The Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump is a fantastic solution for breastfeeding mothers. It efficiently collects any milk that would normally leak onto clothing.
Since the Haakaa contains 100% silicone, it’s easy to clean and attaches easily to the breast.
Does Haakaa pump increase supply? Yes, the Haakaa pump can increase supply. The Haakaa provides an extra opportunity to build up your milk stash by collecting milk you might be leaking out anyway. It also takes the milk your baby didn’t finish during a nursing session and removes milk to help relieve engorgement.
Read on to learn about the Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump and using it when nursing.
Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump
The Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump is a manual breast pump made of pure silicone that collects a small amount of milk from the breast during a letdown.
This simple product doesn’t use electrical parts, tubes, or extra flanges, making it easy to clean. It’s affordable and easy to use on the go.
How It Works
The Haakaa uses suction power to attach to your breast and remove the milk during a letdown.
You can save the milk you’d typically get on your shirt or breast pad and put it in a safe container for storage. The longer you leave the Haakaa on your breast, the more milk you’ll collect.
Why Is the Haakaa Pump So Good?
The Haakaa pump is cherished by many moms because of the suction it produces to attach to the breast and collect milk.
Most mothers use it to take milk from one breast while nursing their babies on the other and then switch when the baby finishes feeding. This hands-free pump is affordable and much simpler to use than more complex pumps.
Haakaa Pros and Cons
Check out these reasons why mothers love the Haakaa silicone breast pump:
- Its one-size-fits-all design makes it easy to find a product that works for your body.
- It’s discreet, so you can easily collect milk on the go.
- The silicone makes it easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher.
On the other hand, there are some drawbacks to consider:
- The suction is a great feature, but the suction isn’t as powerful as other nursing or pumping products.
- You can’t control the suction like you can with electric breast pumps.
- It’s not completely hands-free, so you’ll have to have a free hand while nursing or pumping with the Haakaa.
When Should You Start Using Haakaa?
You should start using the Haakaa when you start breastfeeding and you’ve established your milk supply.
This lightweight, hands-free breast pump doesn’t need batteries or electricity, so it’s easy to take on the go. You may want to use it anywhere you’d want to pump quietly and discreetly.
Some ideas of where to use the Haakaa include:
- Family parties
- Friend get-togethers
- Car rides
- Nights out
- Long flights
Can Haakaa Replace Electric Pump?
No, the Haakaa cannot replace an electric pump. An electric pump can draw out much more milk than the Haakaa.
You can use the Haakaa to collect extra milk from a letdown, drain a breast after your baby has finished, or relieve engorgement, but you cannot use it to build up your milk supply or replace a nursing session.
Can I Use Haakaa on Both Breasts?
Yes, you can use the Haakaa on both breasts. While your baby is nursing on one side, you can attach the Haakaa to the other side.
Then, when your baby is finished nursing, you can attach the Haakaa to that breast to help collect any leftover milk.
Is Haakaa Only for Letdown?
No, the Haakaa isn’t only for letdown. While the Haakaa can collect milk from a letdown, it can also relieve engorgement, clear clogged ducts, and drain breasts after a feeding.
When using the Haakaa, remember that it’s not as powerful as an electric or manual pump, so you shouldn’t rely on it to build up your supply.
Does Haakaa Take Milk From Baby?
No, the Haakaa doesn’t take milk from your baby. The Haakaa is a milk collector that can be helpful in gathering milk that may leak on your shirt or bra anyway.
If you’re concerned, just nurse your baby first, and use a Haakaa after to collect the extra milk.
Haakaa Breast Pump: How To Use
Here’s how to use the Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump:
- Clean the breast pump: Always sterilize the Haakaa breast pump by boiling it in water or putting it in the dishwasher before use.
- Clean your breast: Remove any moisturizer on your skin with a wipe to get better suction.
- Fold back the flange: You can get better suction by folding the flange back and squeezing the bottom of the pump.
