As a mom to a breastfeeding newborn, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to try out Medela’s FreeStyle Breastpump. Billed as a “revolutionary” pump that allows moms freedom during their pumping sessions while maintaining the power of traditional Medela pumps like the Pump in Style, I could not wait to see how it would work for me.

What's included

The FreeStyle package has everything you need to get started. Included are the pump, rechargeable battery, tubing, two breastshield and valve assemblies, four breastmilk storage bottles with lids, a cooler with ice pack, hands-free assemblies, elastic bands to attach to the pump and use as a waistband, and a black shoulder bag. The hands-free assemblies have parts for a small and large size as well as adapters that allow the assemblies to work with three different types of nursing bras.

The pump itself

The design of the actual pump in the FreeStyle package is the reason it is billed as “revolutionary.” The pump is small, lightweight, and completely portable, much different from almost everything else on the market.


Over three and a half weeks of using this pump, there are a lot of features that I have come to love. First, the actual pump is not attached to its bag (as is the case with many other Medela pumps), so I don’t have to haul around the bag to pump. The pump is also small and weighs in at less than a pound, making it easy to carry in the palm of my hand or attach to the included Velcro waistband. These two characteristics of the design alone make this pump a gem in my book, a huge step up from the rather weighty pump of my Pump in Style that is attached to an unattractive black backpack.

Another pump feature is the implementation of Medela’s 2-Phase Expression technology, which offers a faster phase to induce letdown, and a second, stronger phase that is most effective for getting milk. Users can change the strength of each of these phases on a level from 1 to 9. This is nothing new to Medela pumps, however on this pump, everything is controlled digitally with the push of a button. The pump is set to automatically switch from the letdown to the regular phase after two minutes, but users can press a letdown button to change the phase if milk letdown occurs before that time. The button can also switch users back to the letdown phase, which was really helpful for me. I was able to get more milk if I went back to the letdown phase about halfway through pumping when my output slowed.

Because the pump is digitally controlled, there are some additional features on the FreeStyle that aren’t available on other Medela pumps. For one thing, the pump has a memory function. When started, the pump will remember the strength of each phase during the current pumping session, as well as the time used for the letdown phase, and automatically start with those settings when the pump is programmed. I have not used this setting as much as I thought I would because the time for letdown for me changes each time, and I like the pump to start on a low level while I adjust the horns to their correct position. Others might find it more helpful. The digital pump also comes with an LCD display that shows the strength at which the pump is functioning, the battery meter, and a timer that runs during the pumping session (a surprisingly helpful feature so that I am not constantly looking at my watch).

The FreeStyle comes with its own rechargeable battery, which is billed to go for three hours. For me, this is the biggest advantage over other pumps because it is easy to move around - you do not ever have to be connected to the wall. Other Medela pumps do come with a battery setup that you can use, but you need to provide your own batteries, and some require as many as 8 AA batteries! The battery seems to live up to its billing; after three and a half weeks of use for about ten minutes a day, the battery is just now needing to be recharged.

Pumping with the FreeStyle

Getting ready to pump with the FreeStyle is a fairly straightforward process. The first time I used the pump, I was able to get it up and running (without the hands-free devices - more on that below) in just a few minutes. The breastshields and valves are attached to two of the included storage bottles, and then attached by way of tubing to the pump. The tubing can be set up to do either single or double pumping.

(As a side note, the breast shield bodies, valves, and tubing for the FreeStyle are not compatible with other Medela pumps, and vice versa. If you have an older pump, you will unfortunately not be able to use those parts to supplement what comes with the FreeStyle. A FreeStyle spare parts kit is available.)

Once all the parts are hooked up, the pump starts with the press of a button. The strength of the pump can be changed simply by pressing the + or - buttons on the front of the pump. Very straightforward.

For me, this pump works remarkably well, and I am able to complete a pumping session in about ten minutes when double pumping. This is one of the best reasons to put out the big bucks for a Medela pump to begin with - it is fast and effective, making pumping a breeze.

Adding hands-free functionality

One of my biggest complaints about the Pump in Style Advanced that I used previously was that I couldn’t do anything else. The problem wasn’t just that I had to be plugged into the wall - I needed both hands to keep the pump on my chest. Trying to answer the phone or even change the channel on the television required some major acrobatic acts of balance in order to avoid loosening or even dropping and spilling the bottles.

The hands-free system that is included in the FreeStyle is part of the reason this pump is touted as “revolutionary.” When I first saw all the parts though, I was pretty intimidated. In fact, I put off trying them for a whole week!


Now that I have gone hands-free, I have to say that the system really is a breeze to use after you assemble it for the first time. The system comes set up to work with Medela’s nursing bras and tanks, but there are two additional sets of adapters so that it can be used with most nursing bras. (Mine are from Motherhood and worked just fine with one set of the adapters.) The basic design of the hands-free devices allow each bottle to be held on at three points: On the clip at the top of the nursing bra, and on the band of the bra, on each side of the cup. Sizing can be adjusted to an individual user by changing the length of the top strap and using either the small or large lower supports.

