NUK Simply Natural Freemie Double Electric Breast Pump

NUK Simply Natural Freemie Double Electric Breast Pump

Breast pumps are a wonderful, if sometimes miraculous, piece of technology that let women feed their babies healthy, natural breastmilk, even if they cannot nurse them. However, most are cumbersome, awkward, and require time, space, and often privacy to use. I, personally, always felt more self-conscience pumping than I ever did breastfeeding. The NUK Simply Natural Freemie Double Electric Breast Pump aims to help women pump anywhere, anytime, comfortably. 

The NUK Simply Natural Freemie Double Electric Breast Pump with the Included Bottles

The Box

The NUK Simply Natural Freemie Double Electric Breast Pump comes with everything you need to be successful with pumping. The pump unit is heavy-duty but compact. It fits in one hand and has a belt clip so you can pump hands-free. Use the included power adapter to charge up the battery in the unit. One charge lasts around 2.5 hours of pump time. It has 2 Freemie Collection Cups with the collection kit and tubing. Most of this comes unassembled which makes it quick and easy to sanitize before use.

There are 2 25mm funnels, 2 28mm funnels and 1 set of Fitmie adapters to work with any size nipple. Each individually packaged part has its own set of mini-instructions that show how to put together that part. This is in addition to the quick-start guide and main manual. So whether you are familiar with pumps for not, it’s very clear how to assemble and use this unique pump. It also includes 3 NUK Simply Natural bottles.

Getting Started – The Pump

After all the pieces are sanitized and your pump is charged it is ready to assemble and use. The pump unit has a bright LCD display that shows the total battery charge, speed and suction levels, auto-shutoff time, and memory settings. The charger is a universal micro USB to USB, which is awesome in case the cord gets lost or damaged, it is easy to replace. The pump has non-replaceable lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. These will easily last years with proper charging. From a fully depleted battery to full charge takes around 3.5 hours. As mentioned above, one charge should last a total of 2.5 hours of pumping time. For most people pumping for 20 minutes three times per day, this comes out to about 2 days per charge.

The NUK Simply Natural Freemie Double Electric Breast Pump features hospital-grade suction that is fully adjustable. Simply adjust to the desired suction strength and speed via the up and down arrow buttons on the pump. Remember, pumping should be strong, but never painful. It’s important to find a comfortable speed and you can always decrease suction strength until it is comfortable. The speed setting also has a “Turbo” setting that is one step lower than “1”. This is a proprietary slow and extended suction setting allowing for more versatility with an extended “pull”. There are three memory settings available. Simply set your suction and speed to where you want and press and hold a memory button to save it to that memory bank. These can be reprogrammed at any time by doing the same thing.

Getting Started – The Cups

The collection cups are the truly extraordinary part of this pump. They are two cups (think bra cups) that can easily be placed onto the breast inside of your existing bra. Your bra holds them in place while being able to pump discreetly. The cups are made of the hard plastic parts: Breast Funnel, Valve Base, and Natural Cup Shape. These can be placed in boiling water to clean and sterilize. Make sure the parts float free and do not sit at the bottom. Do not expose any part to too much direct heat, as they can warp.

The soft parts include the Duckbill Valve, Barrier, Tubing, and Y Connector. These parts must be hand washed with hot water and dishwashing soap. The Barrier slides right into the top of the Valve Base and the Duckbill Valve fits easily on the bottom. The Valve base fits onto the Breast Funnel. The Natural Shape Cup encloses it all. There is an arrow on the cup that lines up with the tubing connection on the Breast Funnel. It takes a bit of pressure to push them together, but when they click, you are good. The Fitmie silicon funnel pieces can slide right into the Breast Funnel opening for more comfort and a better fit. All of these pieces are BPA free, DEHP free, and rubber latex free.

Getting Started – The Tubing

There are three tubes and 1 Y Connector. One tube connects to the base of the pump. This connects to the base of the Y Connector. If you are only pumping on one side, connect the second tube to one side of the Y Connector and the other end to the top of the cup. Plug the other side of the Y Connector with the attached plug. If pumping on both sides, Connect both tubes to the Y Connector and then to the top of each up.

Correct Fit

You want to make sure your Breast Funnel is the correct size for your nipple. It must fit comfortably without drawing in too much of the areolar. Proper bra fit is also important for proper positioning of the cups. You want your nipple centered right in the center of the funnel. Ensure it is not bent or pinched. Your bra must also fit correctly because it will be holding your cups in the proper pumping position.

Pumping

The NUK Simply Natural Freemie Double Electric Breast Pump is designed to be efficient, allowing for single or double pumping with hospital grade suction and the auto-shutoff allows for a pumping session without watching the clock. Simply set the time you want to pump for and let it go! You are able to easily slide the cups into your bra and pump without ever having to undress. This gives you more freedom to pump just about anywhere! The NUK Simply Natural Freemie Double Electric Breast Pump is small and easy to carry wherever you need. Perfect for traveling and pumping on the go. It also gives you the freedom to pump one side comfortably, while nursing on the other side! Bond with your baby and maximize your milk output!

Each Freemie Collection Cup must be placed in your bra with the tube connection straight up (think 12 o’clock position).  It is best to be sitting upright, comfortably, while pumping. Lying down, or leaning over too much can cause the pumped milk to spill out of the pour spout at the top.  However, everyone’s breasts are shaped differently. This means you may have a greater range of motion while pumping than someone else.

Set your pump suction and speed once the cups are positioned and you’re good to go! Set your auto timer if you want a timed session. Use one of your pre-saved memory settings for an even quicker start. Your bra should hold the cups securely, and the tubes can be run out the top of your bra and down inside your shirt to the pump for a fully concealed experience.

After Pumping

When you are done pumping, remove the cup(s) from your bra and keep them upright to avoid spills. Disconnect the tubing by pulling it straight up and out. The pour spout is right at the top net to the tube connection. It’s recommended that you practice pouring water from the cups at first, to ensure you know how the pour feels and you don’t waste any precious milk! Pour the pumped milk into one of the provided bottles, or into any sterilized storage container for breast milk. The pump’s manual includes a guide for properly storing, refrigerating, freezing, and thawing breast milk. The cups do have a flat surface that allows you to set down the cups without spilling the milf if needed.

Barrier

No milk should ever back up into the tubing with the Barrier intact and in place. After each pumping session, pull the Natural Form Cup away from the Breast Funnel by the little tab along the edge. Remove the Barrier and Duckbill Valve and Valve base for washing and sanitizing. Let them completely dry and cool before reassembling for the next session or storage.

Conclusions

Concealed Pumping

On a personal scale, I feel this pump is really the next step in breast pump innovation. It does feel a bit awkward and huge to wear in my bra, but from the outside, it’s not a huge difference but I would feel much more comfortable using this pump at work, or anywhere out in public than my standard pump. I found it easy to figure out, set up, and use. It is just as easy to disassemble and clean.

The NUK Simply Natural Freemie Double Electric Breast Pump is aptly named. The idea of being able to pump easily, anywhere you go, is something quite new and very freeing. Hospital grade suction ensures a quality pumping experience as well. It will take some getting used to for how it feels, but it does the job and does it discretely.

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