If you’re a working mom, a good double electric breast pump is one of your most important investments. It will be the thing that helps your baby continue receiving the benefits of breastmilk and you continue enjoy the breastfeeding relationship you have with your baby even after you go back to work, so you want a pump that is effective, efficient, portable, durable and reliable. Two of the most popular double electric pumps are the Ameda Purely Yours and the Medela Pump in Style.
One of the things I noticed when I was researching which pump to get was that there weren’t a lot of side-by-side comparisons of the two pumps. Because pumps are so expensive, and because they really aren’t the sort of thing you share, most moms have only used one sort of pump. While a lot of the reviews I found were thorough, they were all mostly based on experience with one pump and couldn’t tell me much about what made one pump better than the other.
I’ve been lucky enough to be able to try out both pumps and compare them side-by-side. Below, I’ve broken them down into a handful of categories to compare them in detail.
Effectiveness and Efficiency
In terms of ability to empty the breast, I feel like the Ameda PY and the Medela PIS are fairly evenly matched. Both empty the breast fairly thoroughly and quickly. From this perspective, I can’t tell much of a difference between the two.
Portability
The Medela PIS I tried came with the on the go tote, while the Ameda PY came with the carry all.
I love the Medela PIS tote. The straps were just the right length and was easy to carry, which was nice since the mother’s room at work is on the opposite side of the building. The tote was big enough to fit, with room to spare, all of my pumping supplies: the pump itself, flanges, hoses, hands-free bra, wipes, wall adapter, and even the freezer bag. The bag is nice and wide, so I didn’t have to do a lot of digging to find everything. I love that you don’t have to take the pump out of the bag to use it. You just unzip the side panel and plug everything in. I also love the fabric. I’m one of those people who gets weirded out by “wrong” textures or the sound of fabric rubbing on fabric, and I didn’t have many issues with the tote from that standpoint.
I wasn’t as much a fan of the Ameda PY carry all. While it easily fit the basic supplies–pump, flanges, wall adapter, hands-free bra, and wipes–I couldn’t zip the bag if I tried to put the freezer bag in it. I usually just ended up carrying the freezer bag separately, which, if you’ve seen how loaded up I am when I head out the door in the morning, one more bag to carry is not appreciated. Because the bag is tall, I had to dig pretty much every time I needed to find something and had to be pretty particular about how everything went in so that it would be easy to get to the next time I opened the bag. When you add to the tall bag the fact that the straps are very long, it makes for an awkward item to carry. Especially if you are 5’1″. You also don’t have the option to leave the pump in the bag to use it. It has to come out every time, which is annoying when you’re on a time budget. The last complaint is minor, but I hate the fabric. It’s easy to clean, but I also cringe every time I pick up the bag.
For portability, the Medela PIS tote was the clear winner. However, you could probably save money by buying only the Ameda PY pump and finding another bag to carry all your stuff in, taking the obnoxious tote out of the equation entirely.
Functionality
When it comes to functionality, the two pumps are pretty different. With the Medela PIS, you basically have one option: how much suction you get. The pump automatically has a faster let-down cycle and then a slower cycle that can either start on its own or when you press the let-down button. The Ameda on the other hand has no pre-set cycles. It has separate controls for speed and suction, which you can adjust at any time.
The nice thing about the Medela PIS is that you don’t have to think much about what you’re doing. You just crank the suction and go. Conversely, the Ameda PY gives you a much more customizable experience, so you can better adjust to your own body’s needs. Which one you would prefer really depends on you, because I can easily see the benefits and drawbacks of both.
Cleaning Time
In other words: how many parts does it have, and how long does it take to take it apart, clean it, and put it back together again.
The Ameda PY is pretty straightforward. There is the pump itself, the wall adapter or batteries, tubing and tube adapter, adapter cap, the flange, diaphragm, and valve. The parts you take apart and put together the most are the flange, diaphragm, valve and adapter cap, since those are the parts that need to be cleaned. Because the Ameda has a closed system (i.e. the diaphragm keeps milk from going into the tubing), you don’t have to clean the tubing every time. Still, it’s a lot to take apart and put back together again. At work, I usually don’t have time to take it all apart, so I just remove the valve and wipe everything else down with my Medela pump wipes.
With the Medela PIS, you can either get the flange as one whole piece with the valves, membranes, and tubing, or you get the breast shield, personal fit connectors, valves, membranes and tubing. Having the whole flange just combines the breast shield and personal fit connectors, which you’d be more likely to use if you needed to use something other than the standard size breast shield. Again, it’s a lot of stuff to take apart and put together, but when I’m at work, I mostly just run water through everything and wipe down what I can reach with the pump wipes. Because the Medela PIS is not a closed system, you also have to clean out the tubing. Having to rinse out the tubing is obnoxious, and while the rest of it is less work, I don’t always feel like it gets as clean since I can’t get into the valve and membrane to clean them as easily as I can on the Ameda PY.
