MY comparison of Medela vs. Spectra
**Note: This post is only comparing Medela and Spectra models. I was not endorsed by either company, just a user of both products. This is based solely on my experience and is by no means medically or professionally based.
So you’ve decided to give breastfeeding a shot. Next comes the inevitable question… which breast pump should you get?
Step 1- call your insurance company and see what your options are in regards to coverage. It is my understanding that typically at least one of these two models are covered. (Generally the Spectra S2- not S1)
Once you discover your options covered by insurance, do some research. If you are anything like me, that means post in Facebook groups and hope for the best. If you are part of any mommy Facebook groups you will realize this question gets asked almost daily; and you likely end up more confused after getting 55 answers that are basically split down the middle between Medela and Spectra.
So hopefully this quick review of each model’s pros and cons will help navigate your decision!
Spectra S1
Spectra pumps have been a game changer for pumping moms in recent years. The soft suckle, lightweight portability, and cost have been a huge breakthrough for breast pumps! Lets break down the system and its parts.
- Breast Pump– The large blue machine is the actual double electric breast pump (Duh.)
- Collection Bottles– These lock directly to the breast shield so you can pump directly into them. They come with nipples so you can feed directly from them as well, which avoids losing that liquid gold during transfer!
- Breast Shield/ Flanges– These come in multiple sizes. This piece is placed directly around your nipple. Check here for specific information on sizing your flange.
- Back flow Protector – this separates into 3 pieces, 2 plastic and 1 silicone. This piece prevents milk from leaking into your tubing which can cause mold.
- Tubing – connects the pump to your back flow protector
- Duckbill valve– these small silicone pieces create the suction
- Power adapter – (not pictured) you do have to charge your S1 with a power adapter. The battery life is about 3 hours of use once fully charged.
Pros
- Back flow protector- this keeps your tubes clean from mold. This is huge and the main distinguishing factor between Spectra and Medela.
- Timer – believe it or not, this matters. You wouldn’t believe how many times I would start my Medela and forget to start a timer. It was important for me to not go to short or too long but set a small range when pumping.
- Nightlight – *photo below* also super useful. When you are pumping in the middle of the night, it is so helpful to have that little light directly on your pump so you can see what the hell you’re doing.
- Suction is more gentle and comfortable which is ideal for the pumping mama.
- Settings– to some this may be a con, but once you get used to what settings work for you, its a dream. There is a letdown and expression mode that you can toggle between to stimulate a letdown.
- Portable (note this is the S1 model, not S2) – 100% this. Time is so valuable in our lives and being able to multi task and pump on the go was a HUGE plus for me. See additional notes below about this.
- Bottle holder – *photo below* hard to explain the times this was used but it definitely was, particularly when single pumping. Not a necessity, but a nice addition.
Cons
- Backflow protector– sometimes I felt as though this reduces the strength of the suction compared to my Medela. It is also more pieces to clean.
- Settings – Some may consider the system having multiple settings as a con because it is more of a guessing game. However, as mentioned above, once you figure it out it is uh-maze-ing.
Also Noteworthy:
Ask insurance about upgrading to S1 vs S2 model. Most insurance providers cover the S2 and S9 models. Mine had a $30 up charge to get the S1 and I would’ve paid well beyond that. Having a portable pump is life. You will find yourself in countless situations on the go and needing to pump. Also, the battery life on the S1 lasted forever!
Medela Pump in Style
Medela breast pumps have been the “go-to” for pumping moms for eternity. Let’s break down the parts:
- Breast Pump– The large yellow and black box in the center.
- Collection Bottles– These lock directly to the breast shield (using the connector) so you can pump directly into them. They come with nipples so you can feed directly from them as well.
- Breast Shield/ Flanges– This piece is placed directly around your nipple and come in multiple sizes. Check here for specific information on sizing your Medela flange.
- Connectors – This piece connects the tubing to valve and membrane and collection bottle
- Valve & Membranes – This piece creates the suction. It is important to note these are 2 separate pieces, the valve is the yellow part and the membrane is the white part. This is same concept as the duckbill noted above.
- Tubing – Connects the pump to collection bottle
- Power adapter – Plug that powers the breast pump
Pros
- Stronger suction – The tubes connect directly to pump and do not run flow a back flow protector, this made the suction much stronger. This is a pro and con in my eyes.
- Replacement parts – At first I found that getting replacement parts for Medela products was much more accessible but it seems as though most stores are carrying Spectra parts now as well.
Cons
- Stronger suction – I found it to be more painful. However, there were times where I felt I needed the stronger suction to help empty me.
- No settings – This Medela pump does not have settings. When you turn it on it immediately starts with a letdown setting and gradually slows to normal suction. I typically alternated every 5 minutes on my Spectra so not being able to engage another letdown setting was not ideal for me.
- No timer– I constantly forgot to start a timer when using this pump. When you are in a daze and half asleep, it is a nice feature to have.
- Loud and heavy– I found my Medela pump to be much louder and heavier than my Spectra. Not a huge issue but certainly something to note.
Final Decision
After using and evaluating both of these pumps it is evident that Spectra is the winner in regard to “pros.” It’s lightweight, portable, quite, clean, and has all the bells and whistles!!
I think it is important to note that these are not the only 2 models of breast pump out there, they are merely the 2 most popular.
I hope you found this comparison valuable! Check back for future posts with my breastfeeding “must have’s” and tips and tricks!
If you have used either or both of these pumps, I’d love your feedback! Drop a comment below and tell me your experience!
Xo, Emily
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