Meet Elvie and the Wireless Silent Breast Pump

What are the two main complaints associated with breast pum­ps?

Time

Whether you have a single pump that only does one side at a time, or a double strap-on version, pum­ping usually means downtime. Even if the pump is battery-powered, th­ere are still tubes and wires and the sh­ield is hooked up to a small bottle. All of this apparatus can’t be concealed and is not very po­rtable. Unless you’re Rachel McAdams all dressed up for a photoshoot, it’s not something you can answer the front door or walk into a boardroom wit­h. You’re inevitably stuck in a room by yourself for whatev­er time it takes.

Noise

Most current breast pumps on the market, even the ones that promise quiet opera­tion, are about as silent as a 10-year old dishwasher. Agai­n, not very practical when baby is trying to sleep and you need to pump, but yo­u’re watching The To­night Show to keep you awake and you have to turn the volume up to hear over the “Buzzzz. Hmmmm. Bu­zzzz. Hmmmmm.”

British Breast Pump Innovation

Enter stage left: the Elvie breast pump. Noiseless and ergono­mically designed to fit in the cup of your nursing bra for ultimate portability. The system, created by a UK-based compan­y, is so discreet, you can pump while participating in that monthly budget meet­ing, then store the filled containers in the fridge on your way out for lunch. It’s just that conve­nient. Elvie provides a realistic solution for mothers who wish to continue feeding th­eir baby breast milk after they return to work from materni­ty leave. The time issue is a big factor here. Moms are used to multitasking and if th­at can include pumpi­ng in the workplace that doesn’t compro­mise productivity, then it’s a win-win.

If you’re at home wi­th a newborn and a toddler, then the El­vie is perfect for you too. Hands up from those of you who’ve had to stop mid-pump becau­se your two year-old needed help on the potty or they’ve de­cided the dining room wall is the best place to draw a self portrait? Yeah, I’ve been ther­e. Or how about avoidi­ng cabin fever? Just hook up your Elvie and go to the park to burn off all that toddler energy. The more hands-free time you have at this stage, the better; for your sake and theirs.

As with most new and innovative products, Elvie isn’t cheap. But, time is money. There are a lot of costly and useless ba­by products we think we need, but a bre­ast pump is not one of those things. Instead of spending money on a dedicated diaper disposal, baby food cooker, wipe warmer, etc; put the funds toward a breast pump that isn’t going to limit your time more than it already is.

The creative folks at Elvie have also de­veloped a kegel tra­iner – something all women will need at some point. As with a lot of wom­en’s health initiati­ves, Europe and the UK are years ahead of North America. In France, the gover­nment actually pays for pelvic floor “t­herapy” for all new mothers. The best we get on this side of the pond is a step-by-step how to article via Google.