If you’re a mama, or soon to be mama, then this post is for you! I’m sharing a honest review of the Willow pump which was my most used pump while breastfeeding. It allowed me to pump at work, on airplanes while traveling, in the car… literally anywhere! Although Millie and my breastfeeding journey came to an end earlier than I hoped, the Willow proved to be one of the most valuable baby product purchases that I made! If you can relate, read more on why you might need the Willow pump too.
Breastfeeding Mom on the Go. Traveler. Working Mom.
To be honest I’ve always been a very private, more conservative, person. Before Millie was born I told Mark that truthfully I was unsure how long I would be able to breastfeed for and would most likely be stopping before I went back to work. I wasn’t sure if I could breastfeed in public and the thought of having to pump in the office (outside of the comfort of our home) just seemed strange to me.
However… once Millie was born and I actually got to share this bonding experience with her, everything changed. I feel blessed that our breastfeeding journey was a special one and time that I cherished spending with her. We created such a bond and it truly was a beautiful experience unlike anything else. The fact that I was able to grow our baby girl, then care and provide nutrients and food for her is incredible.
It wasn’t until after Millie was born that I decided to purchase two pumps. I got the Spectra S2 Plus Electric Breast Pump (which I also really liked) through insurance and the Willow pump out of pocket.
Pump
The Willow pump allowed me to pump in the car while commuting an hour to work. It allowed me to pump on a airplane while traveling for work or traveling internationally. I could literally pump from my seat on the airplane with the best part being no one could really even tell!
It also allowed me to easily pump in the office. Literally I could easily pump anywhere without being stuck plugged into the wall! I liked that it was quiet and I could hide it discretely under my top. Personally, I found the pump to be comfortable and not painful. You adjust and manage the pump and settings all within a mobile app! This made it super easy to travel with and keep track of milk production. I also loved that I could walk around with in it and multitask, that was a HUGE selling factor that really came in handy.
Container + Bags
Though expensive I really enjoyed the Willow pumps 4 oz. Spill-Proof Breast Milk Bags. Being spill proof, I loved that I didn’t have to stress about spilling any milk (liquid gold) and that after pumping I could place these self-sealing bags directly in the fridge or freezer. These especially came in handy when pumping at work or traveling because I didn’t have to worry about pouring milk out into another container and it also made it easier to clean.
When working, I would take this freezable lunch bag with me to store milk. It was so nice and easy to have the ice packs built into this bag! I also carried these pump wipes with me where ever I went in case I wasn’t near a sink to wash the pump parts immediately.
The containers unfortunately didn’t come out until later in my breastfeeding journey. But to save money on bags I did purchase them! I’ll say that I had issues with the containers latching to the pump properly so spent a lot of time trying to line them up correctly to pump. In theory these were great while pumping at home to be able to pour milk directly into bottles for Millie. I would still recommend giving these a shot to save on bags, but be sure to follow instructions diligently. Or reach out to Willow’s amazing customer service team for help.
I was so happy that this pump was available for me with Millie. It’s the best invention! The ability to pump on the go and not be tied to the wall near an outlet is amazing. It gave me the opportunity to extend our breastfeeding journey for as long as possible and it was the best purchase I could have made for myself. I hope that this Willow Pump Honest Review helped to answer your questions! If you’re looking for a hands free mobile pump but have other questions please reach out!
xo, Mallary Bee
