https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:14:04 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2834014 Sat, 14 Jul 2018 20:19:38 +0000 LCTBQE 2834014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: I didn't know you were pregnant! Have been offline a lot lately, I missed your update--that is wonderful, congratulations :heart:<br /> @crazydoglady: haha, I'm bashfully excited, too :) I really want to see if I get a better yield. I have never heard one negative thing about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2834012 Sat, 14 Jul 2018 19:19:00 +0000 pachamama 2834012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@crazydoglady: I also am excited to get the Spectra even though I probably won't use it too much (I'm gonna take a while off work). Thank you so much for thinking of me, I needed that right now. I am 14 weeks. It's been a long 14 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2833995 Sat, 14 Jul 2018 14:12:47 +0000 crazydoglady 2833995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: This is great to hear! I feel a little dorky but I am somewhat "excited" to get my new spectra pump. I like the idea of the nightlight, massage feature, and better suction. Oh and a closed system (Ameda and spectra) has a mechanism to prevent milk getting into the tubing and motor, but a open system doesn't and milk can actually get into the motor. An open system can never truly be sanitized because of this.</p> <p>Totally random, but how many weeks are you now? I am so happy for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2833989 Sat, 14 Jul 2018 12:51:41 +0000 pachamama 2833989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: what does open system mean?</p> <p>Fwiw, my coworker absolutely loved her Spectra 2. She was able to EP for her son for a year even as a teacher with the worst timed breaks. But i have never used the freestyle.<br /> I am saying goodbye to my Medela Pump in Style and getting the Spectra 2 this time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2833935 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 23:32:03 +0000 crazydoglady 2833935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: I actually ordered my Spectra 2 a couple days ago and it's already shipped! I am really curious to see how it compares with output, too. I found out that the avent bottles are compatible with the Spectra. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2833920 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 21:39:16 +0000 periwinklebee 2833920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: That's awesome - I hope it works well for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2833911 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 20:36:06 +0000 LCTBQE 2833911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: @crazydoglady: @avivoca: @Hypatia: @CatchAFallingStar: @ShootingStar: this thread's old but following up to say I finally got around to ordering, and the decision was made for me--in my new state the Freestyle wasn't available through my insurance *at all*, even for an upgrade fee (last time I paid $200 to upgrade from the free PISA). BUT the Spectra S2 was available and free, so I got that one and plan to keep it at the office since it's not portable. I'm looking forward to seeing if my output is better with this one, although might not be fair to compare it to my 2016 Freestyle because that thing took a beating (12 months, pumped 4x/day). </p> <p>@ShootingStar: maybe it'll be obvious when I see it, but can you explain how you hacked it with the sippy cup part? I really do like the Medela parts and bottles, and I already have a double set of them all, so I'd like the option to use them. </p> <p>@CatchAFallingStar: did you have the Medela PISA or Freestyle?</p> <p>@avivoca: @crazydoglady: I don't even know why Ameda bothers, I have never heard one single thing about their pumps besides how mediocre-to-awful they are. crazydoglady did you order yours yet?</p> <p>@Hypatia: thank you for this! I'll look on amazon for the adaptors if I can't figure out how to hack it myself :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828781 Sat, 16 Jun 2018 19:30:18 +0000 ShootingStar 2828781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had both and I liked my spectra better. I got the freestyle with my first pregnancy and liked it fine. But I decided to try the spectra with my 2nd one and I liked it a lot more. I tried once to use th feeestyke again and I don’t know if the performance had suffered because of the 2+ years of no use, or if it just wasn’t as good as the spectra. But the spectra worked better and felt better. </p> <p>I did use a hack though to use my medela parts with it. I got extra medela tubing and I used a silicone part from a sippy cup we didn’t like to connect the tubes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828772 Sat, 16 Jun 2018 16:34:38 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2828772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: I love the Spectra S2! I used the Medela with my first and I feel like the Spectra is so much faster. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828738 Sat, 16 Jun 2018 08:52:44 +0000 crazydoglady 2828738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: Good to know! Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828729 Sat, 16 Jun 2018 06:42:51 +0000 avivoca 2828729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@crazydoglady: FYIyou can use your Amedaparts with the Spectra without hacking. </p> <p>OP: my Spectra as 1000x better than my Ameda. I highly recommend it. Yes, it’s kind of a beast to lug around but there are stylish bags that fit them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828723 Sat, 16 Jun 2018 01:17:05 +0000 Hypatia 2828723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: the Spectra has cheap adaptors available for Medela. </p> <p>I had a PISA, and I rented a Symphony for three months. Spectra was MUCH more comfortable than the PISA with significantly better output, and about the same as the Symphony (I got only slightly better output on the $1500 Symphony, and I like the vibration of the Spectra more). </p> <p>The price is so cheap for the one without a battery that I'd just buy two (or get insurance to buy one and I buy the other) to keep one at work and at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828721 Sat, 16 Jun 2018 00:56:39 +0000 crazydoglady 2828721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: I actually had the Ameda because I thought I wouldn't need a pump until I went back to work but ended up needing to pump right after birth because DS was dehydrated. That was all the closest medical supply store had. It was ok and I liked the closed system, so I am pretty sure I will just get the Spectra. Are you leaning one way or the other? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828703 Fri, 15 Jun 2018 21:05:02 +0000 LCTBQE 2828703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: ah, sounds like maybe you had a PISA--the Freestyle is very small and super portable and not attached to any bag. Was your milk output noticeably better with the Spectra?