Medela Symphony Breast Pump

 (22 customer reviews)

I began using the Medela Classic hospital grade pump 2 days after my son was born and had HORRIBLE PAINFUL problems (i.e. cracked bleeding nipples, raw skin). After switching to the Symphony all of my problems stopped immediately after the initial healing time was over.

I pump exclusively and bottle feed my son due to latching issues and I've been using the pump 8-10 times a day for the last 3 months without a single problem with the mechanics of the machine or it's ability to express a lot of milk. Of course, the pump cab make a difference in how much milk you produce to a certain extent, but it's different for everyone woman so be wary of people who claim that certain pumps will solve your low production issues.

PROS:
-Extrememly quiet compared to the Pump in Style, Lactina, and Classic pumps
-Easy to clean
-Exchangable flanges if you need different sizes
-Replaceable parts (although I've never needed to replace any of them so far)...Read more

I'm renting this product rather than buying, since I'm unlikely to need it for over a year.

I had low milk production with my first child and used a Medela pump-in-style. I always needed formula supplements as well. With my second child I was coming closer, but was pumping 15-20 ml per feeding when I needed 30 to supplement what the baby was getting for herself.

My lactation consultant recommended trying the Symphony before going to formula supplements. I would not have imagined that slight changes to the rhythm of the suction on a pump could make so much difference in milk expression, but switching to the symphony has raised my pumped output by about 50% from the first pumping. In addition the Symphony is much quieter than my old pump.

I had insufficient breastmilk production and had to supplement with formula. My lactation consultant recommended that I rent the Medela Symphony hospital grade pump, even though I told her I was using my own Medela Pump In Style breast pump. She said the Pump In Style is good for expressing established milk and the Symphony is made to help establish the milk supply.

With the Pump In Style, I was getting a total of .6 of an ounce every 3 hours (end of baby's first week). I tried all of the lactation consultant's recommendations and got it up to 1 ounce total per double pumping by week 3. From the first time I used the Symphony, I had 2 ounces total per double pumping (less if it was less than 3 hours since the last feed/pump).

Note that the rental price was $80/month + $40 kit that is available on Amazon, but you can look into having your medical insurance or FSA cover some or all of the costs. Note - if you have the Medela breast shields, connectors,...Read more