In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Medela Harmony with Flex Review

A great option for traveling moms or occasional pumpers, but not as efficient or easy to use
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medela harmony with flex breast pump review
Credit: Medela
Price:  $42 List
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Manufacturer:   Medela
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Abriah Wofford  ⋅  Jan 9, 2021
59
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#6 of 7
  • Efficiency - 35% 5.0
  • Comfort - 25% 5.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 6.0
  • Portability - 10% 8.0
  • Hygiene - 10% 7.0
  • Acoustics - 5% 9.0

The Skinny

The Medela Harmony with Flex manual breast pump gives traveling and stay at home moms something that is challenging to find in a double electric pump, portability. This hand-operated pump is simple yet efficient at an affordable price. Its quiet and straightforward operation make it ideal for the occasional pumper or a mom looking for a portable and quiet option for travel on public transportation. We think it is a great option as a supplement to a double electric pump as it is much more travel-friendly and perfect for the occasional engorgement when there isn't the time or the right location to hook up an electric pump.
REASONS TO BUY
Small
Lightweight
Portable
Comfortable
Efficient
Easy to use
Quiet
REASONS TO AVOID
Single breast pump
Hand-operated
Not for frequent use

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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Small, lightweight, portable, comfortable, efficient, easy to use, quietEfficient, comfortable, portable, easy to use, quiet, hygienicPortability, use on the go, easy to use, closed systemEasy to use, passive collection, silent, comfortable, portablePortability to get things done while pumping, comfortable
Cons Single breast pump, hand-operated, not for frequent useOnly one bottle holder, incompatible with a pumping braPrice, hard suction can be painful, buzzing soundLess efficient, one-sided, potential milk lossHarder to close, must transfer milk after use
Bottom Line A great option for traveling moms or occasional pumpers, but not as efficient or easy to useWe appreciate this compact pump for its quality, efficiency, hygiene, quiet sound, and comfortImpressive portable pump that is easy to use but has a more aggressive suction and loud acousticsA passive system that is affordable, easy to use, and doesn't require hand pumping, but isn't very efficientUseful wearable collection cup you can pair with portable pump for on the go expression, but requires more setup
Rating Categories Medela Harmony with... Spectra S1 Plus Baby Buddha Haakaa Freemie Next Genera...
Efficiency (35%)
5.0
7.0
9.0
2.0
5.0
Comfort (25%)
5.0
9.0
3.0
8.0
7.0
Ease of Use (15%)
6.0
8.0
7.0
9.0
7.0
Portability (10%)
8.0
3.0
8.0
9.0
7.0
Hygiene (10%)
7.0
6.0
6.0
8.0
6.0
Acoustics (5%)
9.0
6.0
2.0
10.0
5.0
Specs Medela Harmony with... Spectra S1 Plus Baby Buddha Haakaa Freemie Next Genera...
Max Suction Strength n/a 270 mmHg 320 mmHg n/a n/a
# of Suction Settings 2 12 14 1 n/a
Weight 0.4 lbs 3 lbs 0.5 lbs 0.24 lbs 0.5 lbs
Available Flange Sizes 24mm 24mm
28mm
24mm, 28mm 30mm 25mm, 28mm
15mm-26mm with available inserts
Open/Closed System Open Closed Closed Open Closed
Capability Single Double Double Single Double
Power Source Manual Battery Battery Manual n/a
Approximate Battery Life n/a 3 hours 1 hour n/a n/a
App No No No No No

Our Analysis and Test Results

Medela originally started in Zug, Switzerland. They now sell their breast pumps and accessories in over 90 countries. They are a family run business with an emphasis on helping women breastfeed their children. They started a program called the "Corporate Lactation Program" to educate companies to support women breastfeeding and pumping at work. They have been selling pumps in the US for over 30 years and have become a go-to brand for many.

