Looking for the best breast pump for you? The Medela Freestyle Hands-Free breast pump is a wearable option that works really well as a portable pump. Here’s a review.
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What is the Medela Freestyle Hands-Free?
The Medela Freestyle Hands-Free breast pump consists of a small, portable pump motor with wearable cups.
The cups go in your nursing bra, so you can pump hands-free without needing a special bra. Tubing connects the cups to the pump motor, which can fit in a pocket.
It’s a good option for pumping in public, as the cups aren’t super noticeable when you’re wearing them. (It just kind of looks like you have a large chest.) The cups are also helpful for pumping when your baby wants to be held or fed while you pump.
You can see more of this breast pump in the below stories:
What are the advantages of the Medela Freestyle Hands-Free?
Below are some of the pros of this breast pump.
1. You don’t have bottles hanging off your chest
Wearable cups can make it a lot easier to get things done – like feed your baby a bottle or play with baby during tummy time – because your range of motion isn’t limited by the pump parts and bottles taking up space in front of you.
(You do need to be careful to stay upright while pumping, or the cups will leak.)
2. It only has three pump parts
Having only three pump parts – the breast shield, valve, and collection cup – makes the Medela cups really easy to put together, and there are fewer parts to wash compared to other options.
3. The Freestyle pump is portable
This pump is small and has a rechargeable battery, so it’s easy to move around the house while you pump. The pump fits well in a pocket.
(Personally, I think they should also include a lanyard so that you can wear the pump around your neck.)
4. The bottom of the cup is flat
One thing that sets Medela cups apart from other wearable pumps is that the bottom of the pump has a flat edge – which means you can safely set it down on the counter after pumping before transferring the milk to a bottle.
5. It uses a USB-C charger
I love that you don’t need a specific charging cord that can only be purchased online. I can charge it with the same charger I use for my MacBook – it’s easy to get extras to put around your house, and you can buy replacements in an airport gift shop if you forget it on a trip.
What are the disadvantages?
There are also a few cons to this pump.
1. You still have to deal with tubing
While you don’t have bottles and pump parts hanging off of your chest, it’s not a completely wireless pump.
You still need to make sure all the tubing is connected, and you’re tied to the portable motor.
2. It’s not super quiet
It’s not the loudest breast pump I’ve ever used, but it’s also not quiet – people around you will know that you’re pumping.
How do you use the Medela Freestyle Hands-Free?
Below are some tips for using this breast pump.
Assembling the cups
Compared to other wearable cups, assembling Medela cups is really easy. There are only three parts – the breast shield, the valve, and the collection cup.
To assemble the wearable cups, place the valve on the breast shield. Then attach the collection cup, and the tubing to the top of the cup.
Using the pump
The Freestyle breast pump allows you to control the mode and vacuum strength of the pump. To use it:
- Press the play button to turn the pump on and off
- Use the + and – buttons to increase and decrease the suction strength
- Press the drop button to switch the mode from letdown to expression mode and vice versa
You aren’t able to adjust the cycle speed on this breast pump.
The Medela Freestyle can connect to the Medela Family app to see how long you’ve pumped and track your sessions.
Can you use the Medela Freestyle Hands-Free as a primary pump?
The Medela Freestyle itself is a strong enough breast pump that it can be used as a primary pump.
Some people do not respond as well to wearable cups ass to traditional pump parts, so this is something to consider if this will be your only pump. You can likely buy the Freestyle Flex pump part and switch them out with the cups, if you’d like. (I haven’t tried it, but if you get the Flex tubing, the PersonalFit connectors, membrane, and breast shields, I think it would work.
How do the cups compare to other hands-free cups?
There are some different variations on wearable cups that you can use to pump hands-free. Some examples include Freemie cups, Spectra Cara Cups, and Legendairy Milk wearable cups. More on these here.
Medela wearable cups are a little different (and in my opinion better) than some options because of a few features:
- The ability to put the cups down on a table, due to the flat bottom
- Putting the cups together is much less complicated because there are only three pieces
The negative is that these are really designed to be used with Medela pumps and may not be compatible with any other pump you may have.
How does it look when you’re wearing it?
Here’s how the Medela wearable pumps look on me – people that know you might notice that your chest is suddenly larger, depending on what you’re wearing.
Strangers probably would not notice you’re wearing them.
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Have you used the Medela Freestyle Hands-Free breast pump? Let us know your review in the comments!
Comments & Chitchat
Helga says
I ended up having to buy the Medela pump in style and these cups in Puerto Rico after my poor Pumpables was stolen in a smash and grab! I was unexcited at first because so many people online talk about how you lose so much output with the wearables but I am honestly so impressed!! Mine came with the wall pump not the slick little portable but as for the cups they are wonderful! The fit is so much nicer than the momcozy and not having bottles hanging out is amazing. The fact that they are so easy to use and clean is also much much appreciated by me.