<br /> ETA my Freestyle did come with the black nylon Medela tote--I work in the fashion industry and the two coolest and chicest women I know at work stopped me to compliment it and asked where i got it, hahaha. I was like, are you fucking with me here?? they were not! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828700 Fri, 15 Jun 2018 20:55:33 +0000 Becky 2828700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The Spectra was so much more efficient for me. Also my Medela came in a black Medela bag which I couldn’t stand. I stuck my Spectra in a regular bag I had. It was definitely lighter and I like that it had a handle on top. I didn’t like that the Medela pump was built into a hard to clean bag and that if you needed to clean the bag you had to travel with a weird metal box (the pump) until it dried. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828693 Fri, 15 Jun 2018 20:06:42 +0000 LCTBQE 2828693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Litebrite: @periwinklebee: @Mrsbells: @rattles: sorry for the late reply and thanks for the information, ladies. I think I need to figure out if the new pump would just live at my office or not--but I'm not sure if my 2016 Freestyle's motor is less powerful now after 12 months of intense use and also not sure (hopeful though) whether this girl is going to be as non-committal a nurser as my son was. it's really tempting to order the Spectra when I hear people talk about the difference in output, but if I'm using it at home I do care a LOT about portability, plus I want a reliable appliance. zzzz.... gonna marinate some more. thank you though!</p> <p>@crazydoglady: what are you going to do? did you have the freestyle last time too? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828418 Thu, 14 Jun 2018 10:09:14 +0000 Mrsbells 2828418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rattles: my spectra did the same thing! It took a while to get a replacement so i had to buy a cheap pump while i waited for the replacement </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828414 Thu, 14 Jun 2018 09:50:47 +0000 rattles 2828414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a Medela PISA with my first two and Spectra with my third. I preferred the comfort and noise level of the spectra but the portability of the Medela. My output was comparable. My Spectra stopped working at only a few months old, and their customer service was unhelpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828394 Thu, 14 Jun 2018 08:45:12 +0000 Mrsbells 2828394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: i had the spectra last time. I agree that carrying it around is tricky. It also doesnt come with any accessories like a carry bag, ice pack etc. This will be my 3rd child and I have avoided medela because I dont like thr open system but i am seriously considering it for this 3rd time around </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828331 Thu, 14 Jun 2018 06:08:07 +0000 Litebrite 2828331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oops, where I said "harmony" above I really meant "symphony" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828301 Wed, 13 Jun 2018 21:19:36 +0000 crazydoglady 2828301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: bless you for asking this question! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828295 Wed, 13 Jun 2018 20:58:14 +0000 periwinklebee 2828295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: They are exactly the same except one has a battery and one doesn't. The battery has worked great for pumping on a plane, etc but may not be necessary if you want one to just park in your office. </p> <p>If you want a pump for the office anyway - which I assume you might given the long commute - then I don't see any downside to the spectra, since you won't be lugging it around, beyond that you'll need Spectra parts... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828294 Wed, 13 Jun 2018 20:54:51 +0000 Litebrite 2828294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The spectra is not very portable. I've never used the freestyle but compared to the PISA and Harmony the things I liked about the spectra was how quiet it was, the vibrating suction, and that you could adjust speed and power separately. I got same output as with the hospital grade harmony.</p> <p>I'd recommend it. I used a spectra at home and medela at work and I didn't think it was a big deal to have two sets of parts. They also have adapters for almost anything on Amazon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828292 Wed, 13 Jun 2018 20:52:45 +0000 LCTBQE 2828292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: oh interesting!! actually I posted this before I properly did my homework--not sure about whether the S2 or the S1 is the version that gets all the good press (or are they comparable?) yeah, it isn't terribly expensive, especially given how much I anticipate using it. I thought the freestyle was fine, but I don't know if my output would have been better with something else (it was fair for sure but I always had to supplement to the tune of probably 20-25% of his diet--dude was a milk monster though). I'm so glad you got it resolved, that's great :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828289 Wed, 13 Jun 2018 20:46:48 +0000 periwinklebee 2828289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Spectra &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt; Freestyle. No clogged ducts, no mastitis, around 15% better output (I think it may have helped more in that regard if I'd started using it before 3 months in). On the downside, it is way bulkier. I walk to daycare and the office and it's a pretty long walk, so I got one for the office and one for home. An added expense, but the price is reasonable, especially if you don't need the battery for one of them. It is a pain to lug when traveling... if I didn't have issues with clogged ducts and infections I might feel differently, but it was a game changer for me. If my only option was the freestyle, I'm not sure I could have continued breastfeeding, because it just didn't empty me out which inevitably led to clogs, whereas it sounds like the freestyle worked fine for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spectra-vs-medela-freestyle#post-2828285 Wed, 13 Jun 2018 20:34:31 +0000 LCTBQE 2828285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone tried both, or does anyone have a strong opinion here? I got the Freestyle last time and liked it (loved how it fit in my robe pocket, commuter friendly, etc) but have heard good things about the Spectra S2. </p> <p>I was initially going to get a second Freestyle with my insurance just to not overthink it and have matching parts, but if you think the Spectra is better I'd love to hear why. Greater output or anything really significant?? Is it as portable? </p> <p>Last time around I used the pump starting around 8 weeks and had a not-great nurser, I work FT and ended up alllllmost being EP by about 5 months, and I pumped 4x a day until I quit at 12 months, so, the Freestyle got quite a lot of use. </p>