Elvie Elvie Pump

Thread: "Best Pump for Working Moms"

I had an elvie for my second baby and loved it. Agreed, I personally wouldn't feel comfortable wearing it in an open office. But, even if you stay in the lactation room it allows your arms freedom to type emails or whatever. Or at least run to the bathroom while pumping. I had the spectra s2 (the one with the battery) for my first and liked it. Just found it cumbersome with all the tubes and protruding bottles/flanges. Made me hate pumping. Which is why I was a fan of the elvie when it came out.

Thread: "Best wireless hands free breast pump to use when I return to work as a teacher?"

I have an elvie and it’s the only way I was able to make it 11 months of breastfeeding/ pumping as an icu nurse! It is definitely $$$ and I’ve heard some people say it didn’t work great for them. But I personally loved mine! Super quiet, pretty discreet, and no issues with leaking unless you bend way over with it in. While working, I’d sneak away to the conference room in the back of the unit, set up and put the pumps in. Some days I’d be able to sit there to pump the whole time; other days I had to run around, check on my patients, go to the desk to chart, etc. Only downfall besides the price is that I did have to pump for a bit longer to ensure I was empty vs with my other pumps (spectra and pumpables).

Thread: "Hands free breast pumps"

I hated my elvie 😭 i have elastic nipples and the tunnel is too short. I've been trying out the eufy s1 pro and it's very comfy! Still getting the hang of it though

Thread: "Best wireless hands free breast pump to use when I return to work as a teacher?"

I’ve tried willow go and Elvie and the Elvie is the quietest on the market. Idk how they get it to be so quiet. The willow go is nice more affordable but to me it was way to hit or miss and there was days I’d have to hand express Bc it wouldn’t work. Another thing to note about wireless pumps, even though they are hands free- they are NOT leak free. Meaning you can’t bend over and move your body in a typical way when pumping with them in your bra without risking milk spilling out. The ONLY actually leak free pump is the original Willow when used with the collection bags. The original willow uses constant suction and takes a few weeks of adjustment since the suck pattern is constant. Sizing for the willow flanges are also vital Bc of the constant suck pattern it can tear up your nipples if you don’t get it right. The flanges unlike other pumps needs to be your exact nipple size or 1mm bigger. (In comparison to other pumps where suggestion is 2-3mm larger than nipple size) oh and also bra fits are incredibly important for any wireless pump you get. They have to be able to snuggly support your wireless pump without being too loose or too tight on your breast. Teachers are now also federally covered under the pumping act so your school is legally required to give you enough breaks to pump. If they don’t you could report them to the department of labor [pump act info](https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teachers-to-get-breastfeeding-accommodations-under-new-law-its-about-time-they-say/2022/12)

Thread: "On so-called “hospital-grade” breast pumps..."

I used the Specta until I discovered the Elvie. I loved the hands free. I put it on for my drive home from work. It was so convenient.

Thread: "Working mom pump recs?"

Here to say that I've had both a spectra s1 and an elvie. *Most important factor* is getting flanges that *fit*

Thread: "Best handsfree pump?"

Agree with the others that say you shouldn’t need one if all goes well- if you’d like to be proactive and feel prepared, I’d suggest making a very casual shortlist of the options available. I remember spending quite a bit of time around the 4-6 week mark researching pumps and I resented not being able to spend with baby. I have an Elvie and it served me well - I used it when I had to be away from baby overnight. Be sure to get the correct flange size because that really impacted my output. They have guidance on the website. I also looked into Fraupow (recommended by my LC) and Momcozy but ended up going for Elvie because I was looking for something discreet and quiet.

Thread: "Hands free breast pumps"

I didn't love the Elvie tbh! Some people swear by it, but for me it was meh. I've tried the MomCozy S9 Pro and hated it. My favorite was the plug in Spectra and for on the go I used the TSRETE 😊

Thread: "Help me pick a breast pump!"

I don’t see people talk about the elvie very often but I love mine! Super portable and it works better for me than my spectra. You also just set it and forget it - it has its own smart program thing that changes from stimulation to expression and back as your milk flow changes.

Thread: "Hands free breast pumps"

Same here - have spectra as main pump. Got elvies with baby 2 and they didn’t work. Tried again with baby 3 and still no success. Got Eufys and they are wonderful - I don’t have any complaints at all. Have had them for a few weeks now

Thread: "Best Pump for Working Moms"

Chiming in to say Elvie released a new model called the Stride which is about $200 cheaper and at least partially covered by many insurance carriers!! It’s been a game changer for me to have the flexibility to move around while pumping. And I have pumped in a car and in a conference room, in front of coworkers I’m more comfortable with.

Thread: "Best handsfree pump?"

I have an Elvie and love it. I’d intended to not use it until 6 weeks in but my baby had jaundice so I had to express from day 2 as part of his feeding plan. If I’d not had the pump I wouldn’t have been able to exclusively breastfeed so I’m glad I ordered it in advance.

Thread: "Best wearable pump?"

