Hey momma, I see you in search of the most effective wearable pump to your feeding journey. Whether or not you’re unique pumping or in search of one thing to enrich breastfeeding, I’m right here to assist. I’ve tried six totally different pumps together with the wearables – the Elvie and the Willow Go. Right here’s every part to learn about how they stack up towards one another and which you should purchase.
By the best way, I paid full value for each of those pumps, so this can be a really unbiased evaluate. Let’s evaluate every of the vital options under that will help you determine what’s most vital.
Consolation/Match
I’m a fan of each pumps for the consolation and the match. Every can match right into a nursing bra, or perhaps a common smooth bra, with out forcing me to alter right into a pumping bra like a regular 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 burden distinction is just noticeable for me if I exploit the Elvie for per week or extra and change again to the Willow Go. I discover them each easy sufficient to suit to the nipple, although there’s a giant distinction in terms of flange measurement.
The Elvie comes with 24 and 28mm flanges. For me and many ladies like me, each of these are too giant. You should buy a 21mm flange, or off-brand flange inserts to make it even smaller. Sadly the Elvie doesn’t supply something smaller than 21mm. Though it’s nonetheless workable with off-brand inserts, it might work even higher with inserts or flanges made by Elvie for the pump, so this can be 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.
Should you do go together with the Elvie and want 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. At first, I used a hospital grade pump and as soon as it was time to return it, transitioned to wearable pumps solely as a result of I hate time-out and I get higher output with them than my Spectra, imagine it or not. Nonetheless some individuals do see a dip in output.
This could possibly 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 prime comfortably.
Winner: Willow Go has larger suction capabilities.
Discreetness
Can we agree that there’s no manner for a wearable pump to be really discreet, because it has to make at the least some noise and should have room for the motor and milk catchment?
Each pumps will make you seem to achieve 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 a shirt. Whereas true, if you happen to’re carrying one thing that skinny and form-fitting, the jig shall be up both manner. I discover a scarf or unfastened jacket solves the visibility concern of each.
Nonetheless the Elvie is far quieter. The Elvie will also be managed by an app whereas the Willow Go can not, 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 observe your pumps, measure your output in actual time, and let you management the pump out of your cellphone. That 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 obtained.
I can’t fathom what the purpose is of the Willow Go app, which has a sea of 1-star critiques. It’s primarily a timer with no different features. My principle is Willow would somewhat not give it all of the bells and whistles in order that there’s nonetheless a motive to pay for the dearer Willow 3.0, which has a extra sturdy app.
Winner: Elvie by FAR.
Battery Life
Each pumps final me 5 to 6 pumping periods, and each are chargeable with a USB charger. Each take about two hours to achieve a full cost, although in a pinch you may nonetheless cost partially and pump with both one.
Should you’re discovering the battery life sucks, attain out to customer support for a substitute. 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 may say neither pump has an issue with this, however each of them do. Until you’re pumping with the Willow 3.0 and utilizing the single-use baggage, which are not any good friend to the planet and require fixed re-purchasing, you’ll should watch out about bending over, and also you actually can’t lie all the way down to pump.
The Elvie generally leaks whereas I’m pumping, particularly if I’ve crammed a container and bend over too far. The gauge often 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 concern is with pouring the milk out of the pump and right into a bottle or storage bag. I nearly all the time misplaced some at first although I’ve gotten the dangle of it now.
Nonetheless, there’s obtained to be a greater option to design each to keep away from spillage.
Winner: No person wins right here!
Elements and Cleansing
Each pumps have an equal quantity of components that you’ll have to clear. Each pump components can go within the dishwasher and I don’t discover both one to be tough to wash. Nonetheless the Elvie comes with two additional milk containers for straightforward storage and fewer frequent cleansing.
Because of the design of the Willow Go, it’s important to empty the milk each time into one other container to be able to use it once more. I discover this annoying and enormously favor the Elvie’s milk catchment system.
Guarantee
The Elvie pulls forward with a two 12 months guarantee versus the Willow Go’s one 12 months. There’s nothing extra irritating than operating into a problem a number of weeks after your one-year guarantee runs out.
Winner: Elvie
Pricing
That is clearly an enormous one. The Willow Go is at present $329 whereas Elvie is $549.99. Should you want a 21mm flange, it’s also possible to add that to the price of the Elvie.
The large query is whether or not it’s value the additional $220.99 for the Elvie.
My Choose
As an unique pumper who solely makes use of the wearable pumps, I’ve been very blissful to have each. There have been occasions after I forgot a vital half when on a flight and was glad to have again up, didn’t need to wash the components whereas out and about and nonetheless had a clear possibility after I obtained house, or had one run out of battery.
I notice most individuals will need to simply purchase one or the opposite. The reply is determined by how vital the app monitoring and management, quieter nature of the Elvie, additional containers/much less frequent cleansing, and longer guarantee are for you.
Figuring out what I do know now, if I have been to purchase one, I’d most likely select the Willow Go because it’s cheaper. The app is annoying, however I’ve realized to reside with it.
I hope this comparability helped you determine which one can be greatest for YOU.
Obtained questions? Be at liberty to drop them within the feedback under.
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