Find out in this Haakaa breast pump review why every nursing mother needs one.
What is the Haakaa breast pump?
Haakaa is an award winning eco-friendly baby brand. Their signature product is a silicone breast pump which is totally unique. It is small, silent, easy to clean and helps you to collect tonnes of milk, hands free!
This was my favourite product when I had my first child. I rave about it to everybody and lend my haakaa breast pump to every friend with a new baby. They all end up loving it too so I let them keep it and buy a replacement.
This works out great for me too as Haakaa keep improving the design so I end up with the latest and greatest version. Since the original haakaa that I first used, they have now increased the volume from 90mL to 150mL and added a suction base to stop it from falling over. The second one is a game changer as any breastfeeding mother knows it is definitely worth crying over spilt breast milk!
The best features of the Haakaa
- Can be used hands free
- No wasted milk as it catches all the let down
- Saves time by building up a freezer stash while baby is having a feed
- Super easy to clean
- Small enough to put in a handbag
- Inexpensive compared to other manual or electric pumps
It sounds too good to be true! But does the Haakaa really work? I was unsure when I first heard about it but decided to give it a go. It is so affordable that I reasoned if it didn’t work the loss would be small. But it does work! I’ve had friends who struggled with their milk supply and others who had way too much milk and the Haakaa has been super helpful to everyone I know who has used it. It is just amazing and I can’t stop raving about it.
How does the Haakaa breast pump work?
The haakaa is an all-in-one silicone milk collecting vessel with a flange at the neck that suctions to the breast. A vacuum is created by simply squeezing the Haakaa then attaching to the breast over the nipple and letting go. The Haakaa suctions onto the breast enough that you don’t need to hold it there. Milk sprays or drips (depending on milk supply) into the haakaa for use another time.
Although you can use the Haakaa breast pump at any time, it works best to collect let down from one breast while the baby is feeding on the other side.
Does the Haakaa breast pump increase milk supply?
The human body produces breast milk to meet demand. The Haakaa sucks milk from the breast like a baby does so the Haakaa also stimulates milk production. My supply was definitely increased from using the Haakaa. I managed to collect a huge supply of breast milk in the freezer that was well beyond what was needed.
Can the Haakaa create oversupply?
It is possible that the Haakaa can create oversupply by using it too much. I did this by accident because I just loved being able to collect so much milk. If your body is responding to both the baby and the Haakaa sucking at your breasts, it can produce more milk than is needed for the baby.
However the Haakaa can also assist if you have oversupply of milk. You can use it to let off the excess milk that is pouring from your breasts and then detach the Haakaa that it is not stimulating further milk production.
Compared to all the women out there struggling to breastfeed, oversupply is a fortunate problem to have. Although the baby choking on a forceful stream of milk or getting squirted in the eye may disagree!
When should I use my Haakaa breast pump?
Anytime you want to! It is so small, you can easily take it in a nappy bag or handbag anywhere. You can get started straight away by taking it in your hospital bag too.
The first few days after baby is born is when you’ll have the greatest supply of milk so you can collect any extra right from the beginning. Also in the event you are separated from your baby and cannot breast feed them in the beginning, you can use the haakaa along with the electric pumps supplied by the hospital to collect your milk and the precious colostrum.
In the early days when you’re getting used to breastfeeding is also when your nipples are likely to feel quite sore. Using the Haakaa can be a gentle way to express milk if you need to give your nipples a break from the baby but still want to maintain supply.
Another scenario where I’ve found the Haakaa to be extremely useful is when I am away from baby for the day or evening. My breasts end up getting quite engorged but I can go to the bathroom and just express a bit of milk for comfort.
Can I use the Haakaa instead of my manual or electric pump?
Well it depends on your reasons for using a breast pump. The Haakaa is perfect for collecting milk by feeding on the other side for the purpose of building a freezer stash of breast milk. It is also perfect for relieving engorged breasts.
But the Haakaa is not for you wish to always bottle feed your baby with expressed milk. The Haakaa can extract a lot of milk but it does not fully empty the breast and would not be sufficient to maintain supply if you were using it exclusively without pumping or breastfeeding.
It can however nicely supplement a single pump whether electric or manual. While pumping on one side, you can be collecting some milk on the other with the Haakaa.
Extra Haakaa accessories
When writing this article, I discovered that Haakaa have developed some fantastic accessories since I finished breastfeeding. The Generation 3 Haakaa breast pump now allows you to express straight into a detatchable bottle!
To keep milk from spilling and also keep it fresh when stored in the fridge, you can choose either a lid or flower stopper. The stopper was awesome for me and I highly recommend it but the lid I’ve heard mixed reviews of.
There is also now a nifty strap that means your Haakaa is safe from wriggling infants and falling off the breast when it gets full. Because no one wants to end up literally crying over spilt milk!
For more information on maintenance and troubleshooting see below.
Maintenance and troubleshooting
Cleaning your Haakaa breast pump
The Haakaa breast pump is so easy to clean! Just one container with no hard to clean crevices. Do I need to sterilise my Haakaa? The Australian Breastfeeding Association advises that expressing equipment does not need to be sterilised. Washing with hot water and a small amount of dishwashing liquid is sufficient. Air drying is best.
Why does my Haakaa breast pump hurt me?
The Haakaa should not make your nipples sore. However if your nipples are already sore/ grazed/ cracked from the baby not latching properly then some pain could be experienced using the Haakaa.
If it is painful using the Haakaa, ensure it is attached so that the nipple is not touching the outside. The flange should be large enough that you can position the nipple in the middle so that it makes no contact.
You can also reduce the pressure created by the Haakaa by only squeezing it a small amount before attaching.
Haakaa breast pump review – the best way to build a freezer stash
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I loved my Haakaa. It was a lifesaver. I didn’t know about it with my first but with my second I was able to store up so much more milk!