I loved my elvie! Used it from months 3-10! Didn’t have any supply issues with it, but everyone is different. You just have to make sure it doesn’t get too full, every now and then the sensors get clogged and it doesn’t turn off and it leaks. But totally avoidable if you know how long it usually takes to pump.

Thread: "Best breast pumps?"

I've been looking at the Elvie pump - it's definitely on the pricier side but I love that it's hands free, quiet, and has different expressing options. I'm planning to wait until the baby is here before buying it as I want to be sure I'm actually able to breastfeed before forking out for it. There's also a similar but cheaper one by Wren which is apparently very good to (Edit: just to say I am a FTM too!)

Thread: "Nurses: OG Elvie or Willow 360? Which pump is better on the go , limited breaks etc"

Had the Elive first time around, tried out momcozy m5 this time and like it so much more. Far less leaks, pieces and issues. Would definitely recommend to look into!

Thread: "What’s your favorite wearable pump?"

Also Elvie detects letdown and switches modes on its own.. and the app is fine. The output they get it sometimes off

Thread: "I’m a first time momma looking for a wearable breast pump what’s the best one?"

I love my Elvie! This is my third baby and what a game changer!!!

Thread: "Best handsfree pump?"

I had an elvie after my first was born and it was okay, second time around I just got a hand pump which I much preferred - no it wasn’t hands free, but it only took about five minutes to get a half decent pump out of it. The elvie I found to be a bit finnicky and remembering to charge it was a pain in the arse

Thread: "HELP. Can't decide between Willow Go and Elvie Stride!"

Wanted to echo that the Willow go isn’t made for the fridge hack. I didn’t listen because it worked for 2-3 sessions when I first got my pumps but as the parts age the duckbills definitely pop off with refrigeration. I still love my Go but just alternate with an extra set of containers so I only use each set of parts once. I also have the original elvies and don’t know how I used them almost exclusively for 3 months. They hurt so bad. The Willow go changed my pumping experience. So gentle, no pain, effective milk removal. The profile of them is pretty big though, significantly bigger than my elvies. Not sure how compare to the stride.

Thread: "Best Pump for Working Moms"

That’s good to know! Did you feel like the suction was strong enough and emptied guy?

Thread: "Do you need a hospital grade pump?"

I’ve found the hospital grade pump my hospital lent me doesn’t work as well as my elvie pumps or hand pumping. I don’t know if it’s worth the trouble. Personally for me it’s just gathering dust until I return it to the hospital.

Thread: "Thoughts on willow pump vs elvie? Are they worth it?"

Elvis if you are static but you won’t be. Willow all the way! I’m a fellow nurse too & have invested in the willow for when I return to work. Good Luck

Thread: "Elvie wearable vs. Willow Go?"

