Medela Pump in Style Advanced Review

9.4 Total Score

Comfortability
9.6
Design
9.2
Price
9.5
PROS
  • Easy to use
  • 2-phase expression design
  • Very adjustable
  • Highly portable
  • Convenient tote bag
CONS
  • Flimsy tubing
  • Noisy
User Rating: Be the first one!

Some breast pumps can look good on paper, but once you use them, you bump into problems – the device is too loud, or its suction isn’t as powerful as you hoped it would be. Before you’re finished with the first pumping session, you are wishing you bought another model instead.

But that’s not the case with Medela Pump in Style Advanced. There’s a reason behind this model’s immense popularity – it simply delivers as promised! We took an in-depth look at all the features of this outstanding device – if you’d like to know more about it, read on.

Specifications:


  • Brand – Medela (Switzerland)

  • Model name – Pump in Style Advanced

  • Power source type – Electric

  • Weight – 7lbs

  • Dimensions – 14″ x 11.5″ x 7″

  • Dishwasher safe – No

Features of Medela Pump in Style Advanced

  • Ease of use

There are many aspects that make this pump easy to use. First off, the device is directly connected to the inside of the tote – you just have to unzip the compartment that houses the pump. It’s easy to grab the pump and plug it in, and it’s also easy to roll up the device’s tubing and store it inside the same compartment.

When it comes to assembly, you just have to hook the bottles and the breast flanges, and you’re good to go. One thing that we really liked here is that you can easily create a “homemade bra” by taking an old bra, cutting two holes in it, and sliding in the breast flanges. This can add to the overall comfort, but also make it easier to learn how the pump works and to get used to its rhythm.

But if you don’t want to do this and still want to achieve good suction, do the following. Hold the flange in place while making an “L” shaped grip with your elbow, while putting the other flange onto your breast. This will make one of your hands free – you can operate the pump with it while using the other hand to hold the flanges in place. This is not as complicated as it might look at first, and is guaranteed to make everything a lot easier.

  • Efficiency

Like many other Medela pumps, this one also comes with the 2-phase expression technology. The idea behind this is to have two phases that mimic the baby’s suckling patterns, which makes the milk flow faster and adds to the overall efficiency. The pump will start with gentle sucks, after which it will transition to slower and stronger suction, which will pump out the majority of your milk.

Medela Pump in Style Advanced will also give you an option to shorten or prolong the first step as you deem necessary. This feature is standard in many of the company’s other pumps, and it’s one that certainly deserves praise.

  • Comfort

This pump isn’t as comfortable as the Harmony Manual model, but it’s still a pleasant experience to use it. Multiple uses might bring some soreness around your nipple, though, but this is very rare and occurs only with some women. We can safely say that Pump in Style Advanced is one of the most comfortable electric breast pumps we have tested so far.

  • Portability

This pump has been designed to be brought and used anywhere – whether you’re at home, at work, or in your vehicle. This makes it one of the most portable breast pumps on the market and one that’s a fantastic choice for moms on the go. The best thing here is that the device is built into the bag, and cannot be removed from there. This, of course, also has some negative sides, but if we’re talking about portability – it’s a real champion.

All you’ll have to do is to unzip the pump compartment, hook the tubing to flanges, and your pumping session can begin. Quick and easy! Another thing that adds to the portability of this pump is the fact that you can run it on batteries. It will take 8 AA batteries to do this, and these can be bought literally everywhere.

Of course, the package also includes an AC adapter.

  • Hygiene

Unfortunately, the hygiene is not a field in which this pump excels in. We have noticed the build-up of condensation in the device’s tubing, and this happens fairly quickly once you start using the pump. This didn’t affect the efficiency of the pump, but it could cause the mildew to appear, and this can have severe consequences for the baby’s health.

The good news is that the tubing can be replaced, and that won’t cost you more than $10.

  • Noise

Unfortunately, the pump is quite noisy while it’s working. But this also has a positive effect – once the people at your working place hear it, it’s less likely that they will walk in on you in the middle of the session. It’s a popular model, and many people can recognize the sound.

But still – we hope that the next entry in the series will fix this issue.

Medela Pump in Style backpack

What’s wrong with the product?

  • Condensation builds up in the tubing

After a few pumping sessions, you might notice the appearance of condensation in the pump’s tubing. This can lead to mildew and have a harmful effect on the baby’s health. The tubing can be replaced (cheaply), but we hope to see this issue removed in the next revision.

  • It’s loud when compared to other models

Unlike some other electric pumps we’ve tested, the Medela Pump in Style Advanced is quite noisy. If you like to pump during the night, this is not the model you’re looking for – it could wake up both the baby and your significant other.

Conclusion

In our opinion, the Medela Pump in Style Advanced offers an excellent value. It’s not perfect – it has a couple of flaws, but we really appreciated its outstanding advantages. It’s easy to use, offers high portability, and comes with a load of accessories. We can see why this model is so immensely popular, and we can do nothing else but recommend it. It’s probably the best breast pump of this type on the market today, and one that’s worth the money.

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply