Elvie Stride is the brand's game-changing new breast pump that has no restrictive charging wires, meaning mothers can discreetly express without compromising on pumping performance, empowering women to ‘achieve everything their bodies are capable of’. GLAMOUR's Website Director and new mum, Bianca London, was given an exclusive first look and review. Here are her honest thoughts…

“How's breastfeeding going?” quickly becomes the first question fellow new mums will ask you immediately after the birth of your baby. “It's really f****** hard” is the answer most people want to give but they feel pressured to sugarcoat the truth because society, the NHS and traditional midwives want us to believe that breastfeeding is the easy, natural and best way to feed our babies. The truth? It's one of the toughest parts of new motherhood you'll contend with, all whilst trying to recover from one of the most traumatic experiences of your life and learn how the hell to parent. 

I'll never forget spending the night alone on the post-natal ward (I gave birth during Covid so partners weren't allowed in) and asking my midwife “why does my baby keep going blue when I tried and breastfeed her?” only to be told I was accidentally holding her so close that I was suffocating her. Oops. 

It's an absolute minefield and I'll be completely candid when I admit the only reason I was privileged enough to be able to exclusively breastfeed my baby for a year was because I was able to pay for a lactation consultant - a luxury most can't afford and one I do not take for granted. Despite managing to get to grips with breastfeeding, my journey did not come without its dramas. I caught Covid the day I gave birth, my daughter had tongue-tie, making breastfeeding really tricky to get to grips with, and I was in and out of A&E for the first month thanks to mastitis and blocked ducts. Oh, and I was among the 0.1% of women to suffer with severe breast abscesses. I'll spare you the details but it wasn't the magical journey you often see documented on people's Instagram accounts. 

I was also encouraged by my lactation consultants to continue breastfeeding at all costs and advised not to pump as using a bottle might lead to nipple confusion for my baby. I was then trapped exclusively breastfeeding which, whilst a wonderful experience, was very restrictive (especially for someone who has a strong penchant for wine). Next time around, I would absolutely prioritise pumping to give myself more freedom and, crucially, a bit of a break. That's why women’s health and wellness brands like Elvie, creator of the award-winning Elvie Breast Pump, are such a crucial part of new mums' feeding journeys.  I'll start with a disclaimer that Elvie products do not come cheap, but they are often on sale so could prove a worthy investment if you're keen to incorporate one into you feeding regime.

I occasionally used the brand's original pump during my breastfeeding journey once I'd established breastfeeding and found it to be the only pump I could actually use whilst multitasking (which is absolutely crucial when you're a new mum). I'd often feed my baby on one side whilst pumping on the other. Whilst my breastfeeding journey has nearly finished, I couldn't pass up the offer to try Elvie's new hands-free, hospital grade electric breast pump, the Elvie Stride (Single: £169, Double: £299) and here's my honest review…

What is the Elvie Stride?

Described as ‘a powerful, ultra-quiet, lightweight in-bra device that sits comfortably under clothing and moves with you’ the brand promise it has no restrictive charging wires, meaning mothers can discreetly express without compromising on pumping performance. 

Elvie Stride provides hospital grade strength (up to -300 mmHg (single) or -270 mmHg (double)) and gives users the option to choose between 10 intensity settings in both Stimulation and Expression mode, empowering women to have more control over their breast pumping journey. Users can also connect their Elvie Stride to the free Elvie app, which allows them to control the pump remotely, save preferred settings and track pumping history.

Weighing less than 150g per Cup, it collects milk in-bra without the burden of dangling bottles or wires, leaving the user’s hands and body free to move. The brand say it's super lightweight and compact and can be worn under clothing. 

Speaking about her latest creation, CEO and co-founder of Elvie, Tania Boler, said: “Our goal is to empower and enable women to achieve everything their bodies are capable of, and develop an ecosystem of high tech products to match the high spec needs of women’s bodies. There is still a lot of stigma and challenges associated with breastfeeding and pumping. Elvie Stride gives more women the opportunity to pump discreetly and on their own terms.” 

The review

I'll admit I was overwhelmed when I opened the box. The original pump I own is a single one, but the new double has a lot of parts to it and various cleaning instructions to follow before first use. I am really lazy and not very good at following manual instructions so thankfully, there were some really simple video tutorials on Google and on the app which I would highly recommend watching. You only have to sterilise the pump before your first use and then it requires just a cold, then hot then cold water rinse after each use after that, which really takes the hassle away. 

Whilst the Elvie Stride does come with two different sized breast shields, the brand does advise ensuring it's a perfect fit otherwise your pump won't be as effective; they sell a variety of sizes online (I repeat: the Elvie brand isn't the most purse-friendly).

Once I had set it up, it was super easy to use. It's really important to ensure it's properly lodged onto your breast inside your bra otherwise you could risk sitting there for ages without anything happening.

The pump has two modes (stimulation and expression) and 20 (!) different settings. I love that it puts women in control of their pump and I personally always prefer to use a higher setting to get an effective pump. It can feel quite intense and slightly sore after so don't rush into using the highest setting if it's your first time. 

The app is also a total game-changer for busy women who love to be in control. It allows you to control sessions remotely and pump discreetly (ideal for pumping during Zoom meetings), view your pumping session history including milk volumes and personalise your intensity settings. 

It took me about 40 minutes to get 4 ounces, which is the equivalent to half of one of my baby's feeds, but I have heard that if you usually exclusively pump, it can be harder to get as much out without your baby latched on. My lactation consultants have suggested watching videos of your baby whilst pumping to get the oxytocin flowing (it works!). 

Whilst it isn't completely silent, it's much quieter than other brands I've tried and I managed to let an Amazon delivery man in without him noticing. That's the best part of the pump: it allows you to live your life freely without having to be chained to the sofa for hours. I worked on my laptop, watched TV, changed my baby's nappy and even hoovered whilst wearing it.

My biggest complaint is that you can't tell how much milk you're pumping during your session - I would often try and stand in front of the mirror to get a rough idea - but you only get given an estimate following your session. 

All-in-all, whilst other pumps I've used have helped me pump more milk, the Elvie Stride is the only one that lets you actually live your life whilst using it and for me, that's why it's the brand I will return to time and time again. Tania promises it empowers women to ‘achieve everything their bodies are capable of’ and she's right because how many new mums realistically have hours to while away chained to a non-portable pump on the sofa? Those days are long behind us… *grabs large glass of wine*

Remember:  'fed is best', so whether you're feeding your baby via breast, pumped milk or formula, that's all that matters. You do you because a happy mum truly does equal a happy baby.

Elvie Stride is available from Elvie.com, John Lewis & Partners, Amazon and Boots.

After more maternity and post-partum content? Check out our guides to the best nursing bras, the best pregnancy pillows and the best baby changing bags over here. We've also got maternity leggings, maternity swimwear and maternity clothes - enjoy!

For more from Bianca London, follow her on Instagram @biancalondon

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