Disclaimer: This product was sent to Truly Mama’s writer for the purposes of review. All thoughts and opinions are her own.
Elvie—maker of the popular wearable, wire free breast pump—has introduced new products: the Elvie Curve, a manual natural suction breast pump and now, the Elvie Catch.
The Elvie Catch is a reusable breast milk collection cup that serves as an amazing substitute for breast pads—no more wasted milk! The Elvie Catch does just as its name alludes, by catching milk in lieu of a breast pad absorbing it. The Elvie Catch comes in a set of two so you can wear one to catch a letdown while you breastfeed or two while you drip about your day. Each collection cup tucks neatly into your bra and can collect up to 1 ounce of milk per side.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Effortless collection of breast milk that would have been wasted otherwise
Washable, wearable, reusable
More comfortable and useful than a breast pad
Cons
Not disposable like some breast pads
Catch Me If You Can: Using the Elvie Catch
So how exactly does the Elvie Catch work? Unlike the Elvie Curve of a Haaka, the Elvie Catch only catches milk; it doesn’t promote expression at all. You can think of the Catch as a nursing pad substitute that saves you breast milk so you can use it for your baby (instead of simply ending up with a full milk pad in the trash can).
The Elvie Catch is made of two parts: the skirt and the cup. There is a groove all the way around the skirt that the cup secures into. Once connected, you can tuck the Catch into your bra and be sure to center your nipple in the nipple hole. The Catch is made from food grade silicone that is BPA and phthalate free so you can generally clean as you would bottles, pacifiers, etc. Both parts of the Catch are dishwasher-safe, so it’s easy to have it ready to go when you need it.
You can wear the Elvie Catch for 2-3 hours, but be sure to check it frequently. You don’t want to drip more than an ounce and potentially overflow the Catch. When milk reaches the lower lip of the nipple hole, it is time to remove the Catch and transfer milk to a storage bottle or bag, which, of course, thanks to its design, is a super simple process. Cheers to being leak-free with the Elvie Catch!
Choosing the Catch
If you’re considering the Elvie Catch, you may be wondering if it’s right for you. How can you know? I suggest asking yourself the following questions:
- What is your current milk supply like?
- How strong is your letdown?
- Do you change your nursing pads often?
If you are constantly dripping milk and filling nursing pads (this is me!) the Catch is for you. I figure if I’m rotating nursing pads every few hours, I might as well rotate the Catch every few hours and save my milk versus tossing full milk pads. With the Catch, I can collect milk during the day and only use disposable pads at night.
And, I love that the Catch is reusable and very environmentally-friendly. I’m a cloth diaper gal, so finding alternatives for other baby-related, usually disposable necessities is totally awesome.
The truth is, breast milk is liquid gold and if you are interested in making sure you get the most out of your breastfeeding experience, having both the Elvie Curve and the Elvie Catch will give you the maximum results. So, be sure to get both on your baby registry ASAP.
Buy the Elvie Catch
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you properly store breast milk?
This is a whole post in and of itself, but the bottom line is that it is best to move your breast milk from any collection device to proper refrigeration or freezing as soon as possible. The safety window is technically as follows: countertop/room temp: 4 hours; refrigerator temp: 4 days; freezer: 6 months best, 12 months ok.
Does insurance cover the Elvie Curve or Catch?
Almost all breastfeeding supplies are approved for reimbursement with a Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Saving Account (FSA), or a Health Reimbursement Arrangement. So add the Elvie Curve, Elvie Catch, Elvie Pump, storage bags, nipple cream and more breastfeeding essentials on your shopping list.
