Medela Freestyle Flex

Do Not Buy – Purchased our first Freestyle Flex and used it for 6 weeks then unable to breastfeed further. We tested it again nearly around 2 years later and it was no longer working so got a replacement under warranty. Recently we needed to start using our second pump and it lasted 3 weeks before it stopped working again. Medela refused to replace it as it… Read more

was out of warranty by around 6 months. All in all we got 9 weeks use out of two pumps before they broke down. Would have thought for the $500 that we spent on the pump package (pump, bottles etc) it would not be unreasonable to expect more use out of the pump. Very disappointing.

Not really that portable. Had to replace parts within 3 months – I find it hard to do anything while pumping with this machine. It advertises as portable but you really can't pick up your child or do much. I constantly knock the pause button if I even try to move around. The other thing is after 3 months I have now had to replace the connectors and the tubing. For the price I paid I would assume this would work… Read more

for longer but I guess that's why the warranty is 90 days. I contacted medela to ask about why this is happening essentially got told to replace the parts and make sure I'm using them as stated to. Not really another way to so that was unhelpful.

Issues from the start – UPDATE: THE SECOND PUMP BROKE ASWELL! Last time it was battery issue, this time the machine just won't pump. To be honest I'm kind of relieved, because now I can return it for a full refund and just end my chapter with this pump. It's was stressful day though, because I had to cancel appointments in order to rent a replacement pump to feed my… Read more

baby and it was so painful being engorged.

I really wanted to love this pump because of its portability, but it was plagued by issues from the start. The battery malfunctioned 11 months into use. It ended up being a stressful experience because Babybunting did not have any in stock to do a swap over. I do not have a spare pump, I need to feed my baby. I ended up having to jump through convoluted hoops in order to get a replacement pump. That involved getting Babybunting to price match another online shop so I could buy another one, and then when that new one arrived, I could then return the old one for a refund. I would have just taken a refund and swap to another system, but I had already spent so much money on buying extra connector heads. (further details below)

The marketed feature of the bluetooth connection doesn't really work too well. I tried to connect it, and then it lost connection half way through the pump. I eventually gave up and never used it with this feature.

The connector heads are also very expensive, they're about $40-50 dollars for a set. They loose suction very quickly and you need to replace them every 2 months or so. It's ridiculous after spending nearly $400 on a breast pump. You also cannot buy the rubber membranes separately.

Each time I attach the breast pump, I am fiddling around with it for at least 2-3 minutes so I can get a good seal, if not the membranes will 'croak', and it affects how much I can pump out. But more importantly, if I don't get a good seal, it fails to drain certain ducts, and then I end up with a clog - which is really annoying. Every time I use to breast pumps at 2am, and I'm fiddling around trying to get a good seal, I get so irate that I say to myself I must write a damn review about it!

All in all - I probably wouldn't recommend this pump, there are many other portable pumps out on the market, which probably have cheaper accessories as well.

Annoyed parts don't last long – Annoyed. After 1 week the membranes are warped. I'm on my second set now and looks like I will have to get a 3rd. I clean and sanitize as to their instructions which is daily, and it seems all it does is warp them and they no longer fit tightly. Also it's not like I can just buy the membranes, I have to buy an entire new adaptor set. I Can't… Read more

really afford almost $50 a week/2 weeks especially as I exclusively pump and was told by Medela when I contacted them the first time their representative said I should only need to replace them every 2ish months.

suction is awful, works fine as a single pump but is terrible as a double! – i bought this pump in september 2020 in preparation to go back to work. i’ve used it about three times successfully, but ever since the suction seems to be getting lower and lower. every time i hook it up as a double pump, one side doesn’t pump properly. the suction gets so low on one side that it’s actually laughable but if you unhook the good… Read more

side, the suction goes back to fantastic.

i tried to get in contact with the retailer and was told because i live in New Zealand, i’m not entitled to a warranty as they can’t ensure the correct electrical points were used. again, laughable because the electrical points in both AU/NZ are the same.

i’ve kept trying to contact chemist warehouse in regards as i’m entitled to one according to the handbook i received with the pump, but i’m being ignored. did email medela once and they said it’s up to the retailer, but gave me tips on how to reset the pump which unfortunately didn’t work.

medela themselves haven’t been awful but i’m never buying anything from chemist warehouse again. will email medela again in regards :)