At the end of the day, both have to be taken completely apart, rinsed in hot, soapy water, put in the Medela microsteam bags. The flanges for the Ameda PY fit better on my drying rack, but that’s a fairly minor thing.
In the end, they both take about the same amount of time to clean, but I feel like the Ameda is probably a little more hygienic when you have to do quick cleanings at work. I’ve heard some people say they just put their used flanges in ziploc bags in the fridge between uses at work so they worry less about bacteria and that would probably resolve the hygiene issue. This one probably depends on your degree of germ phobia.
Around the House
I put this in as a special category since, even though I do pump at work every day, I also routinely pump at home, which is a little different than pumping at work. At home, I actually sort of prefer my Ameda PY. Because you can take the Ameda PY pump out of the bag, it’s light and takes up very little space, which makes it easy to move from room to room or to fit onto a small side table. You pretty much always have to have the huge bag with you with the Medela PIS, and I hate having to lug the entire thing from room to room, sometimes have a hard time figuring out where to put it, and have knocked things over with it. (Like my husband’s big, expensive laptop. Oops.)
Another thing is that you can put the batteries directly into the pump with the Ameda PY. The Medela PIS has a battery pack thing that attaches into the pump with a cord. Granted, you’re already carrying the big, huge bag, so the battery pack really doesn’t seem like a lot of extra, especially since you can just tuck it into the little pocket on the bag, but the whole point is: the Medela PIS is hard to use if you want to move from room to room. I can pick up my Ameda PY and go from the couch to the computer to sitting on the floor playing with the baby to doing dishes and making dinner in the kitchen without too much coordination. It’s the difference between carrying a purse and a suitcase.
Price
The Medela PIS with the on the go tote retails somewhere between $220 and $300. The Ameda PY with the carry all usually retails somewhere between $180 and $250. When you consider that the yield is ultimately about the same, and the pumps are both, in my opinion, well-made and sturdy, the Ameda is the better deal. When you further consider that you can skip the carry all and just get the pump itself for around $130 and get a different bag to carry everything in, you can actually probably get everything for even cheaper and skip the worst part of the Ameda PY, which is the bag it comes with.
Of course, I do think that there are nice details about the Medela PIS which clearly have working moms in mind (like the really nice bag) that make the Medela PIS worth the extra money if you can afford it and if that’s the sort of thing you value.
Misc.
Here are some other quick thoughts I have on the Medela PIS vs. the Ameda:
- The Medela PIS is much quieter than the Ameda PY. The Ameda PY is so loud, I have a hard time doing phone calls while I’m pumping, which can be an issue if I’m working from home or trying to make personal calls during my pump break.
- You can see through the plastic on the flanges more easily with the Medela PIS than with the Ameda PY, which means it’s easier to tell when you’re getting letdown.
- I feel like I get a better fit with the Medela PIS flanges. With the Ameda PY, I often leak milk out the bottom of the flange, which is so annoying. I don’t have this problem with the Medela PIS.
- It’s much easier to get spare parts for the Medela. Medela products are carried pretty much everywhere: Target, BRU, etc. I was overjoyed when I found the Ameda parts in the shop attached to my LC’s office. With an Amazon prime account, this matters less, but if you don’t have Amazon prime, if you ever need to replace parts quickly, I’d go with the Medela PIS.
- You can fit more storage bottles into the Ameda freezer bag than you can into the Medela freezer bag. The Medela fits 4 5oz. bottles, whereas the Ameda fits 6 4 oz. bottles. It’s nice to have those extra bottles on hand.
- That being said, I like the Medela storage bottles better. The Ameda bottles have two parts to the lids, and I’m always dropping the inside parts and having to wipe them off again.
- Another thing, I’m always knocking the valves off the Ameda PY into the storage bottles. It’s a total pain to have to fish them out, and I feel like it risks contaminating the milk and losing milk when it comes out with the valve. (Every drop counts!)
- I like that the Ameda PY has little cup holders that the bottles with the flange attached can sit in. This is nice both when I’m getting ready to pump and when I’m done and want a “safe” place to put my milk bottles.
Conclusion
In the end, both do roughly the same job. I think the Medela PIS is perhaps a little more elegant than the Ameda PY, but you pay for that. The Medela Pump in Style is really the ideal pump for a busy working mom who doesn’t have time to fuss with the settings on the pump, digging through her bag, or getting her pumping battlestation set up. The Ameda Purely Yours gives you a lot of bang for your buck, though. It has a more customizable pumping experience, is more hygienic for frequent pumpers if you don’t want to sterilize everything with every single use, and is definitely easier to move around when you’re at home. The Ameda PY seems like it would be a great pump for WAHMs or SAHMs who exclusively pump or pump regularly (maybe kids go to daycare while you work, etc.), and could also easily be made a better pump for work if you use a different bag to carry it in.
