Reviews of the Medela breast pump from real moms...

" The pump I'm receiving is my 3rd
pump - I've returned another pump already for the same design flaw.

The thing is, I wonder how many women don't
realize the problem? Most women are/were
like me. I bought this pump because it was supposed to be the best - I really knew nothing about pumps - just that I needed one - just a model below the symphony - (didn't have THAT
much cash, LOL) and it is a nice pump, but I really wish there was a way to 'try before you buy' - ya know?
That way, I could have tried all the models and then realized which one would truly be best for me. I NEVER use the letdown feature. According to Medela, that's the major difference between the pis and the pisa. The design flaw of the 2 pump plug working its way loose is a gradual
thing, and unless you're really attune to it, you may not even notice, but you WILL start noticing after about a week? or so that your daily milk
output is decreasing - and you won't know why" BettyAnn- Newwark, Ohio

And another one:

" Lynn, Can you help? Its very urgent, as my milk supply is decreasing because the pump is not effecive and Medela could basically care less." Danyel Brown- las Vegas Nevada

The only thing that separates the Pump In Style Advanced from other Pump In Style series is its "one touch let-down" button. This button allows the motor to switch automatically to a light and fast phase of pumping. Users should use this feature at the beginning to mimic babies' initial suckling pattern to stimulate the milk let down. Once the milk let-down (milk ejection reflex) comes, this phase needs to be de-activated and the pump returns to normal pumping. Unfortunately, the manufacturer has not quite mastered the art of making these "Advanced breast pumps" yet. The pump motors are not effective in switching from the Let-down mode to the expession mode. After the One-touch-let-down button is deactivated, the pump goes slower (which is what it supposed to do) But its suciton power does not increase. This slow and light suction is not efficient in extracting milk. Over a period of about 5 to 10 days, milksupply will decrease.

Or, the whole unit just dies, and many of them did, a very high number of them did, in fact!

LB