Wearable Pumps and Milk Supply Expectations
What do you need to know?
Let’s just get this really inconvenient and unfortunate truth out of the way right now.
Wearable Pumps are often not as effective as traditional breast pumps in terms of milk supply.
Wearable pumps have very small motors - thats how they can fit in your bra. The trade-off when your pump fits in your bra is that you may not see the same milk output as you would or do with a larger, more heavy duty pump.
Some people will see the same output, some may even see more if it enables more frequent and consistent pumping, but many will find it’s not quite as effective when compared to a gold standard traditional pump.
What does this mean for you when selecting a breast pump?
As Karen would say, “Clearly it means don’t even consider using a wearable pump, right?”
No. Not at all.
Wearable pumps are incredibly valuable and are making pumping possible in situations where the effectiveness of a traditional pump is irrelevant, as a traditional pump isn’t always an option.
So how much of a difference in output are we talking about?
10-20% less milk output is not uncommon even with optimization.
So, if you normally see 120mL of milk with your Spectra, it’s not unheard of to only see 96-108mL of milk with a wearable pump.
Are there ways to reduce this concern?
Anytime you are using a wearable pump, you are going to be working on three different things to make it work optimally:
Sizing - Alignment - Bra Fit
If anyone of these three things is off, the chances of success with a wearable pump are greatly reduced.
We also need to look at the full picture of your breastfeeding situation, and determine how the wearable pump fits your goals, and what the risks and benefits are for you. Your breastfeeding journey is unique to you, and your goals may not truly be maximizing output. Your goal may be sustainability or longevity. And, there may be room to optimize other areas of your breastfeeding management to help make the wearable pump work better to meet your needs.
But what if I do everything optimally, and the wearable pump doesn’t work as effectively as a regular pump?
This is a real risk of using a wearable breast pump, but it’s a risk YOU can choose to take. It’s called informed choice. Informed choice means you understand the risks and benefits and are opting to accept them. And remember, for many, the motivator for using a wearable pump
is the ability to pump in situations they otherwise couldn’t pump at all. 80-90% of optimal output is more than 0% of optimal when you don’t get to pump.
Are all wearable pumps the same?
Yes and No. They all have the same drawbacks, but the quality of the pumps varies, the actual setup of the pump can vary, the complexity of learning to use the pumps is variable, and ultimately, the impact on the milk supply will be unique to the user. But, the overall concern of the trade off between a stronger, more reliable pump that lacks flexibility, and the less powerful motor and increased flexibility, is fairly universal in regards to deciding to use a wearable pump.
For best outcomes, I recommend sticking to well-known wearable pumps companies like the Willow 3.0, Willow Go, Elvie Pump, Elvie Stride, and Imani i2. These pumps have good customer service, warranties are honored, and issues can be addressed. There are other options such as Momcozy, Youha, and “off-brand” wearables out there, but there are known issues with quality control, a lack of customer service, and inconsistent motor performance with these brands. Lots of parents use them with success, but if there are issues, there are limited options to remedy.
The Bottomline:
Trade-offs and considerations are always something to think about when deciding how to manage your breastfeeding situation. You don’t always have the option for the ideal situation, but typically, with a little creativity and realistic expectations, we can figure out how to make your situation workable!
If you want to create a breastfeeding plan that works for you, reach out today for a consultation.