Performance Comparison



medela harmony with flex breast pump review - the harmony works well with a variety of potential hand positions.
The Harmony works well with a variety of potential hand positions.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Likes


There is much to like about this hand-held portable pump that allows for various hand positions to help prevent hand fatigue.

medela harmony with flex breast pump review - while not as efficient as an electric pump, the medela hand pump is...
While not as efficient as an electric pump, the Medela hand pump is surprisingly efficient and useful.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Efficiency


This manual pump offers impressive efficiency, with our tester pumping about 2 ounces every 9 minutes on average. It has a two-phase design that stimulates let down (when your milk begins to flow) using a shorter side that creates a faster, shorter sucking cycle, similar to that of a hungry baby, before switching to the longer lever to create a slower, longer, and stronger pull on your breast to express the majority of your milk. You do have to empty one breast at a time, which takes a bit longer, but with Medela's two-phase pumping design, we feel it was more than capable of consistently producing favorable results. We found this pump to work quickly and efficiently on each breast without too much fatigue from the manual operation.

medela harmony with flex breast pump review - the soft silicone flange on the harmony helps provided an added...
The soft silicone flange on the Harmony helps provided an added layer of comfort.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Comfort


This pump allows you to determine exactly what speed and suction level are the most comfortable. It is more comfortable than the other manual options we've tested, with no harsh, sharp tugging sensation. The two-phase expression allows for a more gentle start, and you can choose when to begin the longer, harder suction. It also has a soft and comfortable flange that hugs the breast, which is nicer than the harder plastic style on some of the competition.

medela harmony with flex breast pump review - the harmony is a good choice for travel and as a backup buddy to a...
The Harmony is a good choice for travel and as a backup buddy to a standard electric pump.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


This pump is simple to set up and to use. It comes with a full set of directions, but it is somewhat intuitive. The pump comes with two bottles, two lids, a bottle stand, the adapter, breast flange, and lever to pump.

medela harmony with flex breast pump review - manual pumps like the medela harmony work with hand expression and...
Manual pumps like the Medela Harmony work with hand expression and can be useful for travel or occasional pumping when electric pumps aren't available or baby is not around.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Portability


Portability is one of the many positive attributes of a small, manual pump. This pump fits in a carry-on or personal bag and is super discrete thanks to the small size and near-silent operation. It can be nice to easily empty your breast in the cramped quarters of a flight without any setup or noise. You don't have to worry about plugs or battery packs, or malfunctions. Some testers who flew with this pump were so impressed they said they wouldn't take another flight without it.

medela harmony with flex breast pump review - the harmony has limited parts that are easy to assemble...
The harmony has limited parts that are easy to assemble, disassemble, and clean.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Hygiene


This pump is relatively easy to take apart and clean, though we found the center aspect of the pump lever adapter somewhat challenging. Still, this didn't affect the milk as it doesn't come into contact with the milk. For travel, we'd suggest a gallon ziplock bag for pump storage to keep things clean.

Acoustics


This pump makes absolutely no noise. While most manual pumps are quiet, this one's lever seems to offer a little "extra" for silence. The lever has a soft rubber cover that makes pumping a little easier on your hand and increases quietness, unlike other hand pumps that often make a clicking sound.

medela harmony with flex breast pump review - constant squeezing of the handle on the harmony pump can lead to...
Constant squeezing of the handle on the Harmony pump can lead to hand fatigue or be impossible if you suffer from carpal tunnel or other hand issues.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Dislikes


A couple of drawbacks with this hand pump are that it does not come with a tote bag or an insulated bag for the expressed milk. This means you need to purchase one or have a refrigerator if you don't plan on using the expressed milk within six hours, which is the recommended time frame before milk goes bad. Please refer to our article Best Practices For Handling Breast Milk for more on this topic.

This manual pump is a single pump, meaning you can only empty one breast at a time, and your hand is the motor, so it can take time and be taxing after a while. If you have any hand limitation or suffer from carpal tunnel, it probably isn't a good solution for you. Last, while it did pump fairly efficiently, it can't compete with an electric pump, and some moms might find it doesn't do the job as well, leaving them with less expressed milk or full breasts when their hand is tired.

Conclusion


The Medela Harmony Manual is small, lightweight, easy to use, quiet, efficient, comfortable, and hygienic. However, our testers don't think it is the best solution for those who need to pump both breasts multiple times a day regularly, as it will take too long and hand fatigue will be a real problem. It's not going to be the answer for every mom, but it could be an affordable and convenient solution for those who travel or only need to pump occasionally. It could also be a nice companion to a double electric pump for moms that need something small for travel or to relieve unexpected engorgement when there isn't enough time for a full pumping session with an electric pump.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD and Abriah Wofford
 

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