I liked both pumps, and obviously both could be used for home and work. I think it really depends on your priorities, your budget, your premium on convenience and hygiene, and where you’re going to spend the most time pumping. If you’re looking to purchase a pump, I hope you found this review to be insightful and helpful in making the decision that’s right for you.
Thanks for d review. Am still but less confused now than whatbibwas before!!! What is your opinion on borrowing a breast pump from a reliable source?
I think if you know the person you are getting the pump from and get new tubing, flange, etc. it’s no big deal. I borrowed a friend’s for a couple of weeks to try it out, and I never worried about it. I wouldn’t buy one from someone I didn’t know, though.
What a WONDERFUL review! I am due in 2 weeks with our second child. Thank you so much for taking the time to compare these two great pumps and help me make a decision.
Thanks for the review.
My wife and I borrowed the motor for the Madela PIS and recently got the Ameda PY and have been using an old The First Years Pump . I dont know how old the Madela PIS but it and TFY pump are WAY noisier and heavier than the Ameda PY.
Never mind TFY pump It was heavy, ugly, had more parts and awkward to hold so im going to exclude that.
The Ameda seemed to outclass everything on the Madela PIS except Cycles. When cranked all the way up the Madela gave more cycles per second.
The Ameda PY has a stronger suction, lighter, quiet, and the design of that diaphragm is ingenious. Completely separates the motor from the milk.. Never had a problem with milk getting in the tubes but body temp milk can cause condensation in the tubes. When I get home I’ll see if I can convince my wife to make a video review cause we racked our brains trying to decide which to go. Thanks again for this review.
Interesting! I wonder if you had an older Medela PIS that maybe wasn’t working very well? My PIS was so quiet and had much better suction than the PY. I’ve never used a TFY pump before, so I can’t speak to it. Thanks for the feedback, though! This is good to know. 🙂
This is a nice review of two great products! I purchased the Ameda PY in 2005 when I had my first child. I had my third baby in May. My pump finally kicked the bucket about a month ago and I would absolutely, without reservation make the same choice again. As others, I have only used the one kind of pump, so I really have no basis for comparison; however, I have to say that noise was not an issue whatsoever with my Ameda PY. The pumping sound was very quiet and I had no issues with talking on the phone while using it. Secondly, I really had no issues fitting all the parts into the carryall. With experience, I eventually realized that instead of putting the pump flat on the same plane as the freezer bag, you can turn it on its side next to the freezer bag. It then leaves more room at the top for the flanges and adapter and allows the bag to zip with no problems at all. But I agree that overall, you really can’t go wrong with either.
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I had heard so many great things about the Medela pumps that I had added it to my registry. I received a call from my insurance recently that they offer a free breast pump that is sent to you by one of their local medical supply companies. I was told it would be an Ameda. I had never heard of the brand and was nervous it would be crappy. Thanks to this comparison review, I feel more comfortable knowing this is a pretty great pump.
Hooray! I’m glad to hear this inspired confidence in the Ameda. 🙂
Excellent review. Thank you so much for the time and it is truly an insightful review. I was definitely confused as to buy which one, but now I think I’m going to go with medela.
I do have one question though and wondering if anyone can help me with: I know that places like shoppers drug mart lend pumps. Would it be hygienic to borrow one for the first few weeks to see how it works ?
Thanks again
I think it depends on where you borrow from. I would assume that if you were borrowing from a pharmacy or hospital, they have taken all necessary steps to ensure everything is hygienic. I would just ask what the place you are borrowing from does to ensure things are sanitary. 🙂 I do think trying before you buy is a great idea, because it’s a big investment. Best of luck!
I loved this review, I have a 3 month old and have dealt with low milk supply. I purchased a used Medela PIS from a friend it has worked great. I just recently ordered an Ameda PY. My first go at it was frustrating, I chose this one because my insurance covered it 100% . I found I could not feel suction turned all way up but with Medela it’s too strong turned all the way up. I did have a large suction ring on both breasts when I removed shields. I also did not get any milk but again I have low supply and had just nursed baby. Do you have any suggestions? Should my nipple move in the Ameda just as it does in Medela? That’s what I found to be different.
If you’ve got large rings on your breasts and you’re not feeling suction, it seems likely your shield is too large. Medela has helpful images showing incorrect fit for a breast shield. Florida WIC has a good demo of a properly fitting shield. Also, if you have low milk supply and you just finished nursing, you may not be able to pump anything, even with the correctly sized shield. Keep trying, though. Hopefully over time, pumping after nursing will start to stimulate more milk production. I would also try taking fenugreek supplements and making sure you’re drinking at least 80 oz. of water/day. I had similar issues, and making sure I got enough water seemed to help a little. 🙂 Good luck!
