that important?
...can I stimulate letdown myself? probably by starting at a slow level
working up untill milk flows right?
...if I want to save money, is Ameda my better choice?
...do you agree about "more milk in less time"?

Sorry, soo many questions and so little time. I'm due in a couple of weeks and I still haven't been able to decide. Please help... Thanks so much in advance!!!

[alo6]

During my antenatal class the breatfeeding instructor/specialist was avid on the medela pump. She said that it gets the most milk in her experience. Someone else in the class got the avent pump and she made them return it to get the medela one. I haven't had the pleasure of using a pump yet, but I'm going to get the medela one for sure.

[alij78]

I have the medela (the model is called swing though - probably an older one?) and I love it, it is easy, quick, doesn't leak, is compact, helps with letdown etc. I couldn't fault it

[loveBV]

coachmommyofmin: Thanks for posting this, I have been wondering myself which one is better. I know my insurance company sells Ameda Purely Yours at a discounted rate. With the discount, Ameda is significantly cheaper than the Medela. I DO know that majority of the ppl I know use Medela.

[mirdc]

I've had both and I honestly got WAY more milk with my manual Avent Isis. 10-15 minutes of pumping with the electric models & I'd only get 1-2 oz (and it wasn't overly comfortable). 10 minutes with a manual Isis and I'd get 7-12 oz. Yeah, my hand got tires, but it got the job done and didn't hurt at all.

This time around I'm going to get 2 of the avent isis models.

** forgot to add, I don't think you're supposed to put any breast pump supplies in the dishwasher. I've always handwashed them.

[alo6]

My sister in law just emailed me out of the blue and advised me to get the medela as well. I'm really sorry I can't offer you my personal opinion as I have still yet to try!

[Belladiva79]

I am in the same boat, I dont really want to spend the high price of the Medela but I must say that with my daughter I used it and absolutely loved it! I got tons and tons of milk out quickly! I might just have to get it again but I was also wondering if there was another option.

[irainei]

See if your hospital has the versions of the pumps you can rent out? That's what I'm doing...don't see why I need to go through the trouble of buying something that may or may not work.

[coachmommyofmin]

I checked and the hospital versions for rent are $80 a month- so not an option! 2 Months pays off a Ameda and 4 months a medela! I saw somewhere that the medela gets 42-60 cycles pm, where ameda gets 30-60 pm, so they're not so far off... just how do you regulate the ameda? it's got a separate suction and cycle mode where medela is all automatic...

[mirdc]

If you have health insurance, call your company and ask what they cover for breastpumps. Many policies will pay for a hospital rental for you, or offer you a heavily subsidized pump to purchase (or cover it all together).