Willow Go and the Clicking Noise of Death
You go to pump with your Willow Go, push the power button, and all you get is a thumping heartbeat or clicking noise. No suction.
You try again… same issue.
You charge it… no change.
You reset it… still just clicking.
Bad news. Your Willow Go motor is DEAD. That noise is the sound of a pump that no longer pumps.
Unfortunately, we have no fix for this - it’s a full scale mechanical failure. We suspect the pump has overheated, but in all reality, this failure happens rapidly, and to date, we have been unable to bring one back to life to confirm exactly what has died.
What we do know is what is leading to the mechanical failures, so we know how to prevent them.
The hardest issue here is pumping parents don’t want to hear that this failure is a direct result of misuse.
The Willow Go Pumps are being…
Used with the wrong flange size. Too big actually kills this pump more slowly than too small which is a new find, but wrong size in either direction causes the motor to overwork.
Used with the wrong size bra. Poor bra fit seems to overwork and overheat the motor with this pump. We’ve known all along that bra fit mattered with wearable pumps, but Willow Go has required the most precise bra fit with limited wiggle room for a poor fit. The gentle suction has decreased user awareness of the issue compared to other pumps where bra fit is causing pain quickly alerting us to the issues. So, poor bra fit can kill your pump, but if you are not proactive in checking this appropriately, you may not even be aware until the clicking is all that is left of your pump’s function.
The pump is running for more than 25 minutes at a time and overheating causing it’s eventual demise. When Willow Go launched one of the practices that quickly gained popularity, the double pump or power pumping, this honestly didn’t seem problematic at first. We weren’t seeing nipple damage. It wasn’t until we started troubleshooting the clicking/heartbeat noises occurring mid-pump sessions that we realized the pump was rapidly overheating after the 25 minute mark. Even if bra fit and sizing are dialed in, this practice can destroy your pump.
Used with milk fat residue: Our understanding of this issue is still evolving, but it essentially boils down to milk fat residue decreases suction causing the motor to overwork. Willow Go isn’t unique in this issue. The silicone pieces with this pump are similar to the material with the Elvie Stride diaphragm. Thankfully, the fix here is vinegar - add white vinegar to the soaking basin every few days and use a breastmilk soap to zap the residue restoring suction. Pro Tip: check bottle nipples for spots or haze to spot this issue. We can’t see it until it’s really bad on the Willow Go parts, but it’s visible early on bottle nipples.
Left plugged in for long periods of time: Like all electronics, batteries are easy enough to fry by leaving them on the chargers. I recommend charging them every 3 pump sessions and never leaving them on for more than 4 hours. I know charging overnight is appealing, but if you want the Willow Go to work longterm, this plan is an issue.
Does this mean Willow Go is a bad pump?
Nope. It’s just another high-end wearable option that can’t withstand abuse and misuse. Wearables are possible by using smaller motors and batteries which make them vulnerable to issues.
We are not seeing these issues widespread, and for moms using the pump optimally the way we describe here, the fail rate is minimal.
If you need a pump that you can use and abuse that will continue to show up day after day, this isn’t the pump for you. You either have to use the Willow Go within the confines of the motor limitations or get a pump that has a less vulnerable design.
For me, personally, fully wearable with gentle suction makes it 100% worth the effort to continue using for my pumping journey.
