Medela or Ameda?

[Birdie]

My insurance (BCBS) will cover certain breast pumps. My top two choices are:

Ameda Purely Yours® Electric Breast Pump
www.edgepark.com/shopcatalog/item/ew17070pmw/breast-pumps-and-supplies/breast-pumps/

Or

Medela Advanced Personal Double Electric Breastpump
(Insurance version of the Pump in Style)
www.edgepark.com/shopcatalog/item/ml57065/breast-pumps-and-supplies/breast-pumps/

I've heard pros and cons for both. Does anyone have any personal insight to help my decision? I was sold on the Ameda until I saw the latest reviews on BRU.

[Deleted]

I have and like a Purely Yours, but I've never used a PISA. I like that it's a closed system.

[everafter07]

I have a PY and it suuuuucks. I mean, in a bad way. They have great customer service at least. I'm on my third pump base now. I ended up just renting a hospital grade pump for home and use a hand pump at work. If I'd had a choice, I'd have gone Medela.

[ssmjlm]

I have an ameda bc that's what was free. I haven't had any issues, but I know many on this board don't seem to like it.

I've heard several complain about the suction, but I've never had that issue. I can't imagine a pump with higher suction tbh.

[Deleted]

I have the Medela and really like it. I use it a ton (4 times a day for 7 months). Recently I felt like it was losing suction. I called customer service and they were super now and sent me some of the yellow replacement caps which seems to be working well.

[curbsideprophet]

I was happy with my Ameda. I pumped until DD was approx 16 months. I like that it is a closed system. I never needed to use to highest setting (more is not necessarily bettering this case).

Since it comes up, I could buy parts at BRU. I also ordered valves from Amazon.

[Birdie]

Jan 4, 2014 18:56:53 GMT -5 @ffbride0813 said:

I have the Medela and really like it. I use it a ton (4 times a day for 7 months). Recently I felt like it was losing suction. I called customer service and they were super now and sent me some of the yellow replacement caps which seems to be working well.

Do you have the insurance version I linked above or the retail Pump in Style version? I ask because I ready the actual pump is the same, the difference is the lack of a one button shut down (or something like that) on the insurance version and it doesn't come with the extra tote, etc. Just wondering if that was an inconvenience at all. I figured with the tote I can just buy one.

[amity]

I got an Ameda Purely Yours from insurance. Have been using it for 2 months and haaaate it. Like PP, I just rented a hospital grade and am probably just going to buy a Medela. If you will be a working mom or an exclusive pumper, I would NOT recommend the Ameda.

[greycat]

Jan 4, 2014 18:51:38 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

I have an ameda bc that's what was free. I haven't had any issues, but I know many on this board don't seem to like it.

I've heard several complain about the suction, but I've never had that issue. I can't imagine a pump with higher suction tbh.

This. I like that it is a closed system.

[Birdie]

I DID just find that BCBS also covers the Medela Advanced Personal Double Pump (MY57018W) which has the one touch "let down" button.

I honestly hadn't planned on BFing after I went back to work at 8 weeks and just started thinking about it as a possibility again. My office is small and I'm not sure where I'm going to be able to BF besides the bathroom. I know they have to legally provide me a place, but realistically I don't know where that is going to be. I'll also be storing my milk in the community fridge, so really anything that makes pumping at work easier is better for me!

ETA: I'm a dummy. There are two Medela models available and I kept thinking I was reading about the "less advanced" model. I see that I posted the same model in the OP and this post. Pregnancy brain!!

[ryry]

I've used the retail PISA and the insurance version, and besides the insurance version being ugly, there's no difference in the pump. I haven't used any other pump, but I've had no complaints about the PISA.

[everafter07]

I wonder if the people that have the PY and like it got a magical base that works correctly. I had three different bases and not a single one had decent suction. It would take an hour to get what the Ameda hospital grade I rent takes 10-15 min.

[andthentherewere10]

So Mad That My BCBS Won't Cover My Pump!! I'm Planning To Get The Ameda.

PS Forgive My Insane AutoCapitalize On My Phone

[Deleted]

Jan 4, 2014 19:09:39 GMT -5 Birdie said:

Jan 4, 2014 18:56:53 GMT -5 @ffbride0813 said:

I have the Medela and really like it. I use it a ton (4 times a day for 7 months). Recently I felt like it was losing suction. I called customer service and they were super now and sent me some of the yellow replacement caps which seems to be working well.