I got the ameda purely yours through insurance. Well after 11 or so pumps it has crapped out. I went and read reviews through amazon and all the experiences were similar to mine. Good at first then loses suction. Even tho there are adjustable speed and suction dials that is no matter cause after a few it seems like its either fast or slow. I used a medela PIS for my first and so I just went and purchased another one. Much better.. People were saying that they weren’t getting as much milk when thy pumped and were getting worried their supply was going down, same thing I thought! I didn’t want to take a chance in using this pump when I go back to work and end up losing my milk supply. I didn’t have a good experience with my first and ended up losing my milk at 6 weeks.
I’m sorry you had that experience. I used the Ameda PY for 4 months exclusively and then at home regularly for another 4 months. I never had any problems with it losing suction. Did you contact Ameda and ask for a new pump?
Thank you so so so much. I think i learned alot more from you than anyone else
I’ve been using the Ameda PY pump for the past month. I used the Ameda platinum hospital grade pump the first week while I was waiting for my PY pump to arrive and haven’t noticed much difference in the amount I am pumping. The pump I received through my insurance did not come with a carrying bag, but it sounds like the bag wasn’t that great from the review anyway. I also had supply issues since my baby wouldn’t nurse so I have been taking lactafkow and exclusively pumping and bottle feeding. Given I am pumping every 2-3 hours I have to say the Ameda pump is working pretty great!
Thank you so much for you detailed and insightful review! I’m due with my first in just three short months, and was very intimidated by all the breast pump products on the market! My insurance will provide me with a Medela or Ameda breast pump for free, so it was nice to have such a wonderfully written side-by-side comparison of the two products. This is the only comparison of the two products I have been able to find. Also nice to hear that you are 5′ 1″ just like me! Bags with long straps are such a hassle to carry, so I appreciated the portability details. I still have some time to decide, but as of now, I’m thinking the Medela will best suit my working mom needs.
Thank you!
I’m so glad you found this helpful! 🙂 Best of luck with your new baby!
Thanks so much for this review. I am due in November and getting my pump through insurance. The medical supply company that I am using carries both and if my insurance company gives me a choice I wanted to be able to make an informed decision. Thanks again!
Glad I could help! Good luck to you, and congratulations!
Leo you know the difference between the madela PIS advanced and madela advanced?
Thanks so much for the comparison!! I currently have the Medela at home, but the motor has run its course. I was looking at getting the Ameda PY and was curious if any of the parts were interchangeable (flanges, tubes, etc). I’m not sure if I want to purchase another Medela, but it would be easier because I already have all of the “extras” that go with it. If some parts are interchangeable, I will give the Ameda a try!
I agree with your review totally, having used a medela pump a couple of months before an Ameda PY for a long stinking time (I’m getting my 3rd (1st was stolen) after 15 months’ heavy use & 5 years of bad storage). I’d add that you can stick the medela flanges into the Ameda standard flanges, get a tight seal, and have a flange that fits properly. The adjustable size flanges from Ameda are useless but it’s handy to be able to add the medela ones to the standard ameda ones, since like you say the medela ones are so easily available.
Before buying a pump call your insurance company as know most will send you a breast pump for free. I have Cigna and just received the Ameda pump. For my previous 2 kids I used the medela free style pump: very small and easy to carry around plus it’s hands free and clip on to my nursing bras or tank tops. I don’t wash or rinse or wipe my pump after each session. Instead I just put the pump in the fridge (the various parts all connected). At the end of the day I just wash all the parts.
I haven’t tried the new ameda they sent me so I can’t comment but I really love(d) my medela. However after being dropped a few times and used a lot for kids 1 and 2 I am sure it’s not working as well.
Thanks for such a thorough review! Since my antique Medela Pump in Style (not advanced!) has seen better days, I was hoping to replace it. Insurance covers the Ameda 100% but not the Medela. Your review has me still leaning towards investing in a new Medela, especially since I have bottles, replacement flanges and car charger. I use my pump at least 2x daily, and plan to continue for another 6+ months. In your opinion would it be worth paying extra for the Medela? Or would these accessories, especially the bottles, be interchangeable if I go with the Ameda?
If your insurance covers the Ameda, but not the Medela, I’m not sure the benefits of the Medela are worth an extra $300+. But it is a VERY nice pump, and I generally would recommend it if you’re already planning to spend $200+ on a pump. My experience with the Ameda and Medela bottles is that some Medela bottles work really well with the Ameda pump (the tall skinny ones), while others (the fatter, rounder ones) don’t attach very well and leak. The flanges and car charger are definitely not interchangeable. The Ameda comes with a lot of that stuff, though, although it doesn’t come with multiple flanges. It really depends on your needs. I think the Medela overall is a great buy, but if my insurance had covered the Ameda in its entirety, I would have chosen that. 🙂
This review was very helpful for me. Since my insurance covers a variety of pumps I want to know which one will work best for me. I think either one in this case would be good. Your insight was extremely educational. Thank you!
