Yes, this is a post about breast pumps. I apologize for that if you are a man who is 1) unmarried without children, or 2) related to me. You might want to just stop reading now if you are related to me and this is grossing you out already.
When we first became pregnant I acquired the Ameda Purely Yours breast pump secondhand. Our childbirth instructor and lactation consultant was horrified and said that we should never use a secondhand pump because there could be bacteria in the tubing or the motor, coming from the tubing. However, the Ameda is a closed-tube system. Moisture never enters the tubing. There are little silicone diaphragms that allow the suction of air through the tubes but prevent moisture from entering. Since I had never seen another pump, I assumed all pumps were like this and that there must be some magical way the lactation consultant knew about that bacteria could get in which I didn’t know about. But we also didn’t have $300 for a brand new pump so I wanted to use this one. I read on the Ameda site (somewhere) that theirs is the only pump which is certified hygenic for reuse if the special HYGIENIKIT is purchased, replacing all the parts that come in contact with moisture with new, sterilized parts. I searched and searched the internets until I actually found the FDA certification PDF that granted this certification to Ameda specifically. I would link to it, but it took me so long to find it that I can’t find it again. Just believe me, it is there if you have 2-3 hours to search.
It wasn’t until I had some breastmilk supply issues last week and rented a Medela Symphony hospital-grade pump that I realized the difference between Ameda and the ever-popular Medela, and understood what the lactation consultant was talking about when she said things about moisture and bacteria in the pump and tubing. Did you know that apparently most pumps don’t have a diaphragm keeping the moisture and milk from the pump flanges and storage container from getting into the tubing? Gross! I had no idea! This is a $1,000+ pump I have rented here, and I spend half my time trying to “fling” the moisture out of the tubing! There is no way to clean it out! That does not seem sanitary to me. Don’t get me wrong, this pump is super quiet and efficient. And the two-phase system for triggering letdown is very nice. The Ameda does not have that two-phase system. So I do think the Medela has helped restore my supply in that way. But the tubing is ridiculous.
Then there is the fact that you HAVE to use both flanges with the Medela at all times, even if you only want to pump one side. I always have one side that produces more than the other, so with the Ameda I always disconnected the more productive side and devoted a little extra time to the lower producing side so that I get the full amount from each side. You can’t do that with Medela! You have to keep pumping on both even when one side is finished, so it just hurts.
So, I am probably going to be pretty glad to go back to my Ameda. It may be old and the engine may be a little slow, but at least the tubing never gets drippy, and I can do one-sided pumping!
*NOTE: I was not paid or given any consideration by Ameda or Medela for this review – these are products I tried on my own and this is what I think about them.
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I have a Playtex double pump and it frickin’ rocks. The Medela is overrated!
Hmmm…I used the Medela Pump in Style Advanced (which was awesome and would get like 8-10 ounces out in about 15 minutes) and you could totally just do 1 breast at a time. In fact, to increase my production at one point, I nursed Dex on one breast and if he didn’t want to nurse on the other, I would pump the other by its lonesome. Maybe the hospital grade is different?
Ok, scratch that – it was more like 10 minutes.
Yeah, the moisture thing was kind of a pain but I would just let the machine run with the tubes hanging upside down (over a chair or something) while I washed all the parts. When I would go back to turn off the machine, the tubing was dry.
In addition to the 2 phase system for triggering let-down, I also liked that you could control the level of pressure.
Ok, I promise I’m not being paid by Medela to advertise. 😉
I have been using Medela symphony from last three months now, from my personal experience I feel it’s really the best, I don’t think there is any other pump that can beat it.
The Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pumps work great, and are much more reasonably priced.
I am begining to have “supply issues” [ret’d to work] and a lac consultant at my hospotal recommended the Medela over the Ameda. They rent the Ameda, but she recommended that I find a Medela renter and use it … not sure if this’ll help anyone. I’m picking up my Medela Symphony this weekend.
Ok, I know I’m late to the party, but I just wanted to say that you can pump just one side with the symphony. You just have to lift the top and pop off one of the round magnetic tube holder thingies. They showed me when I rented it.
I’m glad to hear you’ve had good luck with your Ameda – I am getting one second-hand as well!
How are you comparing a hospital grade breast pump to a personal use? Regardless, I’d be willing to bet the Ameda Purely Yours Breastpump works better than the Symphony. It is also about $800 cheaper. So its really no comparison.
I am debating between the Medela Freestyle and the Ameda Purely Yours. I have the Medela Pump in Style (hand me down from my sister in law), which works GREAT! However, we are about to start some lengthy traveling and I would like something a little more portable. That is why I am looking at the Medela Freestyle, you can put it IN a different bag than having it permanently affixed to a backpack/briefcase/bag.
Any suggestions between these two?
I am not sure about Medela vs Ameda since I have not used Medela. I do know that the Ameda system does not get moisture in the tubes and the Medela does. So if you think you might not be able to properly clean the Medela, Ameda might be easier to keep clean…
All you needed to do to pump one side was to remove the membrane cap from the side you didnt want to use.
run the medela without bottles connected and it will clean out the tubing…
I purchased the Ameda Purely Yours and it is the worst purchase I’ve ever made. I got about two drops in an hour of that piece of junk running. And before I get some insane questions about whether it was hooked up right or whether I was using the correct flanges the answer is yes…Do not purchase anything from Ameda. $300 later and I’m using a manual medela pump. You cant return breast pumps so heed my warning please. I could cry – I’m that upset!
If you liked the Ameda Purely Yours, you will flip over the new Ameda Platinum. It beats the Medela Symphony hands down. Faster speed, higher suction, more choices and the hygienic closed system Ameda is famous for. Check out this comparison:
http://www.lactationconnection.com/platinum_breast_pump_comparison.aspx