It can be quite challenging for expectant mothers to choose the right breast pump. Electric breast pumps are an ideal option for working mothers (→ my fiancée) who won’t always be around their babies when it’s time to breastfeed. When you’re shortlisting your options, you’re probably wondering how Medela vs Avent breast pumps compare.
The good news is, they’re both quality pumps, so opting for either will be a good idea. Based on reviews from my wife who works at a pharmacy, and giving advice about pumps, too, I can tell you that the Avent Breast Pump is a firm favorite among new moms. Its customizable expression feature makes it so much easier to find the perfect comfort level!
Medela single and double electric pumps
Medela has several options for you to consider. The most popular are listed below:
- Medela Swing – Single Electric Breast Pump
- Medela Swing Maxi – Double Electric Breast Pump
- Medela Freestyle Flex Breast Pump – Portable Electric Breastpump
Avent single and double electric pumps
Philips Avent also has a few quality options to consider. The common choices are the following:
- Philips Avent Double Electric Breast Pump SCF 334 – 18 piece double breast pump with bonus cushion
- Philips Avent Single Electric Breast Pump SCF332 – 9 piece standard
- Philips Avent Double Electric Breast Pump SCF394 – Features advanced natural motion
- Philips Avent Single Electric Breast Pump SCF 391 – Features natural motion technology
- Medela single and double electric pumps
- Avent single and double electric pumps
- Differences and similarities – Medela vs Avent single electric pumps
- Medela single electric pump (Medela Swing)
- Avent single electric pumps
- Double breast pumps from Medela and Avent
- Alternatives to consider
- Bottles compatible with the Medela pump
- Bottles compatible with the Avent pump
- Conclusion
Differences and similarities – Medela vs Avent single electric pumps
Making a well-informed decision is crucial to your comfort. With that in mind, let’s compare a few key differences and similarities.
Frequency of usage
Knowing how often you can use your breast pump is important since you might have to pump several times during a day whilst at work or away from the baby. Electric pumps make expressing milk a lot easier.
The Medela pump can be used for about 8 to 10 pumping sessions over 24 hours. Avent on the other hand offers 8 stimulation and 16 expression levels allowing you to personalize your experience. It’s worth noting that many moms find that the Medela allows for faster expression than the Avent.
Price
On average the Medela Swing is more expensive than any of the Avent models. This is more than likely attributed to the 2-Phase technology that allows for faster pumping. If you’d like to invest in the Medela swing, keep a lookout for promotions!
Closed or open system breast pump
The Medela breast pump is an open system pump. This means you’ll have to remove the faceplate every so often to check for mold. Although Medela is the only major pump manufacturer that still features an open system, it doesn’t affect the quality or popularity in any way!
Where they’re made
Philips Avent is based in Glemsford, Suffolk, England, and is a well-known child care brand that specializes in breast pumps, bottles, and a range of other baby feeding and health products.
Medela, also a baby care brand, is primarily based in Switzerland where I’m also based. 🙂 They distribute their wide range of baby products to over 100 different countries around the globe.
Medela single electric pump (Medela Swing)
Features
- Compact and lightweight makes it easy to fit into your purse
- Patented 2-Phase Expression Technology allows for more breast pumping in less time
- Features easy to use controls allow you to choose the most comfortable setting
- Convenient AC power adaptor can be battery-operated for on-the-go moms
Why You Should Consider It
The Medela Swing Single Electric Breast Pump is ideal for mothers on the go who might need to express milk during breaks at work. Its unique 2-Phase technology allows mothers to express more milk in a shorter time. It makes breastfeeding so much easier!
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Comfortable breast shields
- Pumps milk faster than other brands
- Easy to clean
- Battery operated – ideal for use on the go
Cons
- Batteries can drain quickly if used frequently
- More expensive than other similar electrical pumps
Avent single electric pumps
Features
- Natural Motion Technology combines suction and nipple stimulation for quick milk flow
- The soft silicone flange shield easily fits both size and shape of the breast
- 8 stimulation and 16 expression levels to choose from
- Compact design makes it easy to carry around
Why You Should Consider It
Many mothers prefer the Philips Avent Single Electric Breast Pump because of its customizable expression levels. With 8 stimulation and 16 expression levels, you can easily personalize your pumping experience to what’s most comfortable for you!
Pros
- Durable
- Silicone pads add comfort
- Customizable expression levels
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Can be too loud
- Batteries drain quickly
Double breast pumps from Medela and Avent
What’s the difference between single and double?
As the names suggest, single and double pumps allow you to either pump one breast at a time or both. A single pump comes with one breast shield and one container, allowing you to pump one side at a time. A double pump features two containers and expresses milk from both breasts at the same time.
Which is better – single or double?
A double breast pump is a great option for mothers who need to express regularly. In the case of twins, it also makes the feeding process that much easier because it’s possible to express a bigger amount. Some mothers prefer the convenience of double expression. On average it takes about 15 minutes to pump both breasts with a double pump as opposed to the usual 30 minutes on a single pump.
Besides Medela or Avent another option would be the Elvie (which I compared to Medela) – this comes both in single and double pump options.
Any new task can be daunting for a new mom, so use this video to quickly get your Avent pump ready to work.
Differences between Medela and Avent double pumps
Both the Avent Double Pump and the Medela Freestyle are super pumps to use. Both are designed to handle heavy usage and can express a great deal more than their single counterparts. With both, you save a considerable amount of time by opting to pump both breasts at the same time.
Using a double breast pump is not complicated at all! Here’s a short clip from Medela to show you just how easy it is to use their Freestyle Flex double pump!
Alternatives to consider
If you’re not entirely sold on either of these models, you might want to read a few articles I’ve written recently on breast pump alternatives to Medela, comparing Medela with Lansinoh as well as Medela Sonata with Spectra S1 or S2!
A few popular alternatives include the following:
- Spectra S1 Plus Electric Breast Pump
- Willow Wearable Breast Pump (which I wrote about when comparing Willow with Freemie or Elvie)
- Bellababy Double Electric Breast Pump
- Lansinoh Signature Pro Double Electric Breast Pump
Bottles compatible with the Medela pump
Many bottles and pump manufacturers make adaptors that make it easy for most bottles to attach to most pumps. Interestingly, most hospitals provide babies with Medela bottles. A list of bottles that can fit on the Medela pump include:
- Lifefactory Baby Bottles
- Philips Avent Bottles (must use adaptor)
- Born Free Bottles (must use adaptor)
- Evenflo Bottles (only regular neck option instead of the wide one)
- Comotomo Baby Bottles (must use adaptor)
- Tommee Tippee Baby Bottles (must use adaptor)
Bottles compatible with the Avent pump
As with the Medela, adaptors can be used to secure most bottles to the Avent pump. A few of these include:
- Phillips Avent Bottles
- Comotomo Baby Bottles
- NUK Baby bottles (with adapter)
Conclusion
Whether you choose a Medela or Avent electric pump, the good news is, you’ll be buying a comfortable, quality product that will express the right amount of milk when you need to. If you’re pressed for time, you might enjoy the speed of the Medela. The Avent on the other hand provides you with customizable comfort settings. It simply comes down to a matter of preference!
Last update on 2024-04-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