So does this system actually work? For me, yes, it does. I have used the hands-free system quite a bit: Once when I was coloring with my twins, in the morning when I am working to get breakfast on the table for everyone, and even one time when I was stuck in a traffic jam on my way to a meeting and knew I wouldn’t have time to pump in the car once I got there. (Luckily, I have a tall car, and it was starting to get dark.)

The most helpful part about going hands-free is that I am able to nurse and pump at the same time. My main goal with pumping right now is to do so once a day to build up a stash so that I can leave the house without jumping through major hoops. So once a day, first thing in the morning, I try to pump. The hands-free system allows me to get the pump set up and then pump one side while my son nurses on the other, and then switch. This accomplishes the same thing as if I double-pumped immediately after nursing, but it saves a ton of time.

It is important to note that, because of their design, the hands-free devices do not work if you are not wearing a nursing bra with hooks.

Could this same functionality be achieved by buying a hands-free pumping bra? Probably. It seems to me that the bottles are held on better with the Medela system than with a nursing bra designed for hands-free pumping functionality. Plus, with this system, Medela has made the FreeStyle hands-free right out of the box.

Other accessories

The four BPA-free storage bottles that are included with the pump work great. They are lightweight and easy to use. With the Pump in Style Advanced that I own, the bottles were taller and narrower, making them top-heavy and prone to tipping over when the breastshield assembly was attached. At that point, Medela sold their pumps with bottle stands to help prevent this problem. Although these bottles are still a little top-heavy, I haven’t yet had any spills.

My wish for the bottles is that Medela would include collars, nipples, and caps for them so that they could be used to feed the baby if desired. When I looked for these parts at my local Babies 'R' Us, all I could find was the nipples. These parts can be ordered directly from the company by calling them at 800-435-8316, but the cost of the collar is $2.60, and the cost of the cap is $1.70, which comes to $4.30 without yet purchasing the nipple. Complete bottle sets with the same bottle as is included with the pump are sold for $4.99 apiece, so buying the parts is not really an economical choice.

The cooler that is included with the pump works fine. The ice pack that is included is designed to sit in the center of the cooler and allow all four bottles to slip in around it. Although it is not too difficult to come up with your own cooler, it is definitely convenient to have one that is small enough to fit in the bag with all the breast pump accessories and designed to hold all four bottles securely.

The bag that is included with the FreeStyle is designed so that it is not obviously a breast pump bag, a welcome change from the backpack that came with my Pump in Style Advanced. All the parts fit in well with the cooler, although that is about all that will fit. Working mothers who might want to bring extra sets of breast shields and valves for pumping multiple times during the day will be hard-pressed to find room if the cooler is also in the bag.

I did buy a few extra things to help make my experience with the FreeStyle a little more convenient. Medela’s Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags have been perfect for cleaning the breast shield and valve assemblies after each pumping session. I just rinse the parts off, put them in the bag, and zap them in the microwave for 90 seconds. Voila! Clean pump parts for the next day. I also bought Medela’s Pump & Save Breastmilk Storage Bags for freezing milk. They are designed to be attached to the pump in lieu of a bottle, but I found that the ounce measurements on the bags were fairly inaccurate, so I just use them for freezing after measuring out portions in a bottle.

The price factor

When trying to decide whether or not to buy this pump, I think it is important that people think if they need or would use the functionality for which they are paying. Do you want or need a pump that allows you freedom of movement while pumping and allows you to pump in a place that doesn't have an electrical outlet handy.

Is this pump really cool? Yes. Is it really convenient to be able to walk around if necessary and not be plugged into a wall? Yes. Does this pump perform its essential function (pumping milk) any better than less expensive Medela pumps? Not really. I do think it increased my milk volume a bit by allowing me to switch back to the letdown mode, but the Pump In Style does a perfectly adequate job.

The FreeStyle’s list price is $379.99, while the Pump in Style Advanced is listed for $279.99, so consumers should really examine whether the $100 is worth it. I think for those people who are pumping in an office environment or pumping multiple times a day, the money would be well spent. For the rest of us, it is a toss-up that really depends on your lifestyle.

Bottom line

The Medela FreeStyle really is revolutionary in its design - moms don’t have to be tied down for ten to twenty minutes at a time while pumping. They can check email, talk on the phone, wash dishes, or even sit in a traffic jam and pump at the same time. For me, with a newborn and twin boys that are just under three, the extra money for portability is well-spent - I figure it is only an extra $2 a week over the first year, which is a pittance for my sanity. Most of all, the FreeStyle lives up to the Medela name and does a great job pumping, making the entire process easy on harried moms.

Think it might be for you? Check it out on Amazon. - Sara I.