Elvie vs. Willow
My first baby was born in December 2019. At the time, we had received a Spectra 2 pump as a gift and our insurance covered us for an Ameda Mya. On our first day home my husband bravely unpacked the Spectra, learned how to put all the parts together, and set everything up for me to start pumping. I would generally pump after feedings to reduce engorgement and to start building up the “freezer stash”. We started giving our baby a bottle at about a month old so she would get recently pumped milk and any additional would be saved.
I took a 12 week maternity leave and then returned to work full time. For a while I carried the flanges, tubes, bottles, and the Ameda Mya pump with me to work. I would pump in my office with a hands free pumping bra, but was plugged in and…exposed. After about 6 months I started looking into wearable pumps. I was getting weary of the routine of being tethered to a pump, stuck at my desk, and isolated from colleagues.
When I started my research I had several friends using the Willow and one of my co-workers offered to let me give it a try. This was a huge bonus because it’s a big financial commitment to buy one of these pumps and they’re not returnable because they are considered medical devices. I was so excited to have a discreet way to pump, be able to walk around, and to be carrying a lot less ‘gear’ back and forth to work every day. I used the Willow for about a week for 2-3 pumping sessions per day. In the evenings I would sometimes use my Spectra because it was next to my bed and I could hold the flanges on for short pumping sessions without needing a bra.
Here’s what I learned from my week with the Willow:
The suction is strong! You can adjust the intensity but it is powerful.
The design is air (and milk) tight which helps to prevent leaks.
You have to put it on just right. There are sensors in the Willow that will prevent the pump from turning on if it is not assembled exactly right or put on the breast improperly.
I found this frustrating at times when I wanted to put it on and go and I had to fiddle with re-attaching the containers or putting it on and off to get the alignment correct.
The pumps are labeled for left and right and have to be used on those sides if you are going to get accurate data on the Willow app.
The Willow app (at the time) did not have an option for adjusting the volume pumped and it did not always calculate it accurately.
It has specialty bags that you need to keep in supply
This is an ongoing added cost on top of the pump itself. Right now on Amazon you can get 48 bags for $33 and at other retailers $23. For someone like me I was pumping at least 16 oz a day so $23 worth of bags would last me 12 days. This adds up to $700 on bags for a year of pumping with the Willow- YIKES!
You can buy a reusable container to pump. These are about $50 for a set of 2.
If I were to buy the Willow for myself I would definitely want these more sustainable containers. However, I found the design of the containers to be difficult to clean thoroughly and they never dried completely even overnight or with a full day on the drying rack.
After talking further with friends using each pump and doing more research, I decided to buy the Elvie for myself. Here’s what influenced my decision...
The cost of Willow and Elvie are basically the same. However...
The Elvie has a 2 year warranty and Willow only has 1 year.
The Willow had a lot of extra costs associate with it (special bags are expensive and reusable containers are on top of cost of pump).
The Willow parts are designed to be replaced every 3 months where the Elvie parts say to replace every 6 months.
I liked that the Elvie was designed with reusable containers and comes with extra bottles (double pump comes with 4 bottles).
The Elvie has a charger for both sides instead of the one charger that comes with Willow.
If you’re on a budget you can purchase just one Elvie pump whereas you only have the option to purchase the Willow pumps in a set.
The Elvie can switch between sides (toggle between right and left depending on which side you are wearing it) whereas Willows are already labeled right and left.
I was frustrated that the Willow app didn't allow me to adjust the amount actually pumped when it was inaccurate. Sometimes it said I pumped 17oz on one side when I really got 3oz. (I do not know if this has been fixed by the app developers)
Elvie comes with multiple sized flanges where Willow you have to know your flange size when you order and have to pay extra to get a different size.
Washing the reusable bottles for the willow was awkward and they never dried.
After purchasing the Elvie I used it for 9-12 more months of pumping. It was my day-to-day pump at home and at work and it was great for travelling. There were times when I had to be away from my baby for 3-4 days and I was able to use it sitting with a family member in the hospital, in airports, and in the car. The only drawback I found with the Elvie was that it is prone to leaks. You should avoid leaning down past 90 degrees, make sure the flange, discs, and valves are installed properly, and wear a well fitted bra that supports the Elvie when you’re wearing it..
Ultimately, if I had to make the decision again I would still choose the Elvie and I am looking forward to using it again with our next baby.
***If you have any questions please feel free to ask them in the comments. I am not affiliated with any products and these opinions are only my own and from my personal experience.***
