Medela Harmony breast pump review: simple, effective and affordable

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The breast pump market has evolved exponentially in recent years - with the likes of wearable pumps, hands-free double pumps and state-of-the-art hospital grade devices now topping many a best breast pump list. But for infrequent pumping or for those who just prefer the simplicity and ease (not to mention affordability) of a manual breast pump, you can't go far wrong with the Medela Harmony.

It's been a few years now since the Medela Harmony won the title of Mumsnet's Best Manual Breast Pump, so we took a fresh look at the pump - with the help of parent-tester Sam - to see if this simple, changing bag-fitting pump still lives up to its title.

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What’s in the box

1 PersonalFit breast shield (24 mm) | 1 handle |1 two-component connector |1 diaphragm/stem with O-ring | 2 valve membrane | 1 valve head | 1 multi lid | 1 bottle | 1 bottle stand

What are the benefits of a manual breast pump?

For those times when you might want to express, rather than breastfeed, a manual breast pump can come in very handy – they're ideal for occasional expressing and usually come with an attractive price tag.

If you're planning on using a bulky electric pump, such as the Ardo Calypso Double Plus, then an easy-to-use, manual pump could also be the ideal backup, particularly for expressing on the go.

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How easy is the Medela Harmony to assemble?

The instructions for the Medela are very easy to follow and are also available to download online if you lose the paper copy.

There are four videos on the website for you to take a look at for extra guidance – instructions for use, how to clean, information on general Medela breast pump use, and information about the Harmony's 2-Phase Expression technology. There are other useful downloads and links on the website too.

While this breast pump will need to be cleaned and sterilised before use and while there are a few parts to put together, it only take about five minutes to assemble. You have everything you need in the box to start pumping straight away.

Parts are also easy to replace using the Medela website, where customer service details can also easily be found. It's worth noting, though, that none of the parts come under warranty, so you'd have to replace them yourself at an extra cost.

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How does the Medela Harmony look?

The Medela Harmony aesthetic is simple – it's fuss-free without looking cheap or clinical. The bottles have a pretty design too.

It’s a particularly diminutive pump – slimline, and 20 cm at its highest point – so, while its portable, it isn’t really suitable for heavy-duty expressing. There are, however, two-in-one pumps, like the MAM 2-in-1 (a manual and electric pump), that offer the best of both worlds.

How comfortable is the Medela Harmony to use?

The BPA-free plastic is elegantly shaped, the volume markings clear and the ergonomically designed lever smooth and pleasingly tactile, which means that you won't find it tiring to use.

The handle twists so that you can get the best angle to pump without having to move your arms into uncomfortable positions. The lever has a soft rubber cover that makes this easier too.

Our tester, Sam, found that she always felt relaxed and comfortable when using the Medela.

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How do you use the Medela Harmony and what's it like to use day-to-day?

The Harmony has 2-Phase Expression technology, which is fairly uncommon for manual breast pumps. To stimulate milk flow, you start by using the shorter side of the handle – the suction speed will be the same as that of a hungry baby.

You switch to the longer side once the milk is flowing – the suction speed is slower here, which will allow you to express more milk.

For a manual breast pump, the Medela Harmony is extremely efficient – some Mumsnetters have found the Medela to be just as, if not more, successful at getting plenty of milk as an electric pump.

Expressing is a personal experience. Sometimes you can fill a bottle in 20 minutes and other times you struggle to get a fifth of that.

With the Harmony, you can typically express in a short amount of time (although this will, of course, depend on the wearer), which means that you can pump during your lunch break and on the go – basically whenever and wherever you need to.

Sam generally found it hard to pump in any position other than seated for most, if not all, the breast pumps she used, so the same applied when using the Medela. She didn't need to lean forward when using it though, so could assume a relaxed position throughout.

As well as being easy to use, the Medela Harmony is not heavy or cumbersome – it’s a very straightforward bit of kit and useful when you need to express, whether due to engorgement, to keep up supply or supplement regular breastfeeding.

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How safe and stable is it?

The breast shell is plastic and one size. There are five alternative sizes (available to buy from Medela) and the PersonalFit aspect helps to prevent nipple trauma.

The pump and bottles are well-made, durable and up to the rigours of busy family life.

While you will need to use Medela bottles with this pump, which some mums may find limiting, the bottles are shatterproof and available in two different sizes – 150 ml and 250 ml.

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Discretion and convenience

Our tester, Sam, said she would be happy to use this pump at work and when out and about, but only in a private space – it’s quiet, discreet and easy to transport.

It would be good if a travel bag was included to keep everything in one place, but it can just as easily be popped in a handbag. It's also simple to store when not in use.

How easy is it to clean?

The Medela Harmony is an open system pump (which is one of its downsides) with an opaque plastic vent lodged in the funnel, but it isn't unhygienic. While there are a few separate parts, it’s simple to take apart, clean and then reassemble.

You can boil the parts or use a dishwasher, a sterilising unit or a microwave – the bottles are dishwasher- and microwave-safe.

The bottles hold up well to cleaning generally, however, if you’re using a cold water steriliser, you’ll need to dry the bottles to rub off any water marks, which will leave them looking like new.

What about value for money?

Having a new baby can be a financially anxious time, so while we extol the genuine virtues of the top electric breast pumps, the truth is that shelling out more than £100 for one may well be beyond many families’ reach.

The Medela Harmony is a good investment for the start of any expressing journey, especially if you're using a breast pump for the first time.

It may be a no frills breast pump, but it's also really efficient and represents good value for money.

Perhaps most attractively, the Harmony comes with a Calma bottle teat, which is specifically designed to suit breastfeeding babies. The Calma bottle is £16 on its own, so its inclusion here represents excellent value.

About the author

Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy, baby care and general parenting-related content. As a parent of three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making Mumsetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in reviews, features buyers' guides.

She regularly reviews a wide range of products for Mumsnet, from popular board games to the best kids' tablets.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real people after weeks of research and testing – this includes recommendations from the Mumsnet Talk boards. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

All prices correct at time of publication