Do you have the insurance version I linked above or the retail Pump in Style version? I ask because I ready the actual pump is the same, the difference is the lack of a one button shut down (or something like that) on the insurance version and it doesn't come with the extra tote, etc. Just wondering if that was an inconvenience at all. I figured with the tote I can just buy one.

I have the insurance one. It doesn't have the let down button. It comes I a. Small tote bag but it only holds the pump itself.

[cherry1111]

I pumped 3-4 times a day for almost 9 months with the Purely Yours. I can't offer a comparison to the Medela but I think it was fine.

I did have to replace valves a lot and I didn't like that I couldn't just run to Target to get them. That would be my #1 complaint.

[Birdie]

Jan 4, 2014 19:45:19 GMT -5 minniemouse said:

I didn't know there was an "insurance version". I have a pump in style advanced, insurance covered most of the cost. I really like it. This is actually my second PISA. I keep my old one from 2009 at home and my new one at work.

From what I'm reading tonight, I can get the "insurance version" for free, or I can possibly get the PISA for an additional cost that depends on my plan.

The "insurance version" is apparently the same pump, but is uglier and doesn't come with the extras like the additional tote, etc. It's also only available through insurance and not available for retail. I read somewhere yesterday that Medela created the insurance version because some insurance companies won't cover the PISA since it's available for retail and people can fraud the system by trying to return it to a store for the $$.

[osulori]

I have the PISA and like it.

[ssmjlm]

Jan 4, 2014 19:25:28 GMT -5 everafter07 said:

I wonder if the people that have the PY and like it got a magical base that works correctly. I had three different bases and not a single one had decent suction. It would take an hour to get what the Ameda hospital grade I rent takes 10-15 min.

I've been using the PY for 7.5 months now and have never had a suction issue that wasn't user error. I'm also only on my 3rd set of valves.

I think a lot of people don't understand how the diaphragms work to create the suction. (Not directed at the quoted above, just based on other discussions.) If I'm not set in the flanges properly then the suction isn't good, but the DVD doesn't really explain that to the user.

That said I have no idea how the Pisa works since it seems to be a completely different type of pump setup.

[AmyRI]

I've used both. The major difference is the maximum cycle speed. The Medela PIS has a 2-phase expression system where it starts with lower suction and faster speed, then after a minute or two (or when you press a button) it switches to a slower phase. The idea is to stimulate a letdown with the fast part and then draw milk out with the slow one, and this mimics a baby's nursing pattern.

The Ameda pump has a separate control for the speed (Medela only has 1 dial that controls both speed and suction together), but the speed setting at its fastest is half that of the Medela. However, if you can let down and pump adequately with the Ameda, then you're golden.
Problem is... you won't know until you try it. For that reason, I'd recommend the Medela pump. You can make the Medela pump act like the Ameda (by skipping the "letdown" phase) but you can't make the Ameda act like the Medela. 

I bought a Medela when I had my DS, but got the Ameda free from insurance for DD. I personally have trouble letting down more than once with the Ameda and it took me forever to pump because it just doesn't go fast enough, so I switched back to the Medela. But again, it's a personal thing and it's nothing against the pump. If it works for you, you aren't missing out on anything.

The closed system thing - it is hard to get milk into the tubes, but milk is part of the condensation that gets into the tubes. If you don't run them dry, they can develop mold. And even if you do run them dry, there's still a chance your milk dried on the tubes and consequently behind the faceplate of the pump. That's why it's a single user pump. The Ameda has a diaphram that keeps all milk on one side and all air on the other. So long as you replace from the diaphram down, there is 0 risk to another person using the pump.

The suction on both models, as far as specs go, is about the same. If there are any suction issues with the Ameda PY at all, it's not functioning properly, either because the base is faulty, the diaphrams are ripped, the valves need replacing, or there's a crack in a plastic part somewhere. 

[everafter07]

Jan 4, 2014 20:10:25 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Jan 4, 2014 19:25:28 GMT -5 everafter07 said:

I wonder if the people that have the PY and like it got a magical base that works correctly. I had three different bases and not a single one had decent suction. It would take an hour to get what the Ameda hospital grade I rent takes 10-15 min.

