Adjusting to the Willow Pump: Adjustment Protocol
Adjusting to the Willow Pump in 367,585,973 easy steps…
Okay, so it’s not that many steps, but the adjustment process with the Willow Pump can be one of the most frustrating and confusing parts of this experience. The unique suction for the Willow means that for most (not all), there is a period of training your body to respond to the Willow Pump before you can successfully rely on using just this pump. This post is going to break down how to manage the adjustment period (we call this the Adjustment Protocol over in our pumping support group) so that you can get to pumping hands-free and leak free ASAP.
Free Download: Willow Pump Quick Start Cheatsheet
Remember, before you get started, the need to adjust to this pump is not a flaw! It’s simply the price to pay for being able to pump with what amounts to a new and novel technology that is really unlike any other pump we’ve ever had available. Going into this with the understanding that this is all part of the process can really help you to not be as frustrated during the adjustment period.
First step: Why is this Necessary?
Willow Pump uses a unique and constant suction with a pulsing pattern that is unlike any other pump or nursing a baby to stimulate your let-down reflex. Nursing babies use constant suction, referred to as negative pressure, combined with stimulation of the nipple and areola with the wave-like motion of the tongue, to remove milk. The let-down reflex being triggered is the primary means of triggering milk transfer and production.
The let-down reflex is a trained reflex that responds to what your body has associated with happening to trigger the reflex. This is why you hear of mom’s in the grocery store finding themselves letting down because a stranger’s baby is crying nearby. The let-down reflex is trained to provide milk when a baby cries for that parent.
With the Willow Pump, many people find that even if they start with the ideal sizing, alignment, and bra fit, they may struggle to empty the breast (or even get just drops at first) because their body simply doesn’t associate this unknown stimulation with the need to trigger the let-down reflex.
Learn more about the science and strategies we use to trigger let-downs with the Willow Pump Here:
Step 2: Get Started Correctly to Determine if You Need to Acclimate to the Willow!
Getting started with the Willow Pump does involve careful preparation given this unique pump poses a risk of nipple damage if you aren’t careful.
So, the most important step you are going to take before starting with the Willow Pump is SIZING YOUR NIPPLES FOR THIS PARTICULAR PUMP! To learn how to size your nipples accurately for this pump, please visit this page. This spells out how to properly measure your nipples, how to pick a starting size based on your unique anatomy, and has all of the links to the recommended inserts available. If you are in our pumping support group, this same information can be found in what we refer to as Guide 3 (the Guides hold all the wisdom and secrets to success with the Willow).
Once you have your proper sizing ready to go, if you are confident you can get the pump aligned, your bra is the right size, and your nipples are nice and healthy (and pain free!) it’s time to move on to Step 3. If you have nipple damage, pain, not sure you measured correctly, or not sure you picked the right size, you may benefit from a professional consultation.
Third Step: Give the Willow Pump a Try!
Remember, above, how we have to see who needs to work the adjustment protocol and who will get lucky and not need it?
The way we determine if you need to work the adjustment protocol, and how to start the protocol, is to have you double pump with the Willow Pump in your properly sized flanges and see what happens. Double Pumping is pumping with the Willow on both sides followed by another pump (non-Willow) session/nursing session/hand expression session.
Scenario 1: If you have pain and discomfort with the Willow Pump when you double pump, something is not right.
Either your nipples are damaged and you were not aware (it happens, Willow is notorious for being the first indicator of a bigger problem).
Your sizing wasn’t quite right (40% of women struggle to accurately self measure) or your misidentified your nipple anatomy.
Your bra is the wrong size, style, or is not properly adjusted for the pump.
Your pump was misaligned - typically this leaves marks on the nipple or areola that are off center, so check when you unlatch what your nipple looks like, and grab a photo so a HIPAA compliant professional can assist you in finding the issue (don’t ever send images via text or DMs).
Check that your nipple did not extend past the end of the insert. This would indicate sizing or insert style is not right.
If Scenario 1 applies to you, double check sizing, alignment, and bra fit, or seek professional support.
Scenario 2: Your pump session is comfortable and effective, getting about the same output as your normal pump output would be.
Congrats! It appears that you are one of the lucky ones who responds well to the Willow Pump from the beginning. You should ideally limit use for about 5-7 days to twice a day to ensure comfort in case there is an issue that should show in a few days. After that, you are good to pump as much as you want (within reason) with this pump as long as you continue to be comfortable and experience adequate output. If anything changes, you will need to troubleshoot, but don’t fret about a potential honeymoon if you have measured the way described on this website or Guide 3 in the Willow Pump Support Group. You will not need to move on to Step 4.
Scenario 3: Your pump session is comfortable, but output is extremely low, non-existent, and you never felt a let-down sensation.
