I see Elvie pumps in all places. My fellow mothers rave about it on Instagram. I discover it on retailer cabinets regularly. It sounded just like the newer, cooler model of the Willow pumps, which I’ve identified about since launch.
However after I lastly tried the Elvie, I discovered myself unimpressed with what the $550 pump might do. It isn’t the one wearable pump with such a excessive price ticket, however its competitors can do tips that the Elvie simply cannot.
Thriller Dimension
When the Elvie got here within the mail, I had a right away query: What measurement is it?
It comes with plastic shields that sit on the breast, in two totally different sizes. However not like different breast pumps, these shields aren’t labeled with the variety of millimeters to test your measurement. (Take a look at our information to buying a breast pump to see why it is essential to get the correct measurement.) I checked the field itself, and the directions, and got here up clean. The web site says that the field contains 21 millimeters, 24 millimeters, and 28 millimeters, however my field got here with solely two sizes as an alternative of the promised three.
It wasn’t till I powered up the app and adopted the constructing directions that I discovered there is a form on the defend that designates its measurement—a circle means 21 millimeters, a triangle means 24, and a sq. means 28. The app then guided me via checking my measurement. If I wanted a unique measurement than those included, I would want to buy one in all Elvie’s cushions to create a smaller measurement.
In the event you purchase Elvie on its web site, beneath the preliminary product banner it encourages you to test your measurement. But it surely’s straightforward to only click on “Add To Cart” above that banner and miss the reason on sizing solely. Third-party retailers do not point out it in any respect.
These sizes are the typical greatest measurement for most people, however not everybody. I do not use an average-size flange and the distinction is apparent after I put on my right measurement. Positive, I can nonetheless pump with a 24-mm flange, however after I swap to a 21- or 19-mm measurement, the outcomes are clearly higher. It is irritating that Elvie does not make it potential to purchase the right-size flange proper from the beginning, particularly contemplating the excessive price ticket.
Semi-Good
{Photograph}: Elvie
Much like the Willow 3.0 (7/10, WIRED Assessment), the Elvie will observe within the app how a lot milk you’ve got pumped throughout a session. However not like the Willow, I discovered the readings to be wildly fallacious almost each time.