Customer reviews from onewillow.com
Willow - Hands-Free Wearable in-bra Double Electric Breast Pump with app- 27mm
Average customer rating
4.1
(1,039 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 1,039 reviews
5 Stars
591
4 Stars
229
3 Stars
73
2 Stars
61
1 Star
85
84%of customers recommend this product.
(
863 out of
1,025)
Customer Reviews for Willow - Hands-Free Wearable in-bra Double Electric Breast Pump with app- 27mm
Customer Rating
5
Changed my breastfeeding journey!
on February 16, 2020
Posted by: Jessie
I honestly fully credit this for the reason I’ve currently almost mad it to 6 months of breastfeeding my first child! I went back to work for about a month without it. I wasn’t able to spend nearly the time I needed to in order to give my little guy what he needed. I saw my supply decreasing and I was truly doing all I could think of. I’m a “just enough”-er as it is and it absolutely broke my heart! I ordered this pump as kind of a last effort because I had to try it. I want to at least get him through cold/flu season and then we’ll see where the journey takes us. After I started using the Willow, and made it through the learning curve, I’m so incredibly happy! My supply returned, I’m able to pump more and still get my work done and when I’m home with my little guy I can still give him all the attention he needs without having to unhook, unplug, etc. Not to mention, when he’s nursing he doesn’t despise the fact that I’m wearing it. I think with traditional pumps you have to sit up so straight, have a bottle or bag dangling, he wasn’t comfortable, I wasn’t comfortable. Life is just seriously so much better! I recommend this pump to anyone that will listen, I absolutely love it and I know I wouldn’t have made it this far without it!! 100% worth it!!!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting onewillow.com
Customer Rating
5
Pump and ride
on February 17, 2020
Posted by: Jodie
Absolutely love the willow! I was able to pump and ride at 2 months postpartum! This pump made a 22 mile fatbike glacier ride possible!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting onewillow.com
Customer Rating
3
50/50
on February 19, 2020
Posted by: Freedom V.
I love the freedom this pump gives me. Unfortunately, for me, it doesn’t always comply. Some days it’s perfect. The rest of the time I deal with twinges of pain and extended stimulation mode.
I’m not a fan of the ‘automatic adjustment’ or it knowing when you have a let-down. I want to be able to change that myself.
There are a lot of tips and tricks to use this more comfortably and to get it to function ‘better’ but at their cost point, it shouldn’t need all of the extra work.
I think it works great for many moms, just not yet for me.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting onewillow.com
Customer Rating
2
VERY large & constant pain
on February 21, 2020
Posted by: Kaylyn H.
I have the Willow 2.0 & was unaware just how large these pumps are. With a more petite frame, I look like I have a "bad boob job." They are also extremely painful to use with the bags, seeing how there is not a size 21mm flange. I was also disappointed to have to buy a second charger to be able to charge both pumps at the same time. Overall, I am happy to be able to work without the interference of being strapped to the wall but very disappointed in the amount of discomfort I am forced to endure just to pump for my baby..
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting onewillow.com
Customer Rating
4
Easy to use, but hard to debug
on February 21, 2020
Posted by: JINGJING W.
Overall, it is an easy to use pump. But had difficulty when needs to debug when the orange light is flashing.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting onewillow.com
Customer Rating
1
The most expensive headache...
on March 18, 2020
Posted by: Diane A.
I bought this and regret it dearly. At first learning to use the bags was frustrating. Milk was constantly getting spilled and I was already struggling with low milk supply so this was extremely frustrating. I finally gave up and decided to buy the containers. Much easier to use until they started malfunctioning. The amount would say it was full with minutes when there was barely anything in them. I got fed up so I bought another set of containers only to have the exact same situation happen. I’ve invested so much money into this product and it’s really just a huge pain at this point. I would not recommend this to anyone. Just get a portable spectra and you’ll be fine.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting onewillow.com
Customer Rating
4
Great
on March 18, 2020
Posted by: Noelle
This pump is great to keep my hands free while nursing from one side and pumping on the other. My only wish is that you could go back to stimulation mode to start after a let down, since I usually have 2-3 let downs in a session.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting onewillow.com
Customer Rating
4
Great Pump, Not a Full Replacement
on March 18, 2020
Posted by: Elizabeth R.
After 4 months with the Willow am I ready to throw out my Spectra S9+? Definitely not. Is the Willow still awesome in its own right and forever has a place in my life? Absolutely!
Pros:
- Super portable, quick set up
- Can easily take care of baby, chores, work, etc. while pumping
- Snooze while pumping
- High-quality materials, solid construction
- Heaven when sticking to a STRICT pumping schedule
Cons:
- Expensive
- Containers difficult to clean
- Somewhat low battery life
- Pinchy/uncomfortable, inefficient on certain breast tissue
- Low capacity
- Locked stimulation/expression settings
- High milk loss/spill potential
- Super portable, quick set up
- Can easily take care of baby, chores, work, etc. while pumping
- Snooze while pumping
- High-quality materials, solid construction
- Heaven when sticking to a STRICT pumping schedule
Cons:
- Expensive
- Containers difficult to clean
- Somewhat low battery life
- Pinchy/uncomfortable, inefficient on certain breast tissue
- Low capacity
- Locked stimulation/expression settings
- High milk loss/spill potential
I’ll try to briefly summarize each of my points.