I think a lot of people don't understand how the diaphragms work to create the suction. (Not directed at the quoted above, just based on other discussions.) If I'm not set in the flanges properly then the suction isn't good...

It's possible, but in my case, I don't think so. I even tried the inserts for smaller nipples. The Ameda parts I used with the PY work with the Ameda hospital grade pump and I have no problems with that one, or the hand pump.

[crazycakes]

I have that Medela (the insurance one) and I like it. It works well and I haven't had any issues with suction. I do sometimes get milk in the tubes and I can't figure out why it happens and it's annoying to clean out. That is my only complaint.

[Pilsy]

Thanks for posting this! I have BCBS too and need to figure out the same thing.

[jackie011]

Jealous you get a choice! I spent forever on the phone on Thursday trying to get an answer out of my insurance company. Finally, after calling 3 different places and playing in a maze of phone options I spoke to a woman who told me that my insurance only offers the Purely Yours and I have to wait until I'm within 8 weeks of my due date to even start the process. I guess I shouldn't complain, as it's covered by insurance.

[AmyRI]

Jan 4, 2014 20:38:33 GMT -5 everafter07 said:

Jan 4, 2014 20:10:25 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

I think a lot of people don't understand how the diaphragms work to create the suction. (Not directed at the quoted above, just based on other discussions.) If I'm not set in the flanges properly then the suction isn't good...

It's possible, but in my case, I don't think so. I even tried the inserts for smaller nipples. The Ameda parts I used with the PY work with the Ameda hospital grade pump and I have no problems with that one, or the hand pump.

Have you tried replacing the power supply? If that's faulty I wonder if it could kill the motor. I dont know enough about the hospital grade pump setup to know if the tubing and caps are the same, but I know they're not used on the manual pump so replace those if you haven't already. Keep on their customer service until you get it working properly. It really is a great pump and should function just fine.

[everafter07]

Their customer service seemed very sure it was the pump base. I use the Ameda flanges, diaphragms, etc with the hospital grade and all is great. I have a Hygeia hand pump that also works great. I don't know if it's the power supply, that's interesting... Maybe I'll check on that. The suction is just never strong enough it seems. Like the nipple barely pulls into the flange.

[Birdie]

Jan 4, 2014 20:44:13 GMT -5 Pilsy said:

Thanks for posting this! I have BCBS too and need to figure out the same thing.

They gave me three online in-network providers but said they accept any in-network DME provider. There is a DME store in my hospital, so I plan on stopping by after my next OB appointment to see if they have the Medela in stock for when it's time to order.

[Birdie]

Keep in mind this is for BCBS Indiana, but this is the semi-coherent email my insurance sent me:

30 days prior to birth & up to 6 mo after birth


Edge Park 800) 321-0591
www.edgepark.com/shopcatalog/searchresults.cfm?keyword=breast+pump&source=header
Edgepark website
Click - Shop/shopping cart
Search - Breast pump
Evenflo Company Purely Yours Breast Pump
Also have Medela breast pumps just not on the website.
Edgepark would call dr office for Certificate of Medical Necessity & then work with member

Byram Healthcare 877.902.9726
www.byramhealthcare.com/

Apria Healthcare 800.277.4288
www.apria.com/wps/portal/apria/home

These 3 providers do not make an all inclusive list of providers that can supply the breast pumps, these are just providers were made aware that they carry them. A member can get the breast pump from any in network provider

[SKP82]

I have that exact Medela pump. I like it just fine.

I asked my LC which pump I should get if I had a choice and she said Medela, absolutely.

ETA: I also have BCBS and went through a medical supply company to order. I just had to provide a Rx from my doc. When I spoke with the rep, I specifically asked for this pump (I was told at one point they would send me whatever they had available and I told them I didn't want that). I ended up paying $18 (10%) for my pump. They shipped it to me.

[karissa]

I've used both(different for each child) while working full time and pumping to the one year mark. I like everything(comfort, two dial controls, closed system) about using the Ameda better when the motor worked. I went through 5 motors while pumping from age 11wks to one year. If we have a third and I had a choice I'd choose Medela unless I could afford to buy a second for back up.

[Deleted]

The other difference between my insurance Medela and the PISA is that mine didn't come with a battery pack. I am pretty sure my friends PISA came with a battery pack. I bought one for $20 on amazon. It also doesn't have the cooler which is part of the PISA bag.