I have used medela pump in style, spectra s2 and now medela sonata. As a mom who is a power producer I need a powerful pump. Here’s my opinion. Keep in mind every woman responds differently to each pump. So just because something worked/didn’t work for me doesn’t mean the same for you.

Bonuses to medela brand products:

* excellent customer support. If you have any issues you can call and they will fix/replace your pump at their cost and if it cant be fixed they will over night you a replacement pump.

* pumping parts are much easier to find and cheaper. Spectra has limited flang sizes, so if you are an odd ball like me then you have to google “how to convert medela parts to fit spectra”.

* pump in style is covered thru just about all health insurances

Spectra advantages/disadvantage:

*my pump broke, the power cord to be specific. It was only the second day I used it and it just stop working. I called and spectra told me tough shit. That it wasn’t their problem and I could reorder a new one for $30+ took over a week to get my new power cord. Killed my milk supply.

* it’s a gentle pump with numerous settings giving you a more customizable pumping experience.

* I have very large breast and nipples. I found it VERY hard to get it to find the initial suction. I had to keep repositioning my breast in the flanges to get the pump to grab on.

* pumps a few min faster than the pump in style.

* quiet pump

* hospital grade

* covered thru most health insurances.

*disadvantage: larger pump, doesn’t come with a fancy tote bag.

Sonata advantages/disadvantages:

* it’s medela.... customer service.....

* it is ALL new pumping parts. So old medela parts are not convertible with this pump. So you have to buy spare pumping parts if you want extras (which I recommend) and the spare parts are a little pricey.

* it’s battery powered and rechargeable.... BONUS... you can walk around and pump.

* it Bluetooth syncs with your phone...

* it’s very gentle (like the spectra) but doesn’t have as many settings as spectra.

* very quiet like spectra

* hospital grade

* not as small as the pump in style but does have a nice carrying tote and isn’t as heavy as the spectra.

* very unlikely to be covered thru insurance but can upgrade and pay out of pocket the difference.

End results:

Pump in style takes me about 20 min to pump 5 oz a breast. That’s double pumping, 20 min = 10 oz total.

Spectra s2 takes me about 15 min to pump same amount.

Sonata takes me 8-10 minutes.

Which pump would I pick?

Wanting speed/efficiency? Spectra or sonata. If your insurance covered the sonata go sonata. If not go with spectra.

Gentle? Spectra or sonata. Again... depending if insurance covers it.

Portability? Pump any where? Sonata.

The sonata is nice...here I am now 7 weeks into using my sonata and I have really learned to love it. Like... really love it. Having three kids under the age of 3 I can still pump and wrangle the toddlers. I say my only dislike is the new pumping parts. They aren’t as easy to clean but heck no pumping parts are easy to clean.

I recently actually broke my sonata (kids dropped it) and while waiting for them to overnight me my replacement pump I had to switch back to my spectra. Took me 25 minutes to pump what my sonata would take 8 minutes. Wouldn’t go back to any other pump.

Hope this helps

Breast pumps

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