The Elvie Pump is the world’s first silent wearable breast pump, with the aim ofi providing mums with the freedom to discreetly pump wherever and whenever they like. The pump comes in a choice of single or double but with the double costing you just shy of £449 it is probably best to test out the single first before committing to two. The single kit comes with one Hub, two bottles (5oz/150ml, BPA free), a 24mm breast shield and a 28mm breast shield, two valves, two spouts, two seals, two storage lids, two bra adjusters, USB charging and a carry bag. With the distinct lack of wires, you can roam free whilst you pump at home, at work or on the go, and the silent pump action means you don’t have to feel like you are sat in a dairy farm stall. The device is compact and lightweight, not necessarily as small as you would imagine for something that sits in your nursing bra at 128mm (h) x 110mm (w) x 68mm (d) and weighing 225g, however when you are all set up with the bra extenders it fits easily, obviously if you are using just one this will create a little asymmetry around your chest but unless you are looking for it, it isn’t that noticeable.
This pump is reasonably straightforward to set up; with just five parts to clean and assemble it takes just a matter of seconds to prepare to pump, there is a free companion app available which can be used to remotely control the pump, track your pumping history on each breast and monitor the milk volume in real time, however the pump can be used without the app if preferred. The Elvie Pump automatically switches from Stimulation mode into Expression mode when it detects let-down and will pause when the bottle is full, so you don’t have to panic about overflowing. On paper the Elvie Pump is brilliant however like so many pumps it is a uniquely personal thing as to the success of the product, what works for one may not work for another, and the Elvie will take a little practice to ensure the most efficient pump. The most prevalent issue is leakage as the pump has to be firmly pressed to the skin to create a seal, and some movement, leaning over or reaching up for example might cause this seal to break, however we believe the benefits well deserve the perseverance it might take to learn how to avoid mistakes. If you exclusively express or regularly pump the Elvie won’t always prove 100% perfect, the app needs a little work, the battery life is quite short and there can be some leakage problems however it is a major game changer for its portability, silence and hands-free convenience. RRP £249
4 out of 5
Pros
Quiet and discreet
Hands-free pumping
Wire and tube free
Easy to set up
App for remote controlling, history and volume level in real time
Auto pause and 2 phases
7 intensity modes
Cons
Can leak
Short battery life
Expensive
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