The Medela Symphony is a powerful hospital-grade breast pump designed to help establish and maintain milk supply. While it’s not the most portable option, the rental scheme makes it a more affordable and accessible choice — especially in the early stages of breastfeeding or expressing. It’s a strong short-term solution for parents who need reliable, gentle and effective support.
As a paediatrician — and a mum — I know just how valuable breast milk can be, both nutritionally and immunologically, for babies. I also understand how demanding and emotional feeding can feel in the early months, particularly when you’re trying to establish or maintain supply.
The Medela Symphony is often described as the ‘gold standard’ of expressing. I’ve seen it recommended by lactation consultants and used in neonatal units, so I was particularly interested to see how it would work in a busy home environment, with a toddler around and a baby needing additional feeds.
The Medela Symphony rental breast pump is available from £49 per month from Medela.
About our parent testerEmily is mum to a lively 3-year-old and a 6-month-old baby (who was 3 months old when she started testing the Symphony). Emily was expressing to maintain my milk supply and to donate milk to the Birmingham Women’s Hospital Milk Bank, which supports premature and sick babies in need of donor milk.
How easy is it to set up and use the Medela Symphony?
The setup is mostly simple and there’s a helpful QR code that links to a demo video if you get stuck. The instructions are a bit wordy but clear. Once you’ve done it once, it’s easy to repeat — and that’s a big win when you're juggling everything else!
The controls are intuitive, though I had to reread the manual to work out which programme (Initiate or Maintain) was right for me. Once set up, it took me under a minute each time to get going. The parts click together with a sturdy feel and everything feels well-made and secure. And a big bonus — my milk bank bottles fit too, cutting down on washing up!
The LCD screen isn't the easiest to see and if you were pumping overnight, it might be useful to have a light-up screen.
One thing worth noting: it’s really worth investing in a pumping bra. Holding the shields in place manually would be exhausting, especially for longer sessions. The pumping bra meant I could enjoy a cup of tea while expressing.
Also, I loved the little bottle basket that clips onto the back to stop spills; whoever said "there's no point crying over spilled milk" clearly hadn't ever pumped. If you've ever cried over spilled milk — you’re not alone.
How effective is the Medela Symphony at expressing milk?
Very! Compared to my wearable pump, I found the Symphony quicker and more productive. I could express around 100–120ml in 15 minutes in my sessions, versus closer to 30 minutes with my other pump.
The 2-Phase Expression technology is genuinely impressive. It starts with light, fluttery sucks (to trigger let-down) and moves to deeper, more rhythmic suction — just like a baby. It felt both natural and gentle, and I believe it helped me maintain and even boost my supply during a tricky period.
How comfortable is the Medela Symphony to use?
It’s one of the most comfortable pumps I’ve used. The suction is adjustable so you can start gently and build up over time. That said, correct flange sizing is really important — too small or too large can cause discomfort and affect your milk output.
Once I had the right size, I found the experience very smooth and irritation-free.
How noisy is the Medela Symphony rental breast pump?
It's actually surprisingly quiet! I often used it while on the phone or next to my sleeping baby, and no one could hear it. Occasionally if the tubing wasn’t connected properly it would make a loud hissing sound, but a quick adjustment fixed that.
How portable is the Medela Symphony rental breast pump?
This is where the Symphony loses a few points. It’s not designed for portability. It’s roughly the size of a small backpack and has a couple of wires and tubes. I managed to take it on a road trip to Wales, but realistically it’s best for home use. You’ll also need to be near a power socket, which limits where you can use it in the house.
How easy is it to clean?
Cleaning is very straightforward. The main pump unit just needs a wipe down, and the pump parts are easy to disassemble, wash and sterilise. I used my UV steriliser, but steam or cold-water sterilising also work well. There aren’t any fiddly corners or awkward pieces, which makes it quick and hassle-free.
How practical is the rental model?
Honestly, this is one of the biggest selling points. You can order it directly from Medela and if you place the order before 3pm, it often arrives the next working day — which is fantastic if you’re having a supply crisis or just feeling overwhelmed.
I found the 3-month rental period ideal. By that time, my baby was starting solids and I didn’t need to pump as regularly.
How easy is it to return the pump?
Returning the pump was mostly smooth, though the process could be made even easier. Medela sends the pump in a sturdy carry case and a large cardboard box, which I kept for sending it back. All you need to do is follow the return instructions, print the pre-paid label and drop it off at a courier collection point.
That said, I don’t have a printer at home — and I know I’m not alone there — so getting the return label printed was a bit of a hassle. It would be great if Medela included the label in the box from the start, or used a courier service that could print it for you. Still, that’s a small niggle in what was otherwise a really easy rental experience.
How hygienic and sustainable is the Medela Symphony rental breast pump?
The closed system is a huge reassurance, especially as I was donating milk. Your milk never touches the pump itself, only the single-person-use parts. From a medical and hygiene perspective, that’s really important.
The rental model also means the main pump gets reused, which can feel like a more sustainable choice than buying something that might only be used for a few months.
Is it worth the money?
At nearly £50 a month, it’s not cheap—but when you consider the full retail price typically costs around £1500-£2000, the rental option is a brilliant solution. For parents establishing milk supply or supporting NICU babies, even a few weeks of reliable, hospital-grade pumping can make a huge difference.
Where can I rent the Medela Symphony rental breast pump?
You can rent it from Medela.
The Medela Symphony is a reliable, hospital-grade pump that delivers where it counts — comfort, efficiency and consistency. It’s not designed for on-the-go use, but it excels for home pumping, especially in those early, crucial months.
If you’re starting your feeding journey, working to maintain supply, or need a dependable pump while separated from your baby, this is an excellent choice. The rental model makes it far more affordable and the setup and cleaning are genuinely stress-free. Just make sure you’ve got somewhere to plug it in — and maybe a toddler-proof corner to store it in!
I would strongly recommend it for new mums and pumping parents who need strong, gentle support — without the commitment of buying.
