In between Spectra M1 & Medela Freestyle, it really depends on your budget and the duration your wife are planning to breastfeed.
Medela Freestyle:Pros: -Heavy Duty
-Light weight & small size
-many suction level
-have "memory" that remembers your prefered suction
-its a double pump
-have letdown mode
-Built in battery
-Battery last longer
Cons:-I believe its a little noisier compared to spectra (but my comparison is done by watching you tube reviews... I dont have a medela
)
-Have back flow problem (need to change tube frequently)
-more parts to clean/sterile
-Expensive. Expensive to service also
Specttra M1:Pro: -more economy and pocket friendly
-Heavy Duty
-double pump. but it only comes with a single set of tube and bottle so you need to add on $ for another set of tube.
-light weight (but slightly bigger than medela)
-5 levels of suction level (which I think is sufficient- I'm happy with level 3/4)
-no "memory" but which level you turn off it stays there. wasnt that hard to adjust the levels as needed
-have letdown mode
-have back flow protector (which I think really important to protect the motor and prevent tube from having water droplets and molds)
Cons: -Battery drains faster but just charge it everyday after back from work. no problem. You can use it while charging too.
(like your handphone, everyday also charge right? how hard is it??)
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For me, due to budget, I got myself a spectra. many online sites sells them in packages. where you get an extra set of tube and bottle, ice packs, carrier bag..
It all also depends on your wife and her work place.
1) Do your wife have the strength to the pumping every 3-4hours? including midnight?
*for me, I very hardworking to do my midnight pumping in the begining, after 2 months, I start to skip my midnight pump and Direct latch, later, I start sleep thru it and pump in the morning.. the tiredness is taking over me T_T
2) Some mummies prefer to Direct Latch her babies / babies refuse bottle so only direct latch, so pumping takes a back seat.
3) Some mummies really have no sufficient milk for their babies, no matter what they tried... or when pump their milk yeild very little but ok when direct latch her baby
4) Office environment... up to date, not all office/boss/superiors is breastfeeding friendly, some superiors dislike you get away from your table for 3-4 times a day/15-20minutes each time.
5) If your wife work is demanding, soon, she'll postpone her pumping time, skip once, skip twice.. no time to pump...
So it really depends on your wife. can she pump till baby is 1year old, or 6month old? Or gave up after a while? Yes breastmilk is good, god give, but if one have no ability to keep up, why make oneself suffer?
Baby caring is a very tiring non stop, no holiday job. Unless you have a trusty maid/ GREAT 24/7 HUSBAND ON STANDBY/ Great mother-in-law or mother that willing to take over baby caring and breastfeeding friendly to let you pump in peace (when baby is crying and nobody watch over your baby, where got time to pump?? so stressful milk also cannot come out!)
I salute strong-minded mummies who works, care for the baby, do the house work and pumps on time, including midnight.
*Im sharing my experience. I have 2 babies and I work full time. I mix feed my first, due to little breastfeeding(bf) knowledge then, and for my 2nd I bf & pump for my babies till 4th mth and I gave up. The sleepless nights, baby crying, midnight pumping, sterilizing milk bottles and pump parts took a toll on me. And my yield is so low no matter what I tried... but, at least I tried. I gave my best. My baby still loves me.
If your wife can do it, I strongly suggest get her a FREEMIE cup, where you no need to lift your shirt up to put in your pump bottle. Can pump anywhere.
http://www.babydash.com.my/products/whats-...m-28mm-new.htmlThere are many many sites in the WWW that have both reviews. Do your homework. You're a good hubby for researching for your wife. My hubby? I do the survey and give him the detailed report, he only pays for it.. lol
This post has been edited by alce_librans: May 25 2015, 05:09 PM