You’re most welcome!
I didn’t realize WAHMs and SAHMs were two totally different things. If SAHMs don’t work at home how is it your kids’ daycare is so expensive? Guess those people don’t work either. Not toto mention the hundreds of other professions SAHMs have to do while caring for an entire family without help from anyone. I appreciated the article but didn’t care for the prejudice against SAHMs. I was a SAHM and worked harder than I do now working outside the home. Sorry just sick of the “separation” of mothers women today create. Its just old and needs to stop.
WAHMs and SAHMs are different things, though. A WAHM holds an outside job but works from her home and usually has someone else take care of her children while she does her outside job. A SAHM’s full time job (and then some) is her family. The two separate terms are not meant to imply that SAHMs do not work or that WAHMs are somehow better, but that they are actually two different professional and personal situations that merit different approaches to pumping. Most SAHMs don’t have to worry about pumping full time during the week, because their children are with them, which means it may be easier for them to go with a manual pump or not to pump at all. Most WAHMs pump just like a mom who goes into the office, because her kids are at daycare, too, which means they will probably need a double electric pump. Unlike WOHMs, though, a WAHM might not need as fancy a set-up, since she doesn’t have to worry about lugging her pump around with her and can undress at her desk.
I know we’re all sensitive to criticism when it comes to our professional choices, because we’re all so accustomed to someone judging us for our decision, whatever it may be. However, I’m the absolute last person who would argue SAHMs don’t work every bit as hard as any other type of mother. I did 3 months of staying at home with my daughter and going back to work was almost like a vacation. The distinction was a practical one, not a value judgment. As a WAHM, my specific needs for pumping are different from both a SAHM and a WOHM. I’m not separating women based on some sort of hierarchy of who is better/working harder than anyone else. I separated them with the goal of helping women make the right choice for their lifestyle and needs.
I found this blog because I’m trying to decide how to deal with my breast pump options. My insurance company will pay for either a rented breast pump for as long as my doctor says it’s “medically necessary” or pay for the Ameda Purely Yours. I’m not sure which is the best choice, since I’m going to be working full-time and will really rely on the pump. If you were given those options, which would you choose?
I’d the get Ameda. If you are going to rely on your pump heavily, I think it would be very important to have your own and to make sure no one could say, “Okay, you have to give it back now” and possibly disrupt breastfeeding. The Ameda is a solid, high quality pump. I’d just buy the pump, though, and get a separate bag to store all your parts in. 🙂 Best of luck!
This is BY FAR the best review I have ever read! Thank you so much for putting so much thought and time into this. I have had a Medela in the past but I had heard great reviews about the Ameda so I wanted to see how the two compared. You have helped me make my decision on sticking with Medela very easy. Thanks again!
Glad I could help! 🙂
your wonderful, detailed review, helped change my review. thank you so much.
Thanks so much for the review! I found that my insurance company provides both options through a company called this company http://www.nebdoctorsofmaryland.com/breast-pumps/ However, I am still confused on which one is best for my lifestyle as a WAHM/SAHM. I won’t be working again until the Fall after I deliver in late Spring and I’ve never had a baby so I have no idea if I will even need the breast pump that often. My initial reaction was “I want what’s easiest to clean,” but now that you’ve said they are both the same I’m not sure what will be my deciding factor. However, I do like the fact that you can purchase the Medela accessories with gift cards or through your registry. We’ll see how this shakes out. Thank you!!
If you have any other questions, you can ask here. I might be able to answer or someone else might be able to. If your baby will be home with you most of the time, though, it may be that you might not need a pump at all, which is the best case scenario. Even the best pump is kind of a pain. Best of luck to you! 🙂
I tied both and I didn’t like the medela that much… It doesn’t really work on me, the ameda is closer to my baby succion and I feel more comfortable with it.
Yes the medela is easier to carry but personaly I use the brestpump at home to I don’t care to have a bag to carry it, I prefer the ameda with its 2 cups holder, that’s pretty much convenient for me.
For the noise that’s funny because I thing that at reverse the ameda is less noisy than the medela one.
I was lucky to have the possibility to try both because a friend borrow me yours (yes don’t be shocked, you just have to boil everything for 10min and it’s done! 😀 ) So now I’m sure that the one I want to buy is the Ameda because I was very disapointed of the Medela, it doesn’t work on me, no possibility to get even 1oz of milk!! However I’m sure I have milk because I hear baby shallow during breastfeeding and she isn’t hungry…
In France where I come from, the pharmacies rent the breastpump for less, they have been cleaned before and there is never any problem of milk contamination or something like that because of the pump sharing. That’s a good way to try different brands and see which on is the best for you.