The portability is obvious. It’s pretty lightweight and compact, no tubes or dependency on an outlet. It’s also really quick to set up. Once you’re used to them, just pop them on, turn them on, and go. No tubes to thread through clothing or base unit to worry about.
Without the need to be tethered to the wall and/or bare chested with projectile funnels, you can easily accomplish a lot while pumping. If you don’t have a FULL coverage (granny) bra that’s TIGHT, they can be dislodged by a squirmy tot, but they’re otherwise rock solid. I’m a paramedic and have pumped on scene or while driving numerous times. If you use bags, they’re virtually leak-proof. Containers, a bit more limited when it comes to leaning over (gotta remember to flip the switch if you need to), but still versatile.
Laying down while pumping is GREAT, and I don’t discount what a 20 minute nap can mean to a new mom! But if you’re clever, you can side lay while pumping with a regular pump too.
The parts all feel expertly crafted with high quality materials. You don’t feel like you’ve gotten a cheap product, that’s for sure.
When it’s early in your pumping journey and/or you have to stick to a STRICT 2-3 hour pumping schedule, the Willow is beyond compare. You really can pump while doing virtually anything. If you anticipate the need to pump “before you reasonably can,” put it on before you start and you’re good to go. But if you’re later in your pumping journey and pumping can wait an hour or so until you CAN get 15 minutes, another pump might be more efficient.
Obviously, this is one of the most expensive pumps on the market, and if you rely on bags only, it’s even more so. So if you plan on getting this and another pump, get your insurance to pay for THIS one!
The containers are almost necessary to justify the cost, but they’re also a PAIN to clean. The nooks and crannies are hard to reach sometimes even with the little brushes, and just the fact you HAVE to have the little brushes is a step more complicated than some regular pump accessories.
I find I can pump a full 2-3 sessions before I have to charge the pumps up again. Compare that to my Spectra S9+ that I can pump 6-8 times without a charge, it’s significant.
This bit varies woman to woman and only reflects my breasts. I found the flanges quite a bit more uncomfortable than my Spectra, despite trying two sizes. It’s a lot more pinchy to me, and leaves my nipples a lot more battered even using the lowest suction. I’ve also noticed it doesn’t empty my left side as well as my regular Spectra flanges, and I’ve gotten clogged ducts before while using it exclusively on 24hr shifts. That said, the Willow tends to empty my right breast MORE efficiently than my Spectra, and my right has more elastic tissue and I have to use a full silicone flange with Spectra if I don’t want to get clogs on THAT side while using IT. My breasts have definitely changed over time, as well, and Willow has less options available for flange sizes and accessories should a change be needed, so I could never recommend the Willow as a full replacement for EVERY woman. Though it may work perfectly for some!
4oz works for some, but not for all. If you’re a high producer, or baby slept through the night, you’ll need to swap out the containers or bags halfway through! This brings down the convenience of them when you have to stop what you’re doing 10-15min in to empty them. They can hold around 5.5oz, but that’s FULL to the brim, and you’re going to spill milk.
The fact you can’t switch between stimulation and expression is my biggest complaint, because it seems there’s no real reason for it. A super simple programming fix and patch update would be all it took. I rely on switching between the two to get my letdowns to come on faster, or sometimes need stimulation to get a letdown at all, so while I can get 4-5 letdowns in a 20 minute session with my Spectra while swapping, it’ll take me 25+ to get 3 if I’m lucky with the Willow. Furthermore, the stimulation setting isn’t nearly as effective on my breasts as my Spectra’s. Spectra, 50-60secs; Willow, 2-3 minutes (maybe more). I’ve taken to stimulating my own letdown before starting my Willow at this point.
Milk loss with the Willow adds up and spilling is hearbreakingly easy with the containers. The shape of the containers, while necessary, leaves a lot of surface area for milk to catch. Probably .5-1ml loss each in just the containers. And if you don’t do the flip-to-finish properly, milk can get left behind in the tubes which will spill out when you release the suction, 1-3ml loss each again. And, if you’re ADHD like me, or even just spacey and forget to flip the switch on the containers before leaning over or flip-to-finishing, milk is going to pour right out the spout. It all definitely adds up.
Overall, I would still recommend the Willow for certain moms. Nurses, childcare workers, SAHMs, and other professions with long periods of active work and/or where 15 minute breaks are really inconvenient, Willow is a godsend, especially when you require STRICT dedication to a pump schedule. But if you have no real barriers to getting your private pump breaks or have more flexible pumping times, I’ve personally found the Willow to be less efficient, less effective, and more hassle than my traditional pump. But it may work BETTER than a traditional pump for you, despite some of the static drawbacks. It really is dependent on the woman and her breasts.
At best, it’s a “total game changer” and the most convenient pump you’ll ever own, with only minor complaints. At worst, it’s an expensive convenience and you’ll use your traditional pump more, but Willow will have its moments when it saves your girls from painful engorgement and the risk of mastitis and you’ll be beyond grateful you bought it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting onewillow.com