Before I had my baby, I was set on breastfeeding and pumping for convenience. This way I could not only take advantage of Dad’s availability but also because I want to have some milk stored in the freezer just in case.  Who knows, maybe I should have tried selling it too?  I didn’t…but the thought crossed my mind!

When Medela offered me the opportunity to try out their Medela Freestyle Breast pump I was elated.  This pump retails at $379.99 but is worth every penny, especially if you plan to pump several times a day!  It’s portable, lightweight, efficient, portable, and best of all hands-free!

Medela Freestyle Breast Pump Features:

• Hands free operation
• Double breast pump
• 2 expression modes to mimic natural eating rhythm
• Rechargeable batteries provide 3 hours use
• Clear end easy to read LCD screen {even in the dark}
• Memory button storage of favorite pumping patterns {How cool?!}
• 4 five-ounce storage containers
• 2 Softfit breast shields, replacement adaptors, spare parts and much more included
• 1 year motor warranty
• 12 Volt car adapter {Sold separately}

I’ll be honest, when I first opened the box my glee slowly dwindled as I took inventory of all the parts the Medela Freestyle Breastpump had.  I wondered what I had gotten myself into.  While the task was daunting at first, it took  me all of 5 minutes to assemble.   The do-hickeys and thing-a-majigs come clearly marked and the instructions made it a breeze.  Later attempts took at a maximum of two minutes.  However, I would recommend assembling it and reading over the instruction manual before the baby arrives.   That way you can avoid flipping pages and fumbling with parts while you’re in a very emotional state.

If you are already a mom who pumps you understand the benefits of a hands-free pump.  For everyone else, there are huge challenges when trying to accomplish anything without a hands-free pump.  One hand is holding the cup to breast and the other hand is holding the device itself so unless you find a way to balance the pump on your arm while you play with your phone or type on a computer, it’s pretty much impossible to do anything else besides sit and wait.  For breastfeeding moms who plan to head back to work or who just want to maximize their time, this technology is indispensable.

The Freestyle weighs less than one pound, fits in the palm of your hand, and it comes with a handy belt clip for pumping on the go.  While I would rather sit and pump, I can certainly see the advantages of this feature!  If you have other kids running around you’ll most definitely want a pump that has this option!

This is probably the least glamorous aspect but the most functional!  This pump is the most efficient one on the market {in my opinion} because of it’s two phases, stimulation and expression.  It simulates the baby’s stimulation for two minutes or until you press the let-down button.  Then, it switches to expression mode for faster milk collection.  If you generally pump at the same time each day,  you can program the vacuum comfort level and the timing of the stimulation phase.  Isn’t that amazing?  Medela is the standard when it comes to breastpumps!  All of Medela’s models and accessories are BPA-free and Phthalate-free.  It’s very quiet so you can pump discreetly.

Medela’s Freestyle breast pump was made to simplify motherhood. This pump has everything you need for fast, breast pumping on-the-go, all contained in an easy to grab, cute shoulder bag.

Among other retailers worldwide, you can purchase Medela at Destination Maternity, A Pea in the Pod, Motherhood Maternity, JCPenney, Babies R Us, and Amazon.

Disclosure:   Medela sent me a Freestyle Hands-Free Pump to enable my review; however, all opinions shared in this post are completely my own.