100% agree on doing a pump rental to test first, if you can find a place to do it and it’s affordable. And I also agree on the Ameda being more convenient at home. I used my Ameda at home with no issues.
My only thought on the Medela is that maybe the Medela you were using wasn’t working very well or maybe the shield didn’t fit properly? I honestly couldn’t tell much difference in the suction between a brand new Ameda and a brand new Medela, as long as everything was set up properly and I had the right sized shields.
Hi, thank you for your detailed review. The only thing that bothers me about the Medela in researching both is that the system is not closed and that milk can get in the tubing and thereby the motor causing mold etc if not cleaned properly. I spoke to a lactation specialist at the hospital and she told me that if the bottles are not overfilled, milk should not get in the tubing and the tubing does not need daily cleaning. Yet i see many reviews that milk does get in the tubing sand that cleaning the tubings daily is a real pain. As a busy working mom planning to return to work (physician) in 3 months post delivery, i want a pump which is less noisy but also one which is more hygienic. My insurance will cover the Medela advanced Starter kit (I need to buy the messenger bag or tote bag, battery, ice bag, and extra bottles etc) AND it will cover the Ameda Purely Yours (hand bag included and inbuilt battery, so just need to buy extra bottles etc). My Ob recommended the freestyle hands free Medela but I cannot afford it as my maternity leave is without pay. Knowing that both hygiene and quietness and easy portability is imp for me, which should I get?
In my experience, milk does occasionally get into the tubing in the Medela PIS, and there may be other stuff, like bacteria, in the tubing that I *can’t* see. It’s important to wash and sterilize all parts of your pump equipment regularly, especially if there’s any chance it could come into contact with your milk. I would go with the Medela starter kit. It comes with the power adapter, so you may not need the built-in battery, which I only ever used at home with my Ameda if I was doing dishes or something while pumping. I really didn’t like the Ameda hand bag. I couldn’t fit all of my Ameda products in it, so I ended up carrying my purse, my Ameda bag, plus the little cooler, which was SUPER annoying. With the Medela starter kit, you can just buy a large purse where you can fit all your pump equipment + your purse essentials like wallet, phone, etc., without having to worry about lugging around two bags all day long.
I’m not sure what you will have available to you at your work, but if you store your shields + tubing in the fridge, you shouldn’t have to worry a whole lot about doing a full cleaning between each pumping session. The fridge will keep bacteria from being an issue. Of course, breastmilk is magical and can last up to 6 hours at room temperature and still be bacteria-free, so that’s worth keeping in mind, too. 🙂 If you have any more detailed questions about how to handle hygiene/transport, just let me know.
Thank you so much for this review. I had my heart set on a Medela and my insurance co. told me they would provide me with a pump and would call to discuss options. Then, an Ameda arrived on my doorstep (no follow-up call from insurance). So, I was debating to just try this one or call and question why they didn’t follow up and see if I can exchange or upgrade to a Medela, but after reading your review, I may stick with the Ameda. I really hate dealing with insurance customer service. Thanks!!
This was a great!!!! My insurance will cover 100% of a pump I wanted to make sure I pick the right one.!!!! Needless to say I picked the medela pump in style!!!! Thank again help me alott!!!!
Glad I could help!
Thank you for such detailed review. I have one question, I have read that the milk can go into the motor and contaminate the milk. If this happen what can be done to clean the motor?
I haven’t heard that and couldn’t answer! 🙂
Is your Ameda PY made in Switzerland or China? I’ve the the wurst time with mine having terrible suction and have spoken to many people with the sane problem- seems the newer ones are made in China and have recurring issues. I’m so frustrated with Ameda!
I’m not sure, and my pump is in storage. That is a thought, though! Have you contacted Ameda?
Thank you so much for this review! I received an ameda PY; I notice that the suction is not consistent there are times where one side doesn’t have suction. Is there any particular set up or thing that I should be doing to ensure suction on both flanges?
Make sure everything is plugged in tightly, that there is no water in your tubing, and that your flanges fit properly! If you don’t have a good fit on the flanges, suction will be wonky. Good luck!
Thank you so much for this very thorough review. I just ordered an ameda py through my insurance for free and was apprehensive about it since everyone I know uses a medela and loves it. I used a medela with my first son and had a low supply and it was honestly a bit uncomfortable. I now feel much happier and confident with my choice 🙂 thanks again
Glad I could reassure you! Best of luck! 🙂
THANK YOU for doing this review!!!! Its amazing to me how hard it is to find this typeof information. My 8 month old Hygeia is biting the dust so I’ve been researching the Ameda and Medela. I want to get a good pump because we will likely have another little one in the future and I’m not ready to give up breast feeding or donating milk to our local milk bank for the hospitals. This was very helpful!
So glad I could help!
This was so, so helpful! Thank you for your insight! Best review I’ve found yet!
