https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 20 May 2026 21:51:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-83005 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:45:38 +0000 MamaCate 83005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennimac: I pump directly into the medela bottles that come with the pump, then put them in the cooler bag that comes with the pump, which is stored in the fridge at work. I store the milk at home in reusable milk-mate storage bottles (4 oz) so I transfer it once I am home. I am still figuring out how everything works so I may eventually pump directly into the storage bottles (the screw tops are interchangeable), and skip a step. Right now I sometimes pump more than 4 oz a side in the morning so it is nice to have the 5 oz medela bottles. </p> <p>It seems like some people like having the detached pump...for me the bag is easy because I know all the pump parts are together and ready to go, and I just add that bag to the many other shoulder bags I am carrying (purse, work bag, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-83001 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:32:09 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 83001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennimac: My husband insisted because I have so many over shoulder bags that I carry on a daily basis (diaper bag, messenger bag, purse). I don't like the look as much as the tote, but it's super convenient. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82924 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:28:06 +0000 banana 82924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennimac: I really liked that the pump wasn't attached to the bag. If you want the pump detached from the bag, definitely go for the Metro or the Freestyle (hands-free pumping). :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82875 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:21:04 +0000 T.H.O.U. 82875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, for me, I wanted to be as dedicated as I could to breastfeeding, so buying the top of the line pump made sense. Plus, I'm sure I have saved that much money from not buying formula.! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82869 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:17:37 +0000 amy 82869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would go with the freestyle, the price difference is definitely worth it. Especially if you are commuting, its smaller, lighter, it use rechargeable batteries so you don't need to carry the plug adapter, and it comes with the hand free kits ( i know you can buy the special bras for the other ones but its a definite perk that it comes with it). I had the metro bag with my first and for my second I got the freestyle and didn't regret spending the extra money. What lead me to getting the metro over the PIS is the fact that the pump wasn't built into the bag. I just found one big bag that could fit everything i needed to carry and used that. Carrying your purse, laptop, pump bag was just too much and if you throw in lunch bag there too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82823 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:41:25 +0000 T.H.O.U. 82823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have the Freestyle and I LOVE that it is not attached to a bag. I would hate having to have a bag sit next to me while pumping. I just set the small little pump next to me and I"m good to go. Also, when I need to pump just once, I can just put the pump in a separate bag. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82799 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:18:15 +0000 singingbee 82799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: That's good to know! I tend to be more of a tote person than a backpack, but my husband pointed out that it might be easier to carry the backpack with all the other stuff I'll have to be carrying daily once the baby comes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82797 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:17:05 +0000 singingbee 82797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow! More wonderful responses! </p> <p>@banana: What made you go with the Metro rather than the other PIS? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82786 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:58:47 +0000 banana 82786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have the metro tote bag and what I like about it is that the pump isn't attached to the bag (it's separate) so you can use a different bag if you want (any bag you want really). I liked being able to take it out of the bag when I travelled. I just pumped straight into the bottles and then placed the bottles in the cooler bag that came with the medela pump kit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82785 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:57:30 +0000 anbanan15 82785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also have the tote version of the PISA and after 9 months of pumping with it I love it (my non-Medela pump broke after 1 month of use so definitely get Medela)! I'm not a backpack person so for me it came down to preference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82783 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:55:35 +0000 singingbee 82783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: I'm going to be a pump-at-work mom and I'm just trying to think ahead so I can put things on our registry that will work for that. Do you pump into the bags or the bottles? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82782 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:55:27 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 82782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have the backpack and it's the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82781 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:54:36 +0000 singingbee 82781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great! Thanks you guys for the responses! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82484 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:49:12 +0000 MamaCate 82484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have the tote and have been happy with it one week into being a pump-at-work mom. The pump is built in to the bag so you just open a panel, plug things in, and gget started. It has been easy to use. I dont know if the backpack is the same? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82455 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:08:09 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 82455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's just what you prefer to carry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/difference-between-the-medela-pumps#post-82451 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:12:12 +0000 singingbee 82451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going to register for a medela pump in style. My question to y'all is there a difference between the tote and the backpack? Or is it just what I'd prefer to carry? </p>