Ameda Purely Yours Review
Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
We are now linking to the Ameda Purely Yours Ultra (below left) as the Purely Yours we reviewed (below right) is not readily available. The major difference is that the Ultra includes a faux leather tote bag, an extra set of flanges, and 3 power sources with the inclusion of a car adapter whereas the Purely Yours we reviewed had just the AC adapter and battery power sources.
Ameda was started 70 years ago by a Swedish engineer named Einar Egnell. His clever approach to breast pump design soon led to other similar products entering the marketplace. We found this pump to be adequate, but amid mixed user reviews, we were curious to sort things out ourselves.
Performance Comparison
Efficiency
We scored this pump at a 5/10 on efficiency. It produced a comparable amount of milk as some of our other pumps, but not in the same amount of time as our higher scoring pumps. It also took some time to set up and wasn't as intuitive as we would have liked to see and we often found ourselves double-checking the instructions.
Comfort
The Purely Yours landed low for comfort with a 4/10. The pump does have a dial for suction and strength, but it is hard to be very specific about the settings. We found this pump to create a harsh tug on the breast that was for us, very uncomfortable. Our testers mentioned they could not use this pump multiple times a day and nurse because their nipples were too sore following use. This can also hinder the pump's efficiency because if you're in pain and tense, your milk let down may not happen as quickly.
Ease of Use
This pump landed in the middle for ease of use. The lower score is mainly due to the set up taking a little longer, as well as the amount of time we spent fumbling with the dials. The dials are very hard to control accurately and require a lot of manipulation to get to a desirable suction strength. It also has a unique suction style which requires that you put a lid on the pump adapters prior to connecting them to the tubing.
Portability
This pump was given a 5/10 for portability. It does come with a tote bag and an insulated bag, but the quality of each is not as good as the ones for some of the other pumps we tested. It's also difficult to fit all the parts needed for pumping on-the-go into the tote bag, and if you are a working mother, mornings can be rushed and you need a bag that can fit everything in at once without the hassle of re-organizing!
Hygiene
This pump received a 5 for hygiene. Although it does offer a closed system, which we love, the parts were still more time consuming to take apart and clean and were also difficult to dry completely.
Acoustics
We scored this pump a 6/10 for acoustics as it's just a bit louder than others we tested. Your co-workers will be able to hear this pump as they come down the hallway (which can be a good thing) but it would not be a good pump to use next to your sleeping baby or partner at night.
Best Applications
This pump is meant for a working mom or exclusive pumper. Its double electric design makes it easy to empty both breasts at the same time in a somewhat efficient manner. It also comes with batteries so you can use it when there is no plug available.
Value
This list price for the Ameda Purely Yours is $287 (the Ultra is $300 List), which we feel is much too high for the value you receive. We feel that the Medela Pump In Style Advanced, our Best Value Award winner, out-pumped this unit by far.
Conclusion
Although this pump is effective overall, it just couldn't stand up to the other double electric pumps we tested.