So glad you thought it was helpful! 🙂
Thank you for the information! I’m going to be a first time mom and don’t have many people to turn to and ask questions about different baby things, breast pumps being one of them! Thanks for comparing the two and giving your honest opinion about the pros and cons of each! 🙂
So glad I could help! 🙂 Best of luck to you!
Thanks for the review! I, like many others, am working with Insurance and they will cover Ameda at 100% but the Medela PISA will be $130 out of pocket. I had a rental with my first child so I already have 2-3 sets of parts for the Medela. I am wondering if paying the money out of pocket is worth it since I would have to buy additional parts for the Ameda if I went with it. What are your thoughts?
What’s your work situation like?
I just recently got a Ameda breast pump because the reviews were so marvelous, but I’m having such a hard time w/suction. It feels as if there’s little to no suction at all. Its a little frustrating that I went out to get the Ameda when I have an Evenflo that has great suction , but it easiests very loud . I reread the book, rewatched the video & everything’s hooked up right.. Has anyone else had the problem? Could I have a defective one?
Have you tried a smaller shield? You may be having trouble getting good suction if the shield is too large, because it isn’t getting a good seal. This article from Medela explains how a shield should fit. You can order smaller shields from Ameda. I even found one with a little bit of padding that I liked.
I am so glad you posted this as I am having to make a decision between the two (insurance giving me one or the other). Thank you thank you thank you! 🙂
Thank you so much for the review! I have used the Medela with my daughter and loved it. I am currently pregnant with twins and my insurance company now covers pumps, but will only cover an Ameda. I wasn’t sure which one I wanted to keep. I’ll stick with my Medela:)
If you still have your Medela, it might be worth getting a new Ameda (depending on how much insurance will pay.) I liked keeping my Ameda at home and my Medela at work. Spared me having to lug around a huge bag every day. 🙂 Good luck with your twins! How exciting!
Thanks for the comparison. I have the Ameda Purely Yours, and I really love that you don’t have to clean the tubing. It is a lot of pieces to put together every time, but for me, since I just use it at home a few times a week, it works great. If I was going to be using it on the job, think it would be a bit of a hassle.
So nice to have a real side-by-side comparison! I have the PIS at home but I use a hospital grade pump at work. In my opinion the PIS is just as efficient as the hospital grade one.
Thanks so much for the time and effort put forth in this review. It was very helpful!
I have an ameda py. I’ve been using it for almost 8 weeks and the suction isn’t working as great anymore. I’ve switched the valves and still low suction on the highest setting. I’ve heard great things about medela pisa and that it yields more in a quicker time than ameda py. I just ordered my medela today. I hope I can get more pumped to prepare for work.
Have you tried contacting Ameda?
Oops. Spelled my name wrong in last post. Lol
I love that with the Medela PIS you don’t have to worry about whether you are doing it right. That you just turn it on an go. I know that we don’t have much choice when it comes to pumps because our insurance only has set ones we can get for free
I have a Medela Pump In Style that I absolutely love!
SO this blog has been very helpful. But my insurance offers ◦Ameda Purely Yours Ultra™ Double Electric Breast Pump with tote & customfit breast flanges AD18085M and Medela Pump in Style advance breastpump starter kit. MY57081. Which I got the Medela 2 years ago but got rid of because I didn’t think ill be having a baby so soon. but I do remember it being very loud. Which one would you Mothers prefer?
I would definitely get the Madela PIS if I were you. I’ve had to contact Ameda 4 different times and have 4 different PYs sent to me because they all lost suction. The first one lost suction after 3 months, the second lost suction after 1 day, and the third and fourth never had any suction to begin with. Each time I called Ameda, they said that it was a problem with the motor. After four tries with Ameda, I gave up and got the Madela PIS and I’m sooooo much happier. (By the way, my PYs were all made in China instead of Switzerland, so maybe that’s what problem was.)
Thank you so much for the review.
My insurance company gives me the choice between the 2, and I have never used a breast pump. Your review helps clarify a lot of things!
Great and portable pump
I read all the reviews on here before buying my Medela Swing breast pump. First off, I bought it initially for occasional use. I was going to stop pumping on return to work after being off for 5 months. I had some periods where breastfeeding was getting rather rocky for me and my son, and this pump got us through that time quite well. Now that I have been back to work for over 2 months, I use this pump 3 times a day every day except on the weekends, when I only use it twice (normally).
Great things about it – it’s small. It is very portable. It only needs 4 AA batteries and runs for quite a while on those batteries. You can easily get probably 10 pumpings on those batteries. I pump both sides so it being single sided makes this take longer – but it’s so much cheaper than the other Medela pumps and with the same good pumping action and quiet noise level. It still only takes me 20 – 25 minutes to pump 7-8 ounces. I do breast compressions to help this go faster but it’s probably not really necessary. The pump has good suction, and I use it on the top level.
