motown
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Medela Swing is a quiet, compact, easy to clean pump. I felt like it was just as effective as my Medela Freestyle in maintaining my output. The use of a universal USB-C charger makes it very convenient on the go. All of my daily pumping supplies fit into the included backpack, which I love for taking to work and traveling. I am apprehensive to suggest this pump to new moms as their first pump because the pump does not show length of pump or level settings without the app, which can be glitchy at times. This pump has been a great for me on the go, but I do think it would have been frustrating to use in the early days when trying to establish my pumping routine and supply. I received this product as part of the Stellar Product Testing panel.
kaarts
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I received the Medela Swing Maxi as part of the Stellar Product Testing Panel and I was excited to try it out as my other pump is not re-chargeable and doesn't easily allow me to move around. This pump definitely offers more freedom than the other one I was using! It's also much quieter and I believe more comfortable when powered on. The pump is super easy to use and clean and the parts are the same for my other pump which is nice to have extras that work for either product. I did try the Medela family app, but didn't find having the app helped me much. At this stage, all I need to know is # of minutes I'm pumping and # of ounces at the end but I don't have any real reason to track that data over time. Looking at a clock and what's in bottles at the end is all I need. Re: ounces, unfortunately, I'm not sure I've gotten as much out of this pump. It may be because of the time of day I've tried it (although I think I've tried a variety of times?) and the fact that when I'm using this one, I like to move around so that may be a contributing factor. But I still like it and use it regularly! I also think the charge only lasts maybe 2 pumps before you have to charge again but that's not a huge deal since it re-charges fast and I can always leave it overnight. I appreciate the flexibility that this allows me to pump while in the car and is easy to pack up and take for travel or if I'll be out of the house for a while. The little backpack it came with is actually quite handy to throw an extra diaper and a few of my baby's needs. While I did try it and felt kind of awesome (but also like a big nerd), the backpack isn't really practical to wear WHILE pumping. Hope this review helps!
morgan
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I was given this breast pump to try as part of the Stellar Product Testing Panel and I was SO amazed by its size when I took it out of the box. To be honest, I've been more of a manual pump kinda gal throughout my breastfeeding journey because my current electric pump is the size of a SMALL PURSE and so cumbersome to tote around. Not so with the Swing Maxi! It is so small I can fit it, and it's parts, in my existing diaper bag - no need to carry an extra bag! (Though, if I did need a designated bag, it comes with a nicely designed mini backpack that is discreet and minimal, which I really appreciate.) While I have not found any electric pump with the same power as a manual one, the option to pump both sides hands free at the same time is occasionally a NECESSITY, and when that is the case this one does a great job! Plus, it doesn't require me to be sitting near an outlet so I can use it on the go! The design is intuitive and easy to use with minimal parts and the flanges fit securely in the nursing bra I was given to try as well as those I already own. So, no crying over spilled milk or attempting to hold my breath and stay completely still during pumping! All in all, I really love having this option in my pumping arsenal. It totally replaces my cumbersome electric pump and is a great time saving solution when manually pumping just isn't possible or practical.
Carly
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I was given this breast pump to try as part of the Stellar Product Testing Panel and was excited to test out a new pump with my second child. I used other Medela pumps - the Symphony and Pump in Style - for 18 months with my first and since my two month old was born. My biggest challenge has always been the need to plug in the pump and be tethered to the wall, so I was very excited to test out this pump. Especially now that I have two little ones, it's hard to give them both what they need when I'm stuck in one spot. The pump is very user-friendly and I was able to get it up and running for the first time in less than a minute. It can be used hands-free but only with a pumping bra - a must-have accessory for any double electric pump. I was most excited about having more freedom and this pump generally delivered. The motor itself is a bit larger than most of my pockets and I haven't yet found a great way to attach it to myself for full freedom of movement - I usually end up holding it. Still, being able to walk around and do what I need to do is a huge benefit. The suction is on the gentler side of the spectrum, which I appreciated. It's very easy to adjust the suction level as well as switch from letdown to expression mode. However, I definitely pumped less than I do with other pumps - about 3 ounces vs. my usual 4-5. Based on my pumping frequency (3-4 times per day), I wouldn't use this as my primary pump over a different Medela pump. The motor is also fairly loud - definitely louder than the Symphony and maybe similar to the pump in style. I could imagine it waking a sleeping baby or being audible on a phone call. I pump a few times a day at home, so haven't found this to be a huge issue. I like the redesigned flanges on this pump, they're much more comfortable than the regular Medela flanges I'm used to. However, they are shorter than the regular model, so if you have elastic nipples it might be painful if they're pulled past the end of the tunnel. It's also nice that it comes with two flange sizes so you can see which works best for you.
