What Are The Benefits Of The Medela Symphony Breast Pump?
- Many buyers really liked that this breast pump was backed by clinical research, giving them the confidence they needed to use this pump in the initial days and weeks
- This pump comes with multiple technologies for you to choose from, including the Initiation and 2-Phase Expression™ technology that can help increase milk production, comfort, and maintains supply
What Are The Drawbacks Of The Medela Symphony Breast Pump?
- The cost of this pump is quite high, even when you’re renting it, so it might not be suitable for all budgets
Are There Any Accessories Included With The Medela Symphony Breast Pump?
Unfortunately, renting the Medela Symphony pump does not include any accessories. You will only receive the motor unit. You will also need to buy the Symphony Breast Pump Double Kit to use with the Symphony pump, as these don’t come with your rental. The kit comes in sizes 21 mm (small), 24 mm (medium), and 27 mm (large). Your kit will include a number of accessories, including:
- 2 x PersonalFit PLUS breast shields (21 mm, 24 mm or 27 mm)
- 2 x PersonalFit PLUS connector with lid
- 2 x PersonalFit PLUS membrane
- 2 x PersonalFit PLUS tubing
- 2 x PersonalFit PLUS cap
- 2 x Bottle 150ml with print
- 2 x Multi lid
- Instructions for home use
- Breast shield fitting brochure
What Sets The Medela Symphony Breast Pump Apart From The Crowd?
When testing out the Medela Symphony pump, we found plenty of features that make it stand out from the crowd. Here are just a few of our favourites:
Backed by clinical research
The first thing we really liked about the Medela Symphony was that it was created based on trusted clinical research, making sure that you’re in the best hands possible. After conducting so much research, Medela developed the Symphony breast pump to mimic the natural sucking behaviour of babies at the mother’s breast. This will trick your body into thinking the pump is a baby at your breast instead of a silicene flange, which many parents find to be incredibly helpful during the first few days after birth. Your milk supply might take a few days to come in, so using a pump like Symphony can encourage your body to produce as quickly as possible to optimise milk output during established lactation.
Initiation and 2-Phase Expression™ technology
Another feature we’re sure many parents will appreciate is the various technologies you can choose from. The first option is Initiation, which supports mothers to effectively initiate, build, and maintain your milk production. This can then help you produce up to 50% more milk within the first two weeks when you follow Initiation with Maintain, and this also helps to maintain your milk production for longer.
The 2-Phase Expression technology is another great feature which mimics how babies latch and suck, helping increase your milk production and making pumping more efficient and comfortable. What’s really special about this technology, though, is that your milk will have a higher energy content, which is an incredibly beneficial feature for preterm babies.
How Much Does The Medela Symphony Breast Pump Cost?
You can choose to either buy or rent the Medela Symphony pump, but the latter is much easier to obtain. Amazon currently sells the Symphony pump for $1,749.99, while renting it costs a minimum of $456.95. This includes the following costs:
- Required bond for pump hire: $250
- Required purchase of Symphony Breast Pump Double Kit: $76.95
- Monthly hire:
- 1 month: $130
- 3 months: $360
- Additional time required: $35 per week
It’s worth noting that some health insurance companies might cover the hire fees of breast pumps, so it’s worth giving them a call to check before hiring your pump.
What Is The Warranty On The Medela Symphony Breast Pump?
When buying your Medela Symphony, you’ll get a three-year warranty on your purchase to cover the motor unit for any manufacturing defects. While renting, you won’t get a warranty to protect your purchase, but if you have any issues with your motor unit you can contact who you’ve hired from and they’ll help you with repairing or replacing your rented unit. The Pump Set Kit unfortunately doesn’t come with any warranty cover as it’s made up of consumable parts that cannot be covered once they’ve been used.
Is The Medela Symphony Breast Pump Comfortable?
Yes, the Medela Symphony pump is incredibly comfortable thanks to Medela’s PersonalFit breast shields, which are designed to be more comforting and soft with a flexible silicone material. The larger angle is perfect for a range of body sizes, and you can buy them in small, medium, and large sizes to find the best fit for you. Plus, we also really like the 2-Phase Expression technology for its comfort, as you don’t have to go straight into expressing. Instead, the initiate phase helps bring your milk down towards your nipple so it’s easier to express. Despite its hospital-grade strength, we think you’ll find this pump surprisingly comfortable!
Is The Medela Symphony Breast Pump Easy To Adjust?
The Medela Symphony pump can’t be adjusted, so it’s important that you choose the correct breast shield size right off the bat. Don’t worry, though, the PersonalFit shields are more versatile thanks to their larger opening angle, letting them fit more body types and sizes without the need for adjusters and alternatives. Medela has a great breast shield size guide, so we recommend using this to figure out whether you need a small, medium, or large shield kit before buying one.
Is The Medela Symphony Breast Pump Easy To Attach And Use?
The Medela Symphony pump is super easy to fit and use, with the PersonalFit breast shields gently gripping onto the skin so you can position them perfectly before turning your pump on. Once you’re happy, turn the motor on and choose which program you want to use. To begin the Initiate program, press the let-down button within 10 seconds of turning the machine on. This runs for 15 minutes automatically, and you can use the vacuum control knob to adjust the strength setting.
Once you’re finished with this setting, you can use the 2-Phase Expression mode to finish your pumping session. Your milk will be collected in two Medela 150 ml bottles, which you can either use the included caps to store it or some Medela teats to feed your little one straight away.
Is The Medela Symphony Breast Pump Easy To Clean?
The Medela Symphony is easy enough to clean thanks to the closed system which prevents milk from going into the tubing and difficult to reach areas. You’ll only need to clean the bottles, teats, valves, and a few other pieces before sterilising everything and drying it to use next time. Considering how large this machine is, we were pleasantly surprised with how quick it was to clean.
Final Thoughts On The Medela Symphony Breast Pump
Overall, we were really impressed with the Medela Symphony pump and think it’s an excellent option for parents who aren’t able to naturally breastfeed. Some of our favourite features are the Initiation and 2-Phase Expression™ technologies, along with how this pump’s backed by clinical research. The only downside of this pump is the cost, as it’s quite expensive to rent let alone buy, so it might not be suitable for parents on all budgets.