Hey momma, I see you in search of the very best wearable pump to your feeding journey. Whether you’re unique pumping or in search of one thing to enrich breastfeeding, I’m right here to assist. I’ve tried six completely different pumps together with the wearables – the Elvie and the Willow Go. Here’s every part to find out about how they stack up in opposition to one another and which you can purchase.
By the way in which, I paid full worth for each of those pumps, so it is a actually unbiased overview. Let’s evaluate every of the vital options beneath that will help you determine what’s most vital.
Comfort/Fit
I’m a fan of each pumps for the consolation and the match. Each can match right into a nursing bra, or perhaps a common mushy bra, with out forcing me to alter right into a pumping bra like a normal pump would.
The Willow Go is bigger at 5.3″ x 3.1″ x 4.7″, weighing 13.6oz. The Elvie is 5″ x 4.3″ x 2.7″ and weighs 7.4oz. The weight distinction is just noticeable for me if I take advantage of the Elvie for per week or extra and swap again to the Willow Go. I discover them each easy sufficient to suit to the nipple, although there’s a giant distinction on the subject of flange dimension.
The Elvie comes with 24 and 28mm flanges. For me and many ladies like me, each of these are too massive. You should buy a 21mm flange, or off-brand flange inserts to make it even smaller. Unfortunately the Elvie doesn’t supply something smaller than 21mm. Although it’s nonetheless workable with off-brand inserts, it could work even higher with inserts or flanges made by Elvie for the pump, so it is a ding for me.
The Willow Go comes with 21mm and 24mm flanges in addition to a useful sizing sheet and information. I nonetheless needed to buy the 19mm inserts individually, however since they’re Willow model they match securely and I don’t should sacrifice any suction.
If you do go together with the Elvie and wish smaller inserts, I like to recommend the Willow ones as they’re softer and nicer than the Maymom model.
Winner: Willow Go.
Suction
A persistent rumor with wearable pumps is that they don’t empty the breast. I haven’t discovered this to be true for me. In the start, I used a hospital grade pump and as soon as it was time to return it, transitioned to wearable pumps completely as a result of I hate time-out and I get higher output with them than my Spectra, imagine it or not. However some individuals do see a dip in output.
This may very well be as a result of decrease suction supplied by wearable pumps vs. a plug-in, although the Willow Go boasts hospital-grade suction at 280mmHG, and the Elvie is 220mmHG. To me that is irrelevant as a result of I can’t go that top comfortably.
Winner: Willow Go has larger suction capabilities.
Discreetness
Can we agree that there’s no approach for a wearable pump to be actually discreet, because it has to make at the very least some noise and will need to have room for the motor and milk catchment?
Both pumps will make you seem to realize seven cup sizes. Your outfit decisions will make all of the distinction right here!
Some complain that the Elvie has lights that can shine by way of a shirt. While true, for those who’re carrying one thing that skinny and form-fitting, the jig can be up both approach. I discover a scarf or free jacket solves the visibility situation of each.
However the Elvie is way quieter. The Elvie will also be managed by an app whereas the Willow Go can’t, forcing me to achieve into my shirt to regulate the suction.
Winner: Elvie.
The App
There’s no contest right here. The Elvie app will monitor your pumps, measure your output in actual time, and can help you management the pump out of your cellphone. This is so useful for these of us with mother mind — which is everybody, sure? — who can’t keep in mind once we final pumped or what we bought.
I can’t fathom what the purpose is of the Willow Go app, which has a sea of 1-star evaluations. It’s primarily a timer with no different features. My concept is Willow would slightly not give it all of the bells and whistles in order that there’s nonetheless a motive to pay for the costlier Willow 3.0, which has a extra sturdy app.
Winner: Elvie by FAR.
Battery Life
Both pumps final me 5 to 6 pumping periods, and each are chargeable with a USB charger. Both take about two hours to achieve a full cost, although in a pinch you may nonetheless cost partially and pump with both one.
If you’re discovering the battery life sucks, attain out to customer support for a alternative. It shouldn’t be essential to cost after each pump.
Winner: Tie.
Spilling/Leakage
As any pumping mama is aware of – we cry over spilled milk! I want I might say neither pump has an issue with this, however each of them do. Unless you’re pumping with the Willow 3.0 and utilizing the single-use baggage, which are not any buddy to the planet and require fixed re-purchasing, you’ll should watch out about bending over, and also you actually can’t lie right down to pump.
The Elvie generally leaks whereas I’m pumping, particularly if I’ve stuffed a container and bend over too far. The gauge normally catches it earlier than this occurs, but when it doesn’t, I’ve a moist bra which is annoying as hell.
The Willow Go’s situation is with pouring the milk out of the pump and right into a bottle or storage bag. I virtually all the time misplaced some to start with although I’ve gotten the hold of it now.
Still, there’s bought to be a greater solution to design each to keep away from spillage.
Winner: Nobody wins right here!
Parts and Cleaning
Both pumps have an equal quantity of elements that you’ll have to clear. Both pump elements can go within the dishwasher and I don’t discover both one to be troublesome to wash. However the Elvie comes with two additional milk containers for straightforward storage and fewer frequent cleansing.
Due to the design of the Willow Go, you must empty the milk each time into one other container in an effort to use it once more. I discover this annoying and enormously favor the Elvie’s milk catchment system.
Warranty
The Elvie pulls forward with a two yr guarantee versus the Willow Go’s one yr. There’s nothing extra irritating than working into a difficulty a number of weeks after your one-year guarantee runs out.
Winner: Elvie
Pricing
This is clearly an enormous one. The Willow Go is presently $329 whereas Elvie is $549.99. If you want a 21mm flange, it’s also possible to add that to the price of the Elvie.
The huge query is whether or not it’s value the additional $220.99 for the Elvie.
My Pick
As an unique pumper who solely makes use of the wearable pumps, I’ve been very blissful to have each. There have been instances once I forgot a vital half when on a flight and was glad to have again up, didn’t need to wash the elements whereas out and about and nonetheless had a clear choice once I bought dwelling, or had one run out of battery.
I understand most individuals will need to simply purchase one or the opposite. The reply will depend on how vital the app monitoring and management, quieter nature of the Elvie, additional containers/much less frequent cleansing, and longer guarantee are for you.
Knowing what I do know now, if I have been to purchase one, I’d in all probability select the Willow Go because it’s cheaper. The app is annoying, however I’ve realized to dwell with it.
I hope this comparability helped you determine which one can be greatest for YOU.
Got questions? Feel free to drop them within the feedback beneath.
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