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“How am I going to pump during all day trials?!” I thought to myself realizing I had a problem to solve before I started my new job.
I working as a court clerk when I was six months postpartum and exclusively breastfeeding. I made the mistake of not pumping enough before I started work, but that was only one of my problems. The bigger problem I had was figuring out how I was going to pump three times a day when I was in an all-day trial.
I had heard about the new wave of wearable breast pumps, and it was one of the positives about returning to work while nursing.
I opted for an Elvie pump over a Willow Wearable Breast Pump because Elvie’s storage containers held 5 oz while Willow’s held 4 oz. (The Willow Go can hold 5-7 oz in a resuablr container). I was blessed with a heavy supply, and I envisioned being able to pump without having to replace the container halfway through.
If you’re a clerk, judge, attorney, or courtroom officer that pumps during your workday, Elvie is worth learning more about.
$549.99
Comfort/Appearance
Are they Comfortable?
I wouldn’t exactly call it comfortable. To be fair – I can’t imagine any pump being comfortable. It didn’t hurt, and I felt the suction was too weak compared to my son.
Do they show under your clothes?
They did not draw any extra attention to me when I wore them while at my desk. They aren’t conspicuous enough for me to wear in court, but they’re perfect for remote appearances.
Noise
Was it silent? No. Was it quieter than any other pump I’ve ever used? Yes.
Will it get picked up by a court mic? No. Will the person sitting next to you hear it? Probably not, but maybe. Zoom won’t pick it up at all if you set your ‘suppress background noise’ settings to high.
Efficiency
Elvie claims that their Elvie Pump is “The silent, wearable electric breast pump designed to discreetly slip inside your bra… Controlled through your phone for the most seamless experience, Elvie Pump is wire-free, hands-free, and hassle-free.
I found that less than half of the above statements to be true. The Elvie pump did not discreetly slip inside my bra, and I wouldn’t exactly call my experience hassle-free.
Reviews vary widely, with some raving of its functionality and others saying the suction didn’t work.
One of my pump’s suctions felt much stronger than the other. So much so that I emailed Elvie asking if I possibly had a faulty product. They responded promptly were friendly, but the resources they gave me didn’t help.
Another problem I had was needing to see my nipples to make sure they were in the right position to release milk. Even if I put the Elvie pumps in my bra before court, I needed to readjust before I began pumping.
At this point, I realized that I couldn’t pump during court this way. So I went to the mothers room before court during lunch and after court and would use my laptop to work while I pumped.
Ultimately, the Elvie was just too slow, and I was spending too much time trying to make it work.
Battery life
The Elive pumps charge by micro-USB for 2.5 hours of pumping. I never ran out of battery. Charging the pumps at night got me through the day.
The pumps are controlled with a phone app. I ran out of battery on that was and left to use the buttons on the top. The problem with this is, I couldn’t tell if they was pumping. I relied on the app for that, and I didn’t have a ton of time trying to trouble shoot. It was frustrating.
Alternatives
The Willow Pump is the only true alternative that can compete with Elvie in terms of size and portability. They have two options:
$499.99
• This model is a wearable, double electric breast pump. It’s known for its 100% leak-proof design which allows 360° mobility, enabling mothers to pump in any position.
• It features a hospital-grade suction which mimics a baby’s natural nursing rhythm, contributing to effective milk expression.
• It offers the unique option to pump into either spill-proof milk bags or reusable containers. The milk bags enable total mobility, while the containers offer 180-degree mobility.
• It connects to a smartphone or Apple Watch, allowing users to track and manage pumping sessions easily.
• The Willow 3.0 is priced higher than traditional pumps and might not be fully covered by insurance.
$349.99
• Similar to the Willow 3.0, it features a completely in-bra design, allowing hands-free and untethered usage.
• However, it does not offer the same range of motion as the Willow 3.0.
• The Willow Go utilizes “tug and release” suction technology, comparable to traditional pumps and other wearable pump brands.
• It is compatible only with reusable containers, not with spill-proof milk bags.
• It is priced lower than the Willow 3.0 by $150 and may not be fully covered by insurance.
Both pumps are app-connected and offer smart features like real-time tracking of volume and session history recording. The Willow 3.0, however, offers more advanced smart pumping capabilities, including smart suction technology that adjusts based on user preferences.
