So I'm thinking of buying the Medela PISA that @septemberlove has for sale (so don't steal it from me, ladies!!!!) but I wanted to get other Medela PISA users inputs!
I currently have the Avent Twin Electric Breastpump and I THOUGHT it was just fine, but I've realized that it takes me FOREVER to empty my breasts and I'm wondering if it might be the pump or just me.
Do you have a Medela PISA? Do you love it?
24 votes
persimmon / 1427 posts
I used the Medela Freestyle and LOVED it! I'm sure the PIS is great too, but I really loved the small size and portability of the Freestyle.
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
Yes. It was my go-to pump for 11 months. It worked wonderfully. I would buy it again in a heartbeat. I pumped for 15-20 minutes at each session.
grapefruit / 4681 posts
I would totally go for it!
I had the Avent one before the PISA. I used it briefly before it malfunctioned and was able to exchanged it towards the PISA. It was a HUGE difference!! Honestly no comparison in my mind. Now I wish I would have spent the little extra and upgraded to the freestyle 
Although it looks like insurance will cover that upgrade for me this time around (I had DS right before insurance started providing pumps).
nectarine / 2631 posts
I have a Pisa , it works pretty well. I empty in about 20 minutes. I just hate pumping so much!!!
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@Bluebonnet: I agree with this! My friend has tried both her PISA and my Freestyle and she greatly preferred the freestyle due to the size and she felt like it had a stronger battery.
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
@Adira: I LOVE it! I bought mine 3 years ago when free breast pumps weren't the norm, and I'm still using it now with my 2nd kid even though I did get a free Ameda Purely Yours this time around. The suction is great and it feels so much more powerful than my Ameda. I feel like it gets more milk out.
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts
Girl, think you should go for it. Just think how much of your life you could get back if pumping time was cut in half?! I am done in 10-20 minutes and I don't have stellar supply... Just average. I have a slowish let down and have never leaked so I know I am not bursting with milk.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
You ladies are so helpful!!! I think I might do it!!! I just need to find out if it comes with bottles or anything because I'd hate to have to go out and buy a ton of extra stuff just to use the pump. But it would be AMAZING if I could get away with pumping for only 20 minutes!!! Currently when I pump, it's always 30-40 minutes (well, 30 at work because of time constraints, but often longer at home). AND I just discovered that if I pump first thing in the morning (instead of nursing - I was away for the weekend), it took me OVER AN HOUR to even come CLOSE to emptying the boobs - and they STILL weren't empty!!!!
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts
@Adira: Oh hmmm.... I don't think I ever pump to "empty". I pump until they go soft and the flow slows down. It seems to dribble FOREVER though if I just keep going. Then I get a second let down. I rarely do that. I usually just stop when I have a reasonable amount unless it is just pouring out still.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@travellingbee: Well, I feel like with one of my boobs, I get a good amount out right at the beginning, but the other one's a slow flow and it takes FOREVER to get the same amount out as boob #1 (well, I never get the same amount out, but at least a reasonable amount). Not sure if it's just my boobs or if maybe a different pump would do a better job...
nectarine / 2667 posts
I think it's great, but I've never used a different pump. I pump 20 minutes and sometimes go longer for more milk (like 30), but 20 minutes plus 5 for set up/take down is my usual.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@mewtill: That would be AWESOME. I currently go down to pump early so I can get a full 30 minutes of pumping in. And I'm barely keeping up with Xander's intake. I wonder if a better pump might do a better job and then this wouldn't be so stressful...
nectarine / 2667 posts
@Adira: I always get more out of one side than the other. I usually stop the pump, dump some milk from the more full bottle into the emptier bottle and then keep pumping.
GOLD / pomelo / 5737 posts
I only pumped for like six weeks but I really liked it. However next time the freestyle seems worthwhile.