My LC told me she liked the willow go the most, then the Elvie, then the medala. I went with the willow and I'm mostly happy. I don't have access to the 360 in Canada, but although it's more clunky and has weird shaped parts/milk bags, I would have appreciated the ability to bend over with no leaking. I will provide my thoughts below. I try to remember that if I were pumping 20 years ago, I'd be happy with any pump at all, and really, I'm lucky to have it today. The willow go is just fine for me. The following is more like a synopsis of my observations and some troubleshooting tips to refer to if you actually buy it, rather than a critical analysis to help you decide purchasing it (as it's a long and convoluted explanation), but I hope it helps. After purchasing it, there is very little info/helpful reviews online to guide me in my questions and challenges. Features I like about the willow go: 1. It's chargeable and I can run for 2.5 sessions, 25 min each Con - it's lithium battery operated. So other than the children in the Congo who are mining lithium for yet another device, it is also an air travel consideration, fire hazard, and you cannot charge while using (unlike a portable). Also, I have to really think hard when I'm disassembling for washing up, because I'm really really worried that some day I'm just going to toss the pump motor into the soapy water by accident and without thinking (because we are all so tired and brain fried) I think this is the reason it tells you not to use the fridge hack ie don't chill lithium batteries. The manual isn't super clear on the reasons behind its warnings of what not to do 2. It's app controlled. You can use the buttons on the thing without the app or internet, and at first I hated the app involvement, but I like the app now. It tracks things for you. Con - sometimes the app doesn't sync, requires internet, sometimes it erases your pumping data, it does not track volumes using a sensor or anything you must record it manually It times out at 25 min automatically. This seems like a con, but actually, you don't want to exceed 30 min per session as it can damage breast tissue. I think you can change settings if you want. So, 25 min per breast is actually ideal 3. You can do things free handed! I know this is a general feature of all wearables but yay! Con - it isn't leak proof. I cannot bend over more than 45 degrees if it's got more than 2 oz inside. I cannot go for mindless walks because it will slosh. I've gotten really good at squatting like I've got a book on my head. 4. The parts are easy to wash. People complain about long drying times, but I use hottish rinse water and flick it around in the air before setting on the dry rack. It dries in minutes in my dry western Canadian climate. If not, a quick wipe of paper towel takes care of it. Bacterial concerns aside, do ensure the suction parts are completely dry to avoid interfering with efficiency or getting moisture inside the motor (there is a small suction hole to be aware of Cons - the parts warp over time and are expensive to replace. You should definitely replace if any damage is observed, or if the plastic gets cloudy or scratched. It says not to use a bottle sterilizer but boiling is fine? I used my Phillips avent sterilizer anyway (as the initial sterilizer event) and I think it did actually warp the parts. Technically, steam is just ever so slightly hotter than boiling water so maybe that's why. The valve seems to pop off the white plate part now, but it seems to work ok either way. I attribute this to warping. Parts are sooooo expensive. Like, $150 to replace them all, which you are supposedly to do every three months, but that should depend on frequency of use and wear and tear. Use your discretion. I haven't tried to submit an insurance claim for that and I'm not sure it applies. So, I also got mine paid for by insurance but this is maybe a cost to consider if you go the willow route At one point, I must not have been cleaning it well enough because I had to scrape a thin film of milk around the flange edge of the white plate. Be mindful of this as it's a bacteria hazard but also affects leakage. People complain about leakage and I have also noticed this. You can troubleshoot by good cleaning, avoiding excess heat, replacing parts as they wear, and leaving forward at the end of your session to "suck" any milk forward (or pull it off your tits while it's still running). I do get a few drops out the nipple holes and if you don't fit the container parts together fully and completely, lord help you 💦. I haven't had much trouble with the containers themselves leaking as long as I fit the top edge together first and then seal it all up. In general, you do need to get used to fitting it all together. The medala is much easier for that (I don't know about elvie), but once I got used to it, it's fine. 5. You can buy a nice little case for it. It's hard sided and has saved my pumps while outside the home because I'm clumsy Cons - it's $100 and not insurance covered. It only fits the pumps and just barely fits my charge cables and a thin package of pump wipes. I have to carry an extra bag for my related equipment/bottles. ALSO, it does not include the usb bricks for charging, only the two cables! 6. It's a sleek design that fits inside your bra. It has the highest capacity of all wearables. It comes with 5 oz containers and you can buy 7oz containers as an add on (although i can't buy them from the website available in Canada). Cons - I look like a mechanical Dolly Parton. It's still pretty big and although relatively quiet, I still explain to people what the noise is and why my bra is huge. My husband says it sounds like tiny screaming goats. 7. There are imperial and metric measurements on the containers. Once you get the hang of it, you can easily pour them into bottles by inverting it Cons - these measurements are often inaccurate because of the distribution in the container. If the line is just a little off, you can read it inaccurately and I find I'll assume I pumped 2 oz (for instance) but my evenflo bottle only fills 1.5 oz If you aren't used to the container, milk initially pours out in a steady stream, but because of the splash protector, there is often a second gush of fluid that changes the stream and you have to be mindful of catching that too. I also find it hard to empty the last few drops

Thread: "Best wearable pump 2024?"

I also have Elvie and I almost get more each pump (only like an ounce or two, but still). Been using them 2-3x/day since about 2 weeks. Super convenient, especially if you’re on the go!

Thread: "What’s your favorite wearable pump?"

I have tried the Eufy three times and personally don't like it. On two of the occasions, I have had one side get nothing or almost nothing and its hard to troubleshoot since I can't see into the pumps from above because the motor is on top. Personally, I like my Willow Go way better, but I do think I probably need to give the Eufy another few chances before judging it.

Thread: "Hands free breast pumps"

Elvie is not worth the price, and I say this as someone who got it completely free from insurance. My sister has a Willow and likes it.

Thread: "Are portable breast pumps worth it? "

At work I use my portable pump because I’m unable to take the necessary pump breaks. They work great and I think they get more milk because they run for so long. When I’m at home I just the regular spectra pump because it only takes about 10-15 minutes of pumping vs the 30 of using the portable pump. I think the portable pump saved my breastfeeding because my supply used to get low on weeks that I work a lot because it’s so hard to find time to leave and pump. Now it’s easy to get 3 pumps in. I use the Elvie

Thread: "Thoughts on willow pump vs elvie? Are they worth it?"

Yep I'm a dentist and I have the Elvie. I pretty much only wear it when I'm writing notes at my computer or when I'm doing a procedure where I can sit up straight. I wore it the other day to change my son's diaper and leaked everywhere

Thread: "Best hands free pump? Willow, momcozy, or Elvie?"

Elvie user. Worked great for me. I think they’re pretty discreet depending on lighting conditions. There is a light on them that can shine through thin fabric, but I wore a t-shirt I could easily lift or reach my hand through the collar of and wore an open sweater overtop and it was fine. I have colleagues who pumped in in-person meetings just fine. I think Elvie is easier to clean/maintain and I liked that the parts are dishwasher safe and fridge and freezer safe. Mine worked great for 12 months of pumping with about 9 months of almost daily use. Only stopped using it because I quit pumping and started weaning.