Pumping 8 times a day with ease – I’ve had to pump instead of breastfeed due to low milk supply. This meant at the start I was pumping every 3-4 hours. It has been super easy to use when paired with the Medela pumping bra (an absolute must if you are pumping frequently). It has a really long battery life which means I could take it out with me all day and not worry about having to… Read more ·  1

charge it. This was heaps better then friends of mine who were stuck attached to a power outlet, when I would be able to pump in the car on long drives. It’s strong suction also means I can pump quickly(15-20 minutes for me) instead of sitting for 30 minutes. All the parts are easy to clean and sterilise which made it easy to keep clean. Only downside is the string attached to the machine, it would be so much better if it was a lanyard for additional portability. And if the on/off button was illuminated for middle of the night pumps. Otherwise well worth the price.

EP from 4.5 months. Love portability – Perfect for exclusive pumping and not being stuck sitting for 20-30min. With the right sized flanges I've been able to increase supply. As I started EP at 4.5 months due to distracted little boy and mastitis episode my supply isnt the greatest to begin with, I'm glad I was able to increase supply with this pump Only negative- cord to hang around… Read more ·  1

wrist would be great for a neck chain, and the cost is quite high compared to similar pumps on the market

Would be lost without it! – Great little pump! I have been pumping exclusively for almost the past 3 months, I've had the flex about a month now. I love e not being tied to an outlet, being able to tend to my other kids while pumping. The motor is getting louder over time though and I really wish it had a screen lock as I tend to accidentally touch the screen at times, and a… Read more ·  1

belt clip would be nice. I paid $399 for my pump, on sale, but still expensive for what it is. Exclusively pumping will put it to the test over the next few months.

Convenient pump, still some issues – As a exclusively pumping mom I needed something small and portable. This checked off the boxes. Love this pump. However, I am on my third pump since April as there seems to be an issue with the motor maybe? My first pump stopped working in the middle of the night. It was plugged in and had almost a full battery. It shut down and never turned back… Read more ·  1

on again, luckily I still had my hospital grade rental at home so I was able to continue pumping. I will say that medela has some amazing customer service and over nighted me a brand new pump the next day. They also sent me their manual pump incase this happened and I was stuck without a pump. Two months later it happened again in the middle of the night but this time I was able to turn the pump on but as soon as I hit start the motor would make a weird noise and crap down immediately. I had to use the manual pump and it took me close to an hour to empty at 4 am. I was frustrated, tired, and crying. As soon as I woke up I ran out to get a rental. Again they over nighted me a new pump. So while I love the pump, There still seem to be some issues with the motors. As an exclusively pumping mom I can’t be left without a pump.

Great pump overall, only a few little niggles – This pump is easy to use, super portable, light, and had great battery life. Touch screen needs a lock so you can walk around without it getting bumped and operating. Also, I find the clips on the bits that the membranes and bottles go into stopped holding after awhile. I have to use bands to keep them closed. Pump was nice and quiet, but has been… Read more ·  1

getting noisier and is now fairly loud. I have been using it nearly 4 months, almost exclusively pumping.

A great product for convenience! – I am a first time mum and I recently gave birth to my son. I bought the Medela Freestyle Flex and I absolutly love it. The device itself is small and compact. The touch screen and the different settings are easy to figure out without having to look in the instructions manul. The timer on the device is a great addition, it saves me from pulling out… Read more ·  1

my phone to time the session or calculating the time on my clock especially in the wee hours of the morning, which can be a struggle already being so sleep deprived. I love the fact that it is cordless, it has a long battery life and I've been able to take it with me anywhere I go and pump without a worry. It uses a USB charge, so it is very convient and it doesn't take long to charge. I've been out and about, so I've been able to utilise the cooler bag, freezer pack and the tote that the pump came with. The cooler bag and freezer pack will allow 4 bottles which is plenty of room for a day trip and it keeps the temperture. The tote is the perfect size for me to just chuck everything in there without the bag being too bulky. Absolutly love this product!

Great pump - terrible accessories – I want to start by saying I love this pump - but after using the symphony and attachments I have a massive issue with the freestyle flex attachments. You can not see when milk has stopped due to the enclosed head so you are purely reliant on time and hoping you are drained. The head also covers so much of the bottle that you cannot tell if the… Read more

bottle is full. I have actually purchased the symphony attachments and use on it so I can actually see what is going on. The pump itself is nice and gentle but absolutely zero love for the attachments