- Put the pump in place: Position the Haakaa over the center of your nipple for the best attachment.
- Create a suction: Release the flange to seal it to the breast.
How Long To Leave Haakaa On
You should leave the Haakaa on for at least five minutes, but some women use it for about 20 minutes.
It’s easy to leave the Haakaa on while nursing your baby on the other side. You can keep the milk in your Haakaa at room temperature for four hours before putting it in the refrigerator.
How To Remove Haakaa Pump
To remove the Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump, you must release the suction before taking it off the breast.
Use your finger to break the seal and take the pump off the breast. You can also squeeze the bulb to break the suction if you don’t want to use your finger.
How To Use Haakaa When Nursing
Breastfeeding mothers use the Haakaa when nursing by collecting milk on the side where their babies aren’t feeding.
After sterilizing the breast pump and folding the flange back to get suction, position it on the center of the nipple and attach it to the breast.
Leave it there while your baby is nursing, then switch to the other side when your baby is finished to collect even more milk. Then, put the milk into a breast milk storage bag or another container, and store it in the refrigerator or freezer.
How To Use Haakaa When Not Nursing
Even though many mothers use the Haakaa while nursing, you can also use it when you’re not nursing.
Instead of your baby stimulating letdown through suckling, you’ll have to massage your breast with your hand. You can leave it on your breast as long as you want, and then switch to the other side.
How To Use Haakaa To Relieve Engorgement
Besides using the Haakaa to collect milk, you can also use it to relieve engorgement.
If you miss a feeding or are weaning your baby, use the Haakaa to ease your pain. Massage one breast with your hand and put the Haakaa on your breast with the proper suction.
Leave the Haakaa on your breast as long as your symptoms persist, and then switch to the other side.
Haakaa Oversupply
Most mothers don’t have an issue with nursing when using the Haakaa, but some report an oversupply. This phenomenon can happen because extra pumping tells your breast to make more milk.
If you have an oversupply from using the Haakaa, talk to a lactation consultant to help you regulate your supply.
Other Popular Haakaa Products
Besides the silicone breast pump and accessories, check out these other popular Haakaa products:
Baby Nail Care Set
This baby nail care set from Haakaa provides a safe tool for trimming your baby’s nails instead of using clippers or scissors.
It includes an electric nail trimmer body, six nail trimmer pads, and one storage container. Choose the trimmer pad based on your child’s age, and file their nails to smooth them.
Ladybug Silicone Breast Milk Collector
This breast milk collector discreetly collects milk on the go. You can attach it to your breast and tuck it into your bra.
This product is great for mothers who leak milk during the day. It also has a plug that allows you to pour the collected milk into a storage container.
Breastfeeding Nipple Shield
Although there are many different types of nipple shields available, the Haakaa breastfeeding nipple shield was the first to be made of pure soft silicone.
This product allows you to breastfeed even if you have cracked or sore nipples or your baby has latching issues.
Conclusion
The Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump is an excellent resource for breastfeeding mothers to collect extra breast milk.
I found my Haakaa pump super helpful:
- when nursing to collect any letdown from my other breast
- to help clear up clogged milk ducts due to its gentle and constant pressure
- as a quick way to relieve my engorged breasts
There’s a reason these make it on the registry of so many nursing mothers. I can’t recommend them enough.
Sources:
- https://thebreastfeedingmama.com/haakaa-silicone-breast-pump/
- https://findyourmomtribe.com/haakaa-pump/
- https://www.trulymama.com/review/haakaa-breast-pump/
- https://pumpingmamas.com/start-to-use-haakaa/
- https://haakaausa.com/pages/haakaa-breast-pump
- https://milkandmotherhood.com/2020/07/how-not-to-use-a-haakaa.html
- https://samanthabrandon.com/how-to-use-the-haakaa
Mom of three (including identical twin boys), wife, and owner of Parents Wonder. This is my place to share my journey as a mother and the helpful insights I learn along the way.