Anyone who has pumped breastmilk is probably familiar with the feeling of being tethered to a big ole’ machine, fenagling with bottles and milk bags, and having a million parts to wash after every session. If you listened to Season 1 of my podcast, you heard about my traumatic triple feeding experience in 2019, which kicked off quite a negative relationship with pumping. Every time I hooked up to that Spectra, I was bogged down with a sense of dread, sadness, and a general feeling of being trapped. For any working parent who is also breastfeeding, pumping is usually part of the picture... there had to be a better solution! Bring in, the Willow Pump.
When I first heard about the Willow Pump, it seemed too good to be true, but I also knew that if I was ever going to breastfeed again, I’d need something portable and seamless for breastfeeding to be emotionally sustainable. So, fast forward to 2020: when I became pregnant with my second, I made the decision very early on to give the Willow a try, and when I had my second it did NOT disappoint. About Willow
Willow is on a mission to modernize motherhood. The Willow Pump is the world’s first all-in-one wearable breast pump that fits into your bra, giving you the freedom to pump wherever life takes you. Everything you need to pump is inside, with no cords, long tubes or dangling bottles to hold you back. Thanks to their no-spill technology, Willow is the only wearable breast pump that can be used in any position without milk leaking. With only four parts to assemble (and just two to clean!), plus an App that tracks your volume in real-time, you can build your life around your purpose and passion—not your pumping schedule.
My Experience with Willow 3.0
I can’t say enough about what a game-changer the Willow Pump was for my second breastfeeding experience. It very quickly became my default pump - for 15 months, I wore it driving my car, teaching yoga classes, cooking dinner, doing my hair and makeup, preparing for a show backstage at the Kennedy Center... one time I pumped milk while I was performing on stage! I’ve even pumped milk laying down and taking a nap (yes, you read that correctly), and while recording my podcast. I truly credit the Willow Pump for how enjoyable my second breastfeeding experience was, and it had a huge positive impact on my mental health.
There was definitely a learning curve when I first started out using the pump. It took some time for me to learn the various steps in assembling the pump, figure out my correct flange size (VERY important with this pump), find a bra that would support and keep the pump in place, and end the session without spilling any milk. But once I got over those humps, it became second nature and was smooth sailing!
Willow 3.0
Willow recently released their app for Apple Watch, which takes the control and versatility of this pump to a whole new level. Although I'm not breastfeeding anymore, I had to see these new features for myself - thankfully, my client Suzanne was game to give the Willow a try, and we got to take the new Apple Watch App for a spin!
We had fun trying out all the new ways in which you can now control the Willow Pump from your Apple Watch - now, without even reaching for your phone, you can see in real time:
A live view of cumulative and pump-specific volume output per session (current session, or if not currently pumping, your last session)
Session duration (current session, or if not currently pumping, your last session)
Pump control (play, pause, increase/decrease, suction level by pump)
Pump mode (stimulation or expression)
Current and available level(s) of suction
Battery level of L/R pump
Pump alerts & notifications (just the notifications/alerts, must go to phone app for more details)
The app was very straightforward, intuitive, and the information we needed to know was easy to find. I thought the Willow was the most convenient thing ever, but the ability to control everything from the Apple Watch makes me want to scream about the pump from the rooftops! In Conclusion... I could write forever about how much I loved my Willow Pump, and I used it BEFORE it was compatible with the Apple Watch. If you’d like to experience the difference yourself, be sure to take advantage of our special 10% discount by entering VILLAGECIRCLE10 at the checkout when you shop on their website.