This is a post about a breast pump. I understand if I lose you right here. I get it.

For the rest of you still with me, I bought The Willow Pump after seeing a Facebook video (you know me and my Sh*t I Bought on FB!) and it is worth every penny!

I can pump while driving to work.

I can pump during a meeting at work.

I can pump while sitting on an airplane.

I can pump while walking to my gate or grabbing a snack (glass of wine) at an airport.

I can pump while doing the dishes.

I can pump while folding laundry.

I CAN PUMP WHILE GOING ABOUT MY DAY! Like a normal person can. And no one even notices or hears that I’m pumping.

For the first six weeks postpartum, I used a standard electric pump. You know what I’m talking about, it doesn’t matter which one it is, it could even be some fancy battery powered device. They haven’t changed that much in at least 20 years.

For me, the one defining detail about all other pumps: Every few hours in your day you must find a good chunk of time to confine yourself to one spot, hook yourself up to the pump and not be productive for the next 20-45 minutes. Baby wakes up from her nap and is crying in the other room? You have an impromtu meeting during your lunch break? How about a training or back-to-back meetings all day? Not to mention you might have a few other million things to do the moment your newborn goes down for a nap. Aint nobody got time to pump! And what I’ve heard from most working moms – They stop breastfeeding altogether when they go back to work because it’s too hard to fit pumping into their day.

And yes, I have used the special pumping bras so that you can be hands free, but you’re still only hands free within an 18-inch radius of wherever you are pumping. Not to mention you can’t be working at your desk or in a meeting in full view of other people.

The Willow Pump is a game changer. Now I don’t have to choose between EVERYTHING else in my life or pumping.

Con #1: It’s expensive.

Even if health insurance covers the cost of your pump, I doubt they mean a $480 pump. And then after you have purchased The Willow Pump, you might want a different size flange (includes only one size), a few more flanges and flextubes (includes only one set of two), not to mention all the specialty bags that could run you an extra $80 per month.

Pro #1: It’s worth it.

For me, I know what I’m spending and it’s worth it for the convenience of not being tethered to a machine three times a day. And it’s much faster to clean only two parts rather than a flange, connector, random piece inside bottle, membrane attached to random piece inside bottle and the bottle.

Con #2: Each bag only holds 4oz

You know those annoying women who brag about pumping 8oz per breast in five minutes? Pumping is not hard or time consuming for them. They don’t need The Willow Pump. Sorry if that’s you, go brag about your amazing milk production somewhere else.

Pro #2: It’s a good pump for those of us with lower milk production.

If you’re like me and don’t get more than 2oz per breast per session, then you can pump each breast one at a time and use the same bag for both sides. Either way, the 4oz bag is a good size for most of us.

Con #3: It’s hard to get the hang of it.

My first week with Willow was a bit trying. I couldn’t get the latch right, my bags were filling with air and all I wanted was to look like that carefree mom on the homepage of their website.

Pro #3: You’re not alone.

Willow brags about their live video sessions to troubleshoot and work with you as you learn to pump, and I’ll admit I didn’t utilize that benefit. But I did watch all the videos and read many reviews to learn and figure out how to use The Willow Pump properly. It’s hard at first, takes a lot of practice and bags (save yourself some time and order more bags with your starter kit), but once you get the hang of it — it is liberating!

Feel free to comment with any questions you have about Willow. Maybe I’ll know the answer!