I have not noticed any suction loss from this pump. I have no problem with milk supply as long a I drink enough water during the day. When my son was born, he was hospitalized at another hospital pretty far from our home for 19 days. So, I used the Medela Symphony rental pump from the hospital. This developed a great milk supply for me. I don’t think this pump would be one to get a milk supply going from the get-go if you have a baby who you must pump for (for whatever reason). But – that’s not what it’s designed to do.
I have accidentally dropped it in its bag on concrete twice…no problems. I have taken it and pumped using the battery function many times – both on commercial airliners and in a company airplane (small turboprop as I am a pilot and work at an aviation company). I took it all around two day-long business aviation conventions. I’ve pumped with it sitting in a van while taking a break from doing maintenance on a large jet airliner. So, you can tell from all this that it’s so portable and convenient for a hard-working mom to use.
The only thing is that it’s gotten maybe a bit louder over the 5 months I’ve owned it. But, it hasn’t seemed to affect the suction. You get tired of the noise it makes but hey, any pump is going to make noise. Overall, it was a great purchase and a good decision.
UPDATE: I had some issues with my pump with the adapter seeming like it would get loose and cause the pump to repeatedly stop pumping and having to be reset. I contacted Medela, and they sent me first a new adapter to isolate the problem, then an entirely new pump since I was still within the 1 year warranty period. I have to say that their customer service is great! Make sure you do get a new pump though from an authorized retailer so you get the full warranty in case that happens with your pump.
Thanks for this review! It was exactly what I wanted to find online. Thanks google and you!
My insurance is allowing me to choose between “Ameda Purely Yours Ultra™ Personal Double Electric Breast Pump with Tote & CustomFit™ Breast Flanges (AD17085M)” or a very basic “Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breastpump Starter Set (MY57081)”. I plan to stay at home but since I’m covered for a pump there would be no reason not to get one. The Medela comes with 2 bottles, 2 shields and the case (basically enough to let you pump 1 or 2 times). The Ameda has 4 bottles, the cooler with cooling elements, and a bunch of other items. I see all the complaints about Ameda though so now I’m far less sure of going with it…
Personally, I can’t confirm the complaints about the Ameda, because in my experience, it worked just fine. It just wasn’t optimal for lugging around at work. I think it’s up to you, though, to make the decision that’s best for you. 🙂
I love my Medela Freestyle breast pump its small and very portable. However, the one thing I wish all pumps would work on is the noise level…maybe it’s just me but it’s so irritating.
This is so helpful! Thank you! Do you happen to know how to “test” a borrowed breast pump to see if it’s still working well? (First time mom and I have no idea what a pump should sound like, but borrowed one from a friend. She hasn’t used it in many years and so doesn’t really remember per se either.)
What the pump should “sound” like really depends on the pump. I always thought it sounded like my Ameda PY was saying “hotdog” over and over. 😉 To test it out, though, I’d check to see if when you use it, you’re getting good suction and a reasonable amount of output and that all the dials and gears work as expected. Maybe also try to find a YouTube video of someone using your pump to see if everything seems to be working the same. Don’t forget to get all new tubing, shields, etc. Not only for hygiene, but also because over time, the plastic pieces can become brittle and break.
Decisions, decisions!
As the time to go back to work is getting closer, I needed to choose a new pump. I used my old Ameda Purely Yours for 2 years without a problem and really liked it, but Medela is the other “big brand”; arguably the best but priced higher than Ameda, so I was wondering if I should switch and give Medela a try?
Well, this post offers a great side-by-side comparison, vary fair and complete, and personally it helped me in my decision to get an Ameda again 🙂 Thank you so much, I highly recommend this article for moms in the search of the best pump for them!
If your insurance will help cover the cost, I would definitely recommend trying out the Medela. If the Ameda works for you, though, and it’s going to be a big extra cost, I don’t think the difference is significant enough to merit buying a new pump.
Thank you so much for this. I am on baby #3 and my insurance is sending an Ameda. I already had a Medala and was worried. This was great information that I couldn’t get anywhere else. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
So, I currently have the Medela and my insurance will only cover Ameda tubing/hook ups for the automatic pump. Would they work with the Medela? Basically, the tubes, the cup things and hook up part to bottle is what I would be getting.
No, the Ameda tubing wouldn’t work with the Medela pump.
i prefer karmin breast pump 🙂
hi, so my insurance will cover the medela, the ameda, and the spectra s2, so i’m still a bit confused as to which to choose. i’ve noticed that not many places sell parts and bags for the spectra so i’m leaning toward one of the first 2. which, in your opinion, is the better option. i read your review but was still confused. i really appreciate all your help.
thank you
It depends on your circumstance and needs I think, but generally, I’d probably recommend the Medela PIS.