Everything you need to know about the first conversational AI dedicated to women’s health — now available in the Willow app. 

Years ago, we invented the world’s first wearable breast pump — hands-free, leak-free, hospital-grade, app-controlled, and designed to forever change the way that women fed their babies. 

Since then, our commitment to innovation has informed new products, services, and support systems that put moms first. Ema, our newest partner in the Willow app, is the proof. 

The first conversational AI tool specializing in women’s health, Ema is trained to answer questions on topics ranging from pumping and feeding to periods and perimenopause. Unlike a search engine, Ema’s knowledge base is curated and medically validated — the result of a commitment to use technology responsibly. And unlike a chatbot, Ema knows how to speak with empathy and compassion, meeting moms where they are. 

The best part? Ema responds in real time, and with follow-up questions that make it possible to provide personalized support. It’s the clarity and confidence moms deserve — right in the palm of their hands. 

Below, we’re sharing everything you need to know about Ema, and suggesting a few questions that we hope will help you get started. 

Or, if you’re ready to jump right in: DOWNLOAD THE WILLOW APP

Frequently asked questions

What is Ema? 

Ema is a conversational AI tool that has been trained to provide medically-validated, evidence-based answers to questions about pumping, breastfeeding, and the full spectrum of maternal healthcare and wellness. While Ema is not a real person, the technology is built to engage in a way that is supportive, compassionate, and personalized.

Where can moms find Ema?

Ema is built into the Willow app and can be accessed from the “Learn” and “Services” tabs, where you can type a question directly into the chat window.  

DOWNLOAD THE WILLOW APP 

You do not need to be a current Willow pumper to chat with Ema, although it can be an incredibly helpful tool if you have Willow-specific questions! (The AI is trained to answer basic questions about Willow pump troubleshooting, and can also connect you with our Customer Care team.)  

What makes Ema different from a search engine? 

There are a few things that make Ema different from a search engine like Google. First, Ema doesn’t serve up the most popular results — instead, answers are generated from a curated knowledge base built on extensive women’s health content and reviewed by more than 1,000 medical professionals (such as OBGYNs). And while a search engine serves up different results depending on the day and search volume trends, the responses that Ema serves up are always consistent — making life easier for moms who are overwhelmed by the quantity of information online. 

Finally, Ema understands context, and can provide answers that are specific to the question that has been asked. Ema’s tone will even adapt to the way in which a mom speaks! 

What makes Ema different from a chatbot like Chat GPT? 

Like Chat GPT and similar chatbots, Ema uses natural language processing to generate human-like text in a conversational format. 

The difference is that Chat GPT is an LLM, or Large Language Model, that is trained on the entire Internet — billions of words! Ema, on the other hand, is only trained on a clinically validated knowledge base informed by medical professionals, trusted bodies including the CDC and WHO, and content from Willow’s blog, app, and support site. Over the years, Ema has learned from more than 10 million interactions with over 100,000 women — and that number grows every day. 

And finally, Ema’s training takes inclusivity, accessibility, community feedback, and privacy into account. She is built with the goal of making women healthier and happier, and trained to meet their specific physical and emotional needs.

How does Ema know the answers to moms' questions? 

Like all LLMs, Ema can “learn” from a body of information — in this specific case, from a written knowledge base that the Ema team has built and validated with the help of medical practitioners and our team at Willow — and use this information to string together responses in the form of sentences. 

This “doctor-vetted” core, as Ema describes it, has a deep knowledge of health for women and their families, understanding every stage of femalehood. The articles that she has been trained on cover a variety of women’s health topics, including pumping, feeding, and countless other postpartum topics. 

What can you talk to Ema about? 

A lot! While Ema can advise on all topics related to feeding (from pumping to combination feeding to solids), it can also help you manage postpartum conditions from plugged ducts to prolapse, and even share guidance on periods, perimenopause, and parental/marital relationships. 

You can ask Ema how to create a pumping schedule, what it means to feed on demand, how to figure out if you baby is getting enough milk, what you need to know about weaning, when you might need pelvic floor therapy, how to tell if you’re struggling with postpartum anxiety or depression, whether or not your symptoms are perimenopause symptoms, and much, much, more. 

When it comes to pumping with Willow, Ema can answer basic questions about how to use our pumps and what to do if you need to troubleshoot. Beyond that, it will share directions for connecting with a member of our support team for more personalized guidance. 

How does Ema protect moms' privacy? 

You are completely anonymous when you chat with Ema, and any data that is collected is aggregated and de-identified. 

While Ema will remember your previous conversations if you return to the chat, it will not collect or store any of your personal information. (In other words: it doesn’t know anything about you, and has no way of finding anything out!) If Ema is provided with personal information like an address, it will be filtered out and not fed into the database. 

Some conversation starters

Ema doesn’t just offer pumping and feeding support, and you don’t need to be a breastfeeding mom to start a conversation. Here are some examples of questions you can ask: 

How should I strengthen my pelvic floor? 
Can I get a mammogram if I’m breastfeeding? 
What’s the difference between plugged ducts and mastitis? 
When will I get my period again if I’m postpartum? 
How do I know if I have postpartum anxiety or depression? 
What should I avoid if I’m trying to conceive? 
How do I keep up my milk supply when my baby starts to sleep through the night? 

And so much more… 

Now you're ready to get chatting 

Whether or not you pump with Willow, we hope that you’ll start a conversation with Ema and use it as an opportunity to feel more supported and confident on your motherhood journey.