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts
@mewtill: Ha me too! I do the same thing. This AM I got 3 ounces from Lefty and 6 from Righty
nectarine / 2667 posts
@travellingbee: I often think "Thank goodness for Righty, otherwise we'd never have enough milk!" My son will even refuse to start on the left sometimes if he's really hungry (I think the let-down is too slow: ain't nobody got time for that.)
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
@Adira: I am sure you can look up online at BRU and it says what it comes with. I told you what mine came with, but the parts included two bottles. I bought some adapters so I pump directly into the bottles that we use.
honeydew / 7586 posts
I have both the PISA and the Ameda Purely Yours. I LOVE the Medela! The PISA is a hand-me-down from a girlfriend and is over 5-years-old. The Ameda is brand new and I still prefer the PISA. I get a lot more output in less time.
kiwi / 612 posts
I have a Hygeia Enjoye from my insurance company which I love and has been doing the job great...but I know several women that have used and loved the PISA, I feel like it's almost the gold standard of double electric breast pumps lol. You should totally go for it!!!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Smurfette: Oh, good call to look up what it comes with!
Now if only @septemberlove: would log back on and tell me I can have it!
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
@Adira: I mean the nerve of her, actually working while at work and not HBing!
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
@Adira: what bottles do you currently own? Medela PISA is compatible with other bottles too. I pump into my Dr. Brown bottles!
nectarine / 2667 posts
@Adira: My brand new one came with a battery pack, outlet plug, 2 flanges, 2 connectors, 2 valves, 4 membranes, and 2 tubes. It also came with 4 (I think) medela bottles with lids and one nipple to attach to the bottles. It had a cooler bag and ice pack, too.
nectarine / 2667 posts
@Mrs. High Heels: I'm sorry, what?! I'm going to try that immediately!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Smurfette: I know!!!!!!!! WTF!!!
@Mrs. High Heels: I have the Avent bottles. That would be awesome if the Medela PISA were compatible with them! Is there a list somewhere of what bottles it's compatible with?
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@mewtill: Oooh, thanks for the info!!! What size are the bottles?
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
@Adira: I just googled it and it says Medela PISA works with most standard sized bottles, but Avent are not standard sized. Apparently you can buy an attachment piece that makes it work though - http://community.babycenter.com/post/a22698097/bottles_that_fit_medela_pump - you might want to look into that so you don't have to spend money on brand new bottles! You can always pump into Medela bottles and transfer to Avent bottles, but that's a lot of bottle washing.
Eta: here's the conversion kit for Avent bottles - http://www.amazon.com/Philips-AVENT-Standard-Breast-Conversion/dp/B00005BXEY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
nectarine / 2127 posts
@Adira: omg 
I just sold it to my coworker, her SIL is expecting. I am so so sorry!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@septemberlove: That's okay!!!! Like I said, I HAVE a pump, so it's not like I was in desperate need or anything! Me buying it would just mean I have two pumps, so it's in better hands with your coworker's SIL.
nectarine / 2127 posts
@Smurfette: I guess I should've been HBing instead of talking to my coworkers!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
And now I don't have to worry about all the bottle washing that would've been in my future! Or Hubs getting mad at me for spending money on a pump when I already have one!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@septemberlove: Honestly, you probably just saved me from myself. I tend to get ideas in my head and just go with them and then spend a bunch of money I shouldn't have! I don't NEED a pump because I already have one. I just saw your ad in the Classified and was all "Hey! People rave about this pump - maybe I should get it!"
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
@Adira: I still think you should look into another one. I just don't think it should take you that long to pump.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Smurfette: But what if I get another one and really it's just my boobs that suck??? lol
nectarine / 2127 posts
@Adira: lol, I know the feeling. I spent way too much money on maternity leave thinking LO needed this or that (usually from reading about cool gear on HB!) so I started a wish list on the notepad on my iPhone and if I still really think we need it/I still want it a few days/weeks later, then I buy it. Lol I've not spent nearly as much money lately!
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
@Adira: What if you rent a hospital grade for a month?
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