Hellobee Boards

Im in the same situation but my freestyle upgrade is $200! So I decided to get the free PISA and just put it in my own bag and buy the battery pack and my own cooler, etc. I would rather not have an entirely separate back to have to cart around anyway.

Just a thought, I've heard the freemie is awesome! Might look into that

@LindsayInNY: I agree with @buttermilk. I got the free insurance medela and a separate battery pack and cooler and i put it all in this bag http://www.amazon.com/Nurse-Purse-Breast-Pump-Bag/dp/B00H0O9DRA - which is big enough to put also put the rest of my stuff in too. I commuted on the train and subway and needed everything in one bag and it really worked great.

I have heard really good things about the Hygeia and the Spectra 2, both of which I'm considering for my next pregnancy. I haven't used either of the Medelas, but I had two Amedas. The older one was great, the newer one started having problems after 4 months of use and was completely toast by the time I quit pumping (I used it for the last month to help me pump wean).

In terms of traveling with my pump, my Amedas came with their own bags, but I used the one with the newer pump. It worked really well and I was able to keep my pump, its' accessories, my bottles, and the cooler pack all in one bag. It was great for going back and forth. I don't travel much for my job, so I was able to leave my pump at work all week and just take the cooler pack back and forth. When we went out of town, it was a breeze to have the whole thing with me.

I'm going to against the grain of Freestyle fans.

I bought a Freestyle with giftcards prior to knowing that my insurance covered a free pump the year I was pregnant with DS1.

I opted to keep it and got a free Medela double electric (much like the PISA). I actually preferred the pumping power of the PISA and left that one at work exclusively. I liked the portability of the freestyle, (I'd pump one side in the m orning as I got ready for work) and used it frequently during maternity leave while I was trying to build my stash, but I much preferred the PISA for work pumping!

I replied to you on another thread already so you know how I feel! I was faced with pretty much the exact situation and I'm happy with my PISA! And it's so true; I didn't know how my nursing/pumping journey would be so it would have been annoying if I had paid for something and ended up not really using it!

I'd rather use that money and splurge on a cute pump bag! That's one thing I regretted not getting. Hauling all my pumping stuff in a random big bag isn't as discreet/fun as doing it in a fashionable bag that can just double as a handbag for work so I don't have to lug so many things around!

I have the PISA and the freestyle and the freestyle is way better. It's so convenient and portable. I paid 90 dollars for the up charge because my insurance only covered the PISA. I say its way worth it

I only have the PISA and don't find it to be that comfortable. Not awful, not great. I just got the Spectra through insurance (no bag) and will be able to report about it if that interests you. It got excellent reviews. And not that anyone except the pumper really cares, but it looks pretty cool, too.

I had pretty much the exact situation with my insurance and I paid a $150 up charge to get the Freestyle. It has been working really well for me so far but I admittedly have nothing to compare it to.

I don't have a pump yet, but my insurance is the same and I actually plan to upgrade to the Spectra S1, which exactly the same as the S2, but has a battery. No experience, but I read a ton of reviews and overall it seems like the Spectras are more gentle and comfortable than the Medelas. And I really wanted a battery, hence the upgrade to the S1. Just something to consider.

i have used the ameda purely yours with rechargeable batteries at work now for 4 months without problem. i stash pump, parts, bags in a lunch cooler i bought on amazon with icepacks and can either carry as a lunch pack or throw it into a larger bag such as a large longchamp. haven't had to plug it in since i've switched to recharge batteries.. not familiar with the medela PISA but can u use batteries in it when not plugging it in? i bought a set of batteries + charger for around 30 dollars i think and like that i can use the batteries for other stuff once my pumping days are over.

I only ever used the Freestyle, but I liked it a lot. I paid ~$100 to upgrade from the basic Medela double electric. I liked that I could use it around the house if I needed to, and didn't need to be tied to one spot. I also liked how small it was. I usually had a TON of stuff in my pumping bag (extra parts, bottles, hands free bra, burp cloth) and I'm glad I didn't have the weight of a gigantically heavy pump on top of that. I also liked that it didn't have the flange thing that the PISA/my manual pump has. That that was tiny and hard to wash without losing, and they're always going bad.

I never had a problem with the suction power at all. I used it on one of the lower levels (4 out of 10 maybe?)

I EPed (everywhere, in the car, in hotels, at my parents, at home...) with a PISA and had no issues, it worked perfectly for what I needed it for. Mine came with the battery pack which came in handy, but you might run through a lot of batteries if you were regularly going to away from an outlet...the freestyle might be better for that reason