May 2, 2019
Breast pumps: we love them and we hate them. I love that I’m able to give Caroline my breast milk, but I hate that I have to hook up like a milk cow in order to do it. If you read my breastfeeding post, you know that we are solely pumping and bottle feeding.
My breast pump was the first baby item I received. I got the Medela Pump through my insurance for free. Honestly, I did not do much, or any, research on breast pumps before selecting this one. My best friend was using this pump with her third baby, so I trusted her opinion on it. It has treated me very well so far, but I am spending approximately three hours a day hooked up to it. And not just hooked up to the pump, but also plugged into the wall.
The most challenging part about breast pumping is finding the time to do it. I need 30 minutes of uninterrupted time while Caroline is asleep or occupied with someone or something else (which is not often because Milton works). Each time I sit down to pump I try to make the most of it and gather all of my things so they’d be within arms reach. My computer if I want to work on the blog, or cards and my gift list to knock some thank you notes out. While I am pumping I have my fingers and toes crossed that Caroline will not wake up from her nap.
I first saw the Willow pump on Instagram (go figure). Lauren Sims, a blogger with a baby girl just a few months older than Caroline, has posted on her Instagram and on her blog about the Willow pump. In no time Willow pump ads started to pop up on my Instagram every other day. I swear our phones are listening to us. The first time I went to the website to see how much it cost I instantly let out a huge laugh and closed out of the browser.
When I shared my experience about breastfeeding I had quite a few other moms reach out to me about their experience. It was awesome to feel the sense of community and other women that have struggled in similar or different ways than myself. Britany over on Britany Marshall Beauty told me she bought the Willow pump for work, but had only used it once so far. Lindsay, a sorority sister of mine, is also pumping told me that she bought the Willow pump and said it is totally worth it. I told her I have been thinking pretty hard about it but I just wasn’t sure. At that point I thought, “Okay…now I know two girls with this pump so maybe I should look into it.” Luckily, at this time Willow pump was offering $100 off so I was even more convinced that I needed it. So I crafted a really nice and convincing text message to Milton as to why I needed the Willow pump and how it would benefit us and save us money in the end. Formula is expensive, and if I can pump anywhere, any time I would be able to keep my production up and keep her on breast milk even longer. Bless his heart, he is a smart man and just replied with the words “get it”.
So I got it! It came in on the Thursday before Easter which was perfect because Milton and I were leaving the next day to spend Easter with my family up the road. I’d now be able to pump in the car without worrying about plugging in my pump.
The Willow Pump has been such a game changer for me. I can pump anywhere any time with no restriction. Willow has taken the stress out of pumping for this new mom.
Pros
Freedom – The willow pump is free of cords and tubes. This means you can pump anywhere! The first place I used my Willow pump was in the car (in the backseat) while traveling to visit my parents. The other evening I pumped while my family ate dinner by the pool. I didn’t have to miss a thing.
Spill-Proof Bags – As soon as you take the milk bag out of the pump it is sealed. This makes transporting much less stressful.
The App – This is probably my favorite part. The app shows you how much you have pumped on each side. It is also a great resource for troubleshooting and pumping tips.
It is Quiet – The Willow pump is surprisingly quiet.
Insurance – Your insurance will possibly reimburse you for Willow Pump purchase! So check with your insurance plan and see what you could get back. You can use HSA/FSA. Unfortunately, I had already used my insurance on a Medela pump, but I have no regrets paying for Willow out of pocket.
Cons
Cost of the Pump- Yes, it is a pricey pump. However, formula can get expensive as well!
Cost of the Bags – The bags required to use the Willow are specific to the Willow Pump. They aren’t exactly cheap either.
Bag Capacity – The maximum capacity of the storage bags is 4 ounces. The pump will automatically pause once you reach about 3.7 ounces (to allow room for the milk left in the flange). Most of the time I can fill up a bag in about 15 minutes, which requires me to put a new bag in the pump to finish a session, which costs money.
Your Bra Matters – The first couple of times I used the pump I was wearing a nursing bra that is not very supportive. My nipples ended up hurting and I had to lay off of the Willow for a day. When I used a bra with more support it was sooo much better! The Willow app and website emphasizes that the type of bra matters…I just failed to pay attention to that at first.
Not Subtle – While the pump can be totally hidden by your clothes, it is not as subtle as I thought it was going to be. This could be because I do not have a small chest, but when I put these on I look like Dolly Parton. I will definitely be wearing this while working in my office, but I probably won’t wear it during a meeting or client visit while at work.
If you are interested in the Willow Pump please use my referral link! We will both receive 48 FREE BAGS! https://www.talkable.com/x/TDloOH
Update!!!
My goal is to always be transparent on Cait and Co., so I found it necessary to give an update on my Willow Pump experience.
June was the busiest month ever (it seemed like) and Willow pretty much saved me. I spent 10 days away from home and was able to continue pumping 5 times a day with Willow (early morning and evening pump was with my Medela and the rest was with Willow). I drove from Galveston to Austin, Austin to Fort Worth, and Fort Worth to Galveston, and was a bridesmaid in two weddings. I took Willow everywhere and got it done! When I got home I was able to freeze over 40 OUNCES YALL!
During one pump session in the car I noticed my bra felt cold. Odd. I pulled over to take Willow off and found my bra soaked with breast milk. I was devastated and almost in tears (if you’re a breastfeeding/pumping mom you know). I was sure I put the pump on too fast and didn’t get a good seal. A week or so later I found my bra getting wet again and instantly stopped the pump to prevent more milk loss. This sucked because I was away from the house and was essentially skipping a pumping session and not getting the typical amount of ounces for the day. I continued to troubleshoot. I made sure all of the parts were connected properly, I took my time when putting the pump on, sat up straight until I entered the expression phase. The pump kept leaking.
I finally emailed Willow. It took them a little longer than I liked to answer me, but two of the three (yes, I emailed 3 times) emails I sent were on the weekend. Once I got an answer I emailed with the customer service rep for about a week or so. I had to answer quite a few questions and send some pictures of my pump to prove I was doing everything correctly. Eventually, I got approved for a brand new pump! BLESS! I do have to return my old pump, but hopefully they let me keep the charger.
I emailed with the same rep throughout the process, and she was really nice and patient with me when I was frustrated. SO… even though I had a little hiccup with my pump, the Willow Pump team is doing their best to fix it and I can say overall it has been a great experience.