Sara
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This pump is wonderful when you’re an active mom. I’m so glad I got this though Stellar product testing panel. I love how it is cordless and easy to cart around. Great for when I do laundry or pumping at work. The few things I did not like is that the flanges that it comes with were a bit small for me and that I have to keep putting it on the settings of my choice each time I pump. It was super easy to clean and use.
stephboston923
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have several pumps, ranging from wearables to manuals, rechargeable to plug-ins and I have to say - I'm impressed. With both of my kids I shied away from Medela as I heard that they are clunky and harder to use - but the Swing Maxi is awesome. When I received this product to test via Stellar Product Testing, I thought I'd miss seeing a screen with the level I was pumping at but I don't. There is an app you can use if you're more of a visual person, but I have found that I don't need it. The pump is relatively quiet and I love that it lasts a several sessions without having to recharge. I am 8 months into my nursing journey (with my second) and I'm now using this pump for my "before bed" pump and I'm having great output. It's comfortable so I don't mind using it for a while while I finish up some work before going to sleep. Once I get back to traveling more for work this pump will definitely be my go-to. I gave 4 stars instead of 5 for the following reasons: - the Medela app could use some improvement; it wouldn't allow me to pause the pump via the app on a few occasions - the tubing doesn't push all the way into the pump which makes me feel like I might be missing out on a tiny bit of suction and thus, efficiency - in order to use the Medela pumping bra you have to insert the flange into your bra on it's own and then attach the rest of the pump on the other side. I wish the hole was larger so I could just put the assembled pump in.
Kelly
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I was lucky enough to receive the Medela Swing Maxi pump to test as part of the Stellar Product Testing Panel. Overall, this pump was great for pumping on the go and allowing you more freedom while pumping. You do not have to be glued to an outlet, as you can charge the pump and then pump wherever you want. I loved the flexibility and freedom this pump allowed, especially with a toddler at home. I found this pump to not be quite as efficient as other pumps. It took a bit longer to get 4-5oz per bottle. You also have to pump both sides, I wasn’t able to pump just one side which I often like to do. As for cleaning, this pump was very easy to clean, either with a wipe down or in the sink. I liked that it didn’t have the small valves which often rip so I found this one less stressful and easier to clean. A few other big pros of this pump are the size of the pump makes it easy to travel with, I loved the silicone rings around the breast shields, travel bag that can store all the pump parts, the bottle stands so you don’t have to stress over spilling a bottle, light weight, and how quiet the pump is. I would also recommend using the medela hands free pumping bra to make this pump even better for on the go or multitasking. This combo has made it much easier to pump while also watching a toddler and 3 month old.
Dancenbeatmama
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Mornings… made so nice by this Medela Swing Maxi I got as part of the Stellar Product Testing Panel! Feels so good being able to move around more easily while taking care of business. Super soft and comfortable, quiet, and efficient. Cups form to you, feels amazing compared to the usual hard plastic. Weighted bottle bases to keep things from spilling and handy little backpack to carry all the things! Super cute and practical. While cleaning and sanitizing instructions are a little longer to deal with, it works so nicely. Will definitely be using this more often than my standard pump— highly recommended for new mamas!
Kara
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I really loved this breast pump for on the go pumping as a first time mom. I found it very close in mimicking my baby’s sucking, which made the pump comfortable to use and go seamlessly from breastfeeding to pumping. My favorite feature is the portability and that the pump itself is very lightweight. The parts are also easy to bring along, thanks to the bonus mini backpack that’s included. The pump was easy to use and clean, and I liked the efficiency of double pumping which enabled me to have some more free time, which we can always use as moms! I also loved that it included two sizes of breast shields, I need a 21mm which typically isn’t included and it was with this set. I wish it came with bottle nipples to easily feed my baby with the pumped bottle, but you can always pour it into your bottle of choice. I downloaded the Medela Family app, and liked the extra features to keep track of baby’s day and log (feeding, sleep, etc), but did not find the app necessary or extra helpful when pumping. Thanks to the Stellar Product Testing Panel for providing me with this breast pump.
Meganv
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I really like this pump. Love that it is small and not a huge bulky machine. This makes it easy to take anywhere. I also like that there are fewer pump parts, less to wash is nice! The pump itself is pretty quiet, compared to other pumps I’ve used previously. I do wish I was able to lock the pump somehow. My toddler was very interested in the buttons! I also liked the Medela Family app. It has a lot of information on it and it’s easy to us. I like that I could easily see when I last pumped! Thanks to the Stellar Product Testing Panel for providing me with this breast pump.