Don’t stress…..this means you need to work the Adjustment Protocol, but we will likely want to have you start with the method where we use the Willow Pump on one side with another pump or the baby on the other side twice a day for a few days before trying double pumping again. This will let your body start to learn how to let-down for the Willow Pump before you jump into the full-blown double pumping part of the adjustment protocol. You will be moving on to Step 4 using this strategy as detailed below. After a few days, you would move to double pumping, and if still seeing nothing after a week, you need professional support to troubleshoot.
Scenario 4: Your pump session is comfortable, and you get some amount of milk, but not your full expected amount.
This is a good sign. Your body understands the sensation of the Willow Pump as something to trigger a let-down. The comfortable pump session indicates things are likely good with sizing, alignment and bra fit for the most part. You will be jumping straight to the double pumping part of the adjustment protocol detailed in Step 4.
Fourth Step: The Adjustment Protocol- It’s Time to Do the Work!
So, you were not one of the lucky few that got to skip the Adjustment Protocol. It stinks, but we know how to handle this so that you, too, will be pumping successfully with the Willow soon!
The Willow Adjustment Protocol boils down to these principles:
Training your body to respond to the pump with a let-down (we do this if Step 3: Scenario 3 applies to you) by using the Willow at the same time you are nursing or pumping with an effective pump.
Using the Willow Pump consistently, typically twice a day during the adjustment period, preferably at the same times. If your nipples are more sensitive, start out at once a day for 7-10 days, then bump to twice a day for the remainder of the adjustment period.
Listen to your body - pain is not part of the Adjustment Protocol. If you are uncomfortable, recheck sizing, bra fit, and alignment, and if you can’t resolve the issue, get professional support to help you troubleshoot.
Don’t randomly switch things up without a cause. If you find a bra that works well, stick with it. If you aren’t having an indicator of needing to change sizing based on measurements, don’t without professional support. Inconsistency kills success with a quickness.
Managing the milk supply - if Willow doesn’t fully empty you, then you will need to pump after, nurse after, or hand express, or your supply will drop.
Willow Pump Adjustment Protocol:
Here is the visual guide to the Adjustment Protocol! Review this, and try to remember it’s just about consistency and patience! On average, we expect it to take 2-4 weeks to see results. If you have been working for 2 weeks correctly without seeing any improvement, get help to prevent any further delays.
Click this image to download the PDF for your review!
Common Issues that Derail Adjusting to the Willow Pump:
On average, we get at least 10 people a day in the Willow Pump Support Group who are struggling with needing to adjust. We have been able to identify a few common issues that can really complicate this:
Your sizing with the standard pump is not optimal: If your standard pump isn’t right, then we lose that as an effective tool to adjust with the Willow, as well as causing puffiness and swelling which inhibits success with the Willow.
Your bra doesn’t fit your current body: Typically, the issue is the band of the bra is too loose, and the cups are poorly fitted. The support with a bra comes from the band - this needs to be snug in order to hold up the weight of the Willow. The cups need to be stretchy, and the pump needs to be firmly supported. You may need to measure and review your bra size, or select a different style of bra.
You have an unrelated breastfeeding issue that is going unnoticed: You may need a full professional lactation assessment to find the root cause.
Inconsistency: This is a success killer. You have to be consistent and work the protocol if you are struggling to adjust.
You followed sizing recommendations from an unreliable source: This can include lactation consultants who may have sized you incorrectly. Seriously, spend time with Guide 3 to be certain, or book with an expert.
You are not removing milk frequently enough: If you only nurse or pump a few times a day, the milk supply and the letdown reflex may not be strong enough to handle adjusting to this pump (For example, re-lactating with the Willow Pump can take 8-10 weeks due to having to adjust without the benefit of a strong milk supply in place).
You are trying to adjust to the Willow by using it in a stressful environment: Stress releases cortisol. Cortisol inhibits the let-down reflex. Try using Willow in a calm environment before jumping into using it at work.
Using Willow for too long of a period at a time, or too frequently: If your body isn’t adjusted, you don’t want to pump more than 2-3 times a day, 20-25 minutes. As you approach the end of the adjustment period, you may have success with more frequency, but not at the beginning.
You are using old parts like Flextubes that are past their lifespan reducing suction.
What if I am doing everything above and still struggling?
If you are sure that you are doing everything above, join us in our pumping support group so we can help eliminate if there was anything you missed, or if you need support with a professional so that we can give you the best chance at success with this pump. There is a chance it’s not the right pump, but the majority of the time, if the pump doesn’t work out, it’s because it was not the right pump for that person, they didn’t follow these steps, or they simply didn’t respond to this suction pattern which can happen with any pump.
Don’t lose hope, we are here to help!
