Using the Willow Pump Immediately After Birth

Can I Use the Willow Pump Immediately After Birth?

Using the Willow Pump immediately after giving birth poses some challenges that parents need to be aware of before deciding if this is the right pump for their initial postpartum needs. It’s not that I would say you can’t use it right away, but more that you need to understand the concerns before making the choice you feel best supports your goals.

The Willow Pump isn’t intended to be used in the colostrum phase

The biggest concern is that Willow is not intended to be used during the colostrum phase where incredibly small amounts of thick, sticky milk is being expressed. The Willow Pump requires .3 ounces from each breast in order to switch from stimulation to expression which may not happen in the first 3-5 days. This reduces the ability of Willow to provide the stimulation needed to bring in a healthy milk supply during this crucial time.

The Willow Pump’s Set-Up

The setup of the Willow could allow for loss of the thicker stickier colostrum in the flextubes or bags/containers that would make collecting this precious milk for feeding difficult. Colostrum is an incredibly important part of developing your baby’s immune system and the loss of even small amounts can be very disappointing. 

The Willow Pump and Risk of Nipple Damage

There is a risk with the Willow Pump of nipple damage due to sizing related concerns. We can certainly measure your nipples and get you set up with as close to ideal sizing as we can before baby arrives, but we have no way to accurately say exactly how much your nipples will swell with the delivery hormones and IV fluids. When I measure for flanges prenatally, I allow a larger amount of room for the initial sizing to accommodate this common swelling without risking damage to the nipple with great success. With the Willow Pump, the typical sizing is 0-2 mm from the size of the nipple, which leaves very little room for accommodate an unpredictable amount of swelling.

Pain Medication Masking Possible Pumping Pain

It is also important to note that a suspected reason for postpartum nipple damage identification being delayed is the use of pain medications during and after delivery. Pain is a signal that something is wrong and needs attention, and when pain medication is being used this signal goes unnoticed allowing time for more damage to occur. In the case of the willow this could be a true disaster as the warning signs of the wrong flange size may be masked. 

So, Can I Use the Willow Pump Right After I Give Birth?

Yes, it can be done, but as amazing as this pump is, in my professional opinion, it’s not the pump for the first few days. Once your milk supply is in, and swelling is down after birth, we can easily measure you and prevent Willow challenges from the start! Sometimes, a little patience in this decision can make for a much better pumping experience. If you are concerned about meeting your pumping goals after birth, you can always schedule a prenatal consultation where we will create a plan designed to meet your needs while optimizing your breastfeeding experience.

Want to learn more about the intricacies of the Willow Pump, click here.

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