Eva says
Hello Amanda, I am in a similar situation as Shelby, have trouble deciding between the medela freestyle flex pump and the medela freestyle hands free…Obviously would like the freedom to do things around the house as freely as I possibly can. Also, would you happen to know which out of the two is louder? I will be returning to work 5 months after delivery so would like to pump discreetly (as quietly as possible) 😃
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Eva! If you can, I would get something like this:
https://www.medela.us/breastfeeding/products/breast-pumps/freestyle-hands-free-breast-pump-with-kit
BUT not purchased like that from Medela. You could get the Freestyle Flex via insurance, for example, and then just buy the hands-free cups. then you can use either and see which you like better. Here are the cups on their own:
https://www.medela.us/breastfeeding/products/pump-accessories/hands-free-collection-cups
Ruby says
Hello Amanda? I am looking for the best option for a wireless pump, I am between Elvie, this Medela, the willow or mom cozy. Which would you recommend me, I have been doing some research but there it so much information about it !!
Thank you in advance
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Ruby! My choice would be the Willow Go!
Lan says
Hi Amanda!
I currently have the willow, but it’s starting to give me clogged ducts whenever I use them at work. I work in healthcare so I can’t be tied down with a traditional pump and am looking for a new wearable one that is fairly discreet. Any recommendations appreciated!
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Lan! Which Willow do you have right now?
Toni says
Hi – Great review. FTM here trying to decide between the Pumpables Genie Advance and this new Medela Freestyle with the wearables. Would love any feedback you might have. From reviews, seems like Medela Freestyle is perhaps less powerful, louder, and has a touchy screen compared to Genie. I do like how small and sleek the Freestyle is the with the cups though. And wondering if that alone might be worth it. Just not sure, have nothing to compare to and not sure what my breastfeeding journey will be like. Appreciate any insight. Thanks!
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Toni! Thank you! I think I would go with Pumpables to be honest – I have heard such good things about it. I did a little looking around and I’m 95% sure you can use Freemie cups with them if you want to use cups. I hope that helps!
Brie says
Wore the hands free today for the first time and it wasn’t a pleasant experience – lost milk on both side. One side trickled down the bottom and the other it leaked as I gentle tilted it to pour into the collection bottle. Why is there a gap at the bottom of the collection cup?? Feel like it is a set up for leakage !
Jessica says
They have redesigned the cups, do you have the cups with an o-ring, or do you have the original cups?
Jessica says
Amanda I am super curious. I have seen some of your replies that say some people do not respond well the these cups. Any idea why that would be, if it’s the same pump?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
That’s a great question, and I don’t know the answer! Some people respond well to nursing but can get very little milk with an electric pump. Some people get more milk with a manual pump. Some get more with hand expression. Some people do great with wearables and others don’t get much milk at all compared to a traditional pump. I don’t know why it’s so individual! To my knowledge it’s not something that has been studied but I’d love to see one!
Giulia says
Hi lovely, I’m wondering if you have any recommendations between the medela freestyle pump vs the elvie stride? Reviews are mixed for both so wondering if you can help. I’m looking for a wearable pump that can empty breasts well and is not too painful. Thanks in advance
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Guilia! Honestly, I would go for the Willow Go – it’s wireless and price is competitive with those two. Good luck!
Katie says
Curious how you would compare this to the Baby buddha in terms of suction/compatibility. I used the Elvie 2 years ago and ended up so frustrated with the squeaking and loss of suction after about 4 months – I loved the convenience, but my output was very reduced when using it. This time around I am looking into something that is still hands free, but perhaps a little stronger. The membrane and collector cups on this look similar to Elvie, which gives me pause. The Baby Buddha gets great reviews and seems to be more compatible with other options. Thanks for your reviews!
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Katie! With this concern – I would go Baby Buddha and maybe get Freemie or Legendairy milk cups to go with. You’ll get the same flexibility, great suction, and I actually think it will be cheaper. Hope that helps!
Jen says
I bought this pump and LOVE it (I also have a spectra and WillowGo) but it’s killing me that they aren’t selling the cups on their own. I hate having to wash after every pump. Do you have any idea how I could get an extra set of cups?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Jen! It looks like Medela will be selling it soon – you can join the waitlist:
https://www.medela.us/breastfeeding/products/pump-accessories/hands-free-collection-cups
Shelby Russell says
Hey!
Thanks for having these reviews posted!
I am going to be a new mom in a couple months and currently am between the medela freestyle flex pump and the medela freestyle hands free…. Do you have a preference!?
I am one of those people who have a hard time sitting down for more then a couple minutes at a time so I feel like the hands free would fit my lifestyle a bit better… but i know it is a new product so not sure how well the warranty and whatnot would be
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Shelby! If you’re planning on exclusively pumping and are a FTM – I think I would go with the Flex and not the cups. The cups are nice but some people don’t respond as well to them, and since you don’t have any way of knowing how you’ll respond – I would play it safe and use the traditional pump parts to start. I think they are going to start selling the cups on their own soon and then you’d be able to do it both ways!