If you’re looking for the best electric double breast milk pump, these two models have almost certainly come up in your search. After months of using both models I’m going to break down the pros and cons of each which will hopefully help you make the best choice for your needs.
BACKGROUND
First, a little background. I’ve had the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump for three years now, going back to the birth of my first born. I used that pump for a year while I was nursing him. I didn’t then (nor do I now) exclusively pump. Instead, I use my pump about three times a day on weekdays while I am at work.
WHY DO I HAVE BOTH?!
Since pumps are discounted through my insurance provider, I decided to follow my dreams and get a second pump for this, my second kid. My pick was the highly rated (yet deliciously affordable) Spectra S2 Plus Premier Electric Breast Pump. It’s a hospital grade machine for a fraction of the price of other “pro” models.
TESTING
I’ve been using both for a few months now, following my afore mentioned three times a day on weekday schedule. There is no rhyme or reason to which one I use when, so I am simply providing an average, overall review of both. I’m sure scientists everywhere would be outraged by my total and utter lack of methodology, but I’ll press on none-the-less.
SPECTRA S2
Can I first say, how stinkin’ precious is this milk pump?? It’s like something right out of the minds of Sanrio, fit for Hello Kitty herself. It’s a heavy-ish pink and white orb with a handle, and a plug. That’s right, the Spectra S2 Plus plugs into the wall for power, unlike the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump, which charges like a cell phone and holds battery power. So, right off the bat I would say, the Spectra is not as travel-friendly as Medela Pump and Go.
However, what it lacks in portability, it makes up for in other areas. I’m just going to give my straight up opinion here: the Spectra feels better while in use. Something about its suction and vibration make for a more comfortable experience than the Medela. And the sound is better. I realize that I might be the only one out there who cares, but certain sounds get to me. Like clicking on a computer mouse. And, every once and a while the sound of the Medela realllly starts to get to me and I end up rocking back and forth in the chair to distract myself from the sounds.
With the Spectra, I’m never annoyed by the droning sounds of the machine and it even lulls me into some pleasant daydreams (love!).
I also think that I get more milk out with the Spectra S2, but not enough to make a big say-so about it. I’ll continue to monitor my milk output and update this post if I notice a big difference between the two devices. Actually, I’ve never been a great milk producer, but I get by. So, if I had to pick the machine to help increase production, I would go with the Spectra.
MEDELA FREESTYLE
Okay, so I am now seeing that these “categories” aren’t really helpful, and I just sort of went back and forth in the pump reviews up above. But again, I’ll press on. The Medela Freestyle Breast Pump is a small, yellow handheld device that charges like a phone, meaning you can plug it into the wall to use or charge and then it will run off of battery power. With my three-times-a-day use, the charge usually lasts about a week before I need to recharge. The pro of this feature is that you can pump anywhere! Outside, in a car, in a box, with a fox. Anywhere. You are not tethered to a wall outlet for 20 minutes at a time. This is what I love most about the Medela, and why I still continue to use it on a regular basis, even if I don’t like it’s other features quite as much as the Spectra.
Another big plus for Medela is their accessories. They have widely available replacement parts and, most importantly, bottles and nipples. The whole range of gear (in that recognizable soft yellow shade) works really well together. The bottles you pump in have nipples, caps, storage organizers, and coolers all designed around the preservation of your milk. Now, to be fair, Spectra does have accessories and replacement parts you can order straight off of Amazon (is a life without Prime’s two day shipping really a life at all?), but you can’t just run out to Walmart at 10pm for a nipple because all of yours are in the cooler you left at daycare.
ANOTHER OPTION
While the medical supplier I used through my insurance company did not offer the more expensive Spectra S1 Plus Premier (the blue one), I must bring this up as another option. This seems to be the same quality as the pink Spectra S2 model which I’ve reviewed here, but it is rechargeable like the Medela Freestyle, so it’s like the best of both worlds! It will likely be bigger and heavier than the small handheld shape of the Medela Freestyle Pump but it is slightly lower in price.
If you are in the market for an electric breast pump, I hope this comparison helped you to come to a conclusion. By all means, please reach out and let me know if you have any other questions, because Lord knows these are pricey pieces of baby gear that you don’t want to have to purchase over again.
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