Medela have always been my first choice for electric pumps when breastfeeding my children, but I had never used or considered a manual pump. For me, manual pumps conjure up flash backs of the first few hours after birth and having a midwife hand express my colostrum. I’m happy to admit I am now a convert to manual pumping and wish I had have tried the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump earlier!

Medela Harmony Flex Manual Breast Pump Mum Review

First look

My very first though after putting the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump together was ‘am I going to get a cramp in my hand from continuously pumping the handle’. Thankfully, I was completely wrong! Using the pump handle is effortless and only requires the smallest amount of pressure to move.

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Overall, the pump is sleek and fairly compact, it’s smaller and lighter than a lot of electric pumps and could easily be packed in a larger baby bag or overnight bag without taking up too much room.

Ease of use

My litmus test for everything that requires assembly, is can it be put together without reading the instructions? I’m happy to report the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump passed the test. However, I think my knowledge of Medela electric breast pumps definitely came in handy. Outwardly the Harmony is set up similarly to an electric Medela pump, but the real magic happens when you start manually pumping with the yellow handle. A Few fast pumps will get the milk flowing followed by slow and deep pumps to encourage the milk to express. It’s really that simple. The first time I used the pump I collected 110ml!

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Medela Harmony Flex Manual Breast Pump Mum Review Erin Warren Image 17

Useful features

The Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump doesn’t need any batteries or charging, it’s ready to go when you’re ready to collect milk. As the pump isn’t electric it doesn’t create any noise while in use, meaning you can discreetly pump.

The PersonalFit Flex™ breast shield has a massive 105 degree opening, which places less pressure on your milk ducts and helps you produce more milk. Winner!

The Harmony is super simple to clean it comes apart quickly and fits nicely into my steriliser.

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Effectiveness

I was truly surprised with the amount of milk I was able to pump with the Harmony. The first time I used it, the container was filled with 110ml of milk and most mornings I am getting around 90mls in about 10 minutes.

Recommendations

Move the shield around until you find a comfortable position on your breast. The position of the shield really does make a difference to your comfort levels while pumping.

I would definitely recommend the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump to other mums, especially those who are looking for a discreet and portable alternative to an electric pump. It would also be perfect for mum’s who don’t pump regularly!