I’m A New Mum And This Lightweight Breast Pump Gives Me Some Much-Needed Freedom

Breastfeeding is a wild ride. It's challenged me mentally and physically, kept me awake at night, changed my Google algorithm forever, and had me debating if it was even worth it on more than one occasion. But I also felt utterly overwhelmed with pride, amazed at what my body was capable of, and proud to be a card-carrying member of the quick-squeeze-of-each-boob-because-I-can-never-remember-which-one-went-last club. If you know, you know.

Throughout my journey so far, I've exclusively pumped, combination fed and exclusively breastfed at different stages, depending on the cards we were dealt on any given week. One huge takeaway for me is how important it is to have a breast pump you can rely on which gets the job done efficiently and comfortably. Without one, I might have given up much sooner than I'd have liked.

Elvie's breast pumps are known for their innovative features, convenient size and quiet tech, so if you're in the market for a new pump, it's a name you'll no doubt have on your radar. The brand's latest release, the Elvie Stride 2, promises a better fit, better feel and the same hospital-grade suction, but is it worth the £299 price point? I decided to put it to the test.

About the Elvie Stride 2

The Elvie Stride 2 is a wearable double electric breast pump, designed to be worn in your bra, and is ideal for busy parents who want to pump on the go. It has a dedicated app where you can save your settings and record your sessions, plus control it remotely.

There are ten settings to choose from, and once started, the pump stimulates your milk supply, and then switches to expression mode. It offers up to three hours of battery life and will automatically stop once the cups are full, which is a handy feature.

With its new iteration of the Elvie Stride, the brand's focus is on comfort, personalisation and maximising output, all while saving time and effort for breastfeeding parents.

Elvie Stride 2 review

As I mentioned previously, I exclusively pumped for the first six weeks of my baby's life while we navigated a tongue tie and some feeding difficulties, so I'm no stranger to being attached to a pump all day. I previously used the original Elvie Stride, alongside a larger, wired pump. I mainly used the non-wearable, hospital-grade breast pump for my sessions due to its power and output, but as I'm finally surfacing from the newborn trenches and out and about more, a wearable pump is now a must-have for me.

What I love:

The biggest pro of the Elvie Stride range is portability. Being able to pop it in your bra when you're in the car, on the train or at work takes a lot of the stress out of pumping, and lessens the amount of admin needed to make it work during a busy day. That feeling of being on the clock goes away when you've got your handy little pump in your bag.

I actually took one of the cups and the motor to a gig with me recently (it fits in my Uniqlo bag with room to spare) and managed to discreetly pump in the loo and on the train home, which was not only a huge relief for my boobs but meant that I wasn't at risk of my supply being affected. I've pumped in the car on the way to the gym, in the supermarket car park and in the hairdresser while waiting for my bleach to set. My pumping prowess knows no bounds.

I also feel less self-conscious when pumping around family members and I don't feel as though I need to sneak off into another room and miss out. It was especially useful over the festive period as we travelled up and down the country to see family, meaning I could pump during a long journey or discreetly during a family gathering. Plus, when I return to work this year, I feel content knowing I can still pump comfortably while on a video call, and I don't have to lug around a bowling ball-sized machine should I wish to pump in the office.

What makes the Elvie Stride 2 extra special is its weight and its quietness. It's so light and comfortable to wear and it is practically silent. The original Elvie Stride (still a great bit of kit) was quiet, but the Stride 2 is on another level. No one would even know you were pumping.

Unlike the original Stride, which comes with a couple of cup options, this version includes a variety of nipple inserts and a nipple sizing tool, meaning a much better fit, and therefore better suction. It was easy to find the right size and I love that all sizes are included, so you don't need to purchase them separately. This scores some serious bonus points given how often you have to replace/reorder/size up in baby paraphernalia. Having the right nipple inserts means a pleasant pumping experience, and it hardly feels like you're wearing anything. It's wonderfully comfortable.

Compared to the original Elvie Stride, there are fewer parts to wash, meaning fewer minutes spent at the sink. When you're dealing with 30-minute naps, every second counts. The materials are the same high quality I've come to expect from Elvie, but the silicone on the Stride 2 is extra soft, adding to its comfort. The cover on the spout is high-quality and sturdy, and I haven't experienced any leakage so far.

I also prefer the shape of the Stride 2 - it's a perfect circle, making it a breeze to assemble. I found myself frustrated if I didn't line up the previous Elvie Stride perfectly and had to rotate it... it's funny what lack of sleep will do to you.

I use one app to track all of my baby's naps, nappies and feeds, as well as my pumping sessions, so I don't use it frequently, but the Elvie app is really intuitive and syncs up seamlessly to tell you how long you've been pumping. You can input your yield, check your history, personalise your intensity settings and control your pump remotely; all great tools to have in your arsenal.

What could be better:

Although the suction is good, I find that I have to pump for slightly longer (25-30 mins versus 10-15 mins) to achieve the same yield as my other (non-wearable) hospital-grade breast pump. However, given that I can get on with tasks while wearing it or pump while I'm out and about means this isn't a deal-breaker.

While I've read that it's best not to look at your milk production as you pump, I like to know where I'm at, but the design of the Elvie Stride 2 means you can't easily see how much you've produced. The pause feature does let you detach and have a look, but it'd be great if the measurement scale was more easily visible. Similarly, it's harder to compress/massage while you pump as it covers most of the breast tissue, but it's not impossible.

I do have one final minor niggle - despite my love of the perfect circle, the shape of it means that a tiny bit of the milk gets stuck around the curves when pouring it through the spout, so I find myself having to take it apart to get the last few drops out. That old chestnut about crying over spilt milk does not apply here.

Overall rating

The Elvie Stride 2 is, quite simply, brilliant. It's comfortable, quiet, and effective, and is perfect for fitting in pumping around a busy schedule. Every element has been carefully considered with breastfeeding parents in mind. But is it worth the £299 price tag?

Given the clever tech, design and weight, I think so. You can't put a price on the convenience and sense of freedom that it brings, which is priceless when caring for a tiny human 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pair that with the noise-reduction technology, the ultra-comfortable silicone cups, the handy app and hospital-grade suction, and pumping becomes a real pleasure.

Jade Moscrop is the commercial content editor for Grazia, specialising in lifestyle topics. When she isn't writing about beauty products, gym leggings and chic homeware items, she can usually be found on a hot girl walk, buying houseplants or listening to female-fronted rock bands. She recently became a parent for the first time to a very cool little dude.