There are always those products that you hear about over and over again as you discuss your baby's upcoming arrival with friends, fellow moms and healthcare personnel that are a part of your pregnancy.
And right now - the Haakaa pump is one of the most commonly discussed breastfeeding tools that moms are adding to their registries and sending their husbands out for after baby is born and engorgement suddenly hits!
So here we are to talk about what it is, why it's cool, where to get it & the helpful hacks along the way that will make your purchase ALL the more worth it than it already is.
What is it??
Haakaa silicone breast pump is a manual way to remove milk one side at a time by squeezing the pump to apply suction once applying the pump onto the breast. There are two versions of this pump in production and circulation - only varying in size/mL limit that can be accumulated during use. It is a natural way to release milk into a container that can be beneficial in collecting milk related to a few particular instances in a mom's breastfeeding journey. Milk can be removed from your breast for the first 5 to 10 minutes of a feeding to merely remove some initial fullness or, if not contributing to additional supply availability, can be used the entire feeding or until suction is naturally released.
Where do I get it?
Target, Amazon, Buy Buy Baby, Haakaausa.com
How much is it?
$12.95-27.99
(Varying price levels based on accessories purchased w/ pump)
How can it help me??
The three primary ways in which you can benefit from using a Haakaa pump are:
In the first days after baby arrives, the body's natural way in releasing an unregulated and copious amount of milk is helpful in beginning to quickly expedite baby's growth and instill a plentiful milk supply that remains available to utilize. A woman's body and breasts cannot begin to understand the exact amount of milk needed to sustain one baby compared to another, until your baby's mouth can uniquely and intelligently demand and establish this once he or she arrives. Your supply level becomes regulated by the time baby is about four weeks old merely from the force and specific motions your baby uniquely provides during feeding sessions. Until that regulation occurs, breast fullness can be an uncomfortable sensation to endure as stimulation from an automatic pump only contributes to further signals sent to your brain to increase hormone levels and send even more milk to be available for baby.
With Haakaa, the suction applied to the pump before placing it on your breast will gently work to remove milk from your breast when the let down reflex is stimulated on the side your baby is feeding on. Once the let down occurs, the suction will begin to slowly release milk from the side being 'pumped' and will stop once suction completely loosens or until you manually remove it from your breast. This will not completely empty your breast which leaves it available for you to allow baby to feed on after your other side is emptied - but will also relieve enough pressure to make it to the next feeding is your baby ends up being a "one sided feeder" while young and small!
Long Term Over Production
If you become the lucky mama who produces large amounts of milk long term (extending well past the first month of baby's life), it is sometimes uncomfortable and difficult to maintain comfort when your baby can't keep up with the demand your body is offering per feeding. At times, moms may experience frequent episodes of baby "vomiting" as opposed to spitting up because of how much they are taking in and unable to hold in their stomach. If this is the case, a block feeding schedule may be recommended by lactation support staff which would leave one breast completely full until that side is ready to be utilized in the block feeding rotation. Haakaa can be helpful in relieving enough pressure to achieve comfort until it is ready to be utilized for the next three hour block of time that baby will feed on.
Long term, if or when production doesn't seem to slow down well into your breastfeeding journey, Haakaa is an easy way to always collect and save that extra milk for use during work or times away from the home.
Saving for a Freezer Stash
The cool thing about this pump is that it is an effortless way to begin to slowly but surely save milk not utilized by baby during feedings. Automatic breast pump usage is not recommended for the first four weeks of baby's life in order to streamline the amount of hormone and milk production is asked of your body by any extra stimulation provided. However, Haakaa is considered an appropriate mode of milk removal in that it does not make the same motions a baby's mouth does or perhaps even cause the same amount of strength in suction force that an automatic pump would.
Utilizing the Haakaa even before milk supply is established, one to two times a day during a breastfeeding session can work to slowly accumulate around 1-3oz per feeding session which can be stored and saved in the refrigerator or freezer for future use. This will help a working mom or mom who otherwise has commitments away from the home to feel secure in having milk available prior to any imminent need to leave baby.
Accessories & Their Uses
Flower Stoppers
Silicone Cap
Haakaa Care
1) Clean between uses with some Dapple dish washing soap - this is used specifically for pump and bottle parts. Dish washing soap is considered SAFE to wash your Haakaa with but will eventually make the silicone material cloudy in the long run!
2) Sterilize every 24 hours with a steam method - dishwasher is considered safe but also can be boiled for 3-5 min in water for adequate sterilization.
Haakaa Hacks!
Clogged Duct
Utilizing warm water and epsom salt in the bottom of your Haakaa pump and suctioning it to the affected breast can help to loosen the clog you have within your breast. It helps to provide the warm, moist heat environment that is optimal for loosening the clog and allowing it to be suctioned out. This may take a few tries, so apply it consistently to the affected breast when not feeding on that side and for as many times as is needed for relief. If you notice a stringy, thick portion of milk floating in the water after your let down reflex is stimulated on the other side - it is likely that the hack worked and you are on your way to saying "see ya!" to that clog.
Pump into the Bottle
Grab one of these generation 3 Haakaa's and pump straight into the bottle, remove the top suction portion of the pump and put on the bottle nipple portion to go straight from pumping to feeding your baby. This decreases dishes to wash, effort in preparing the bottle of your milk and logistics all around!
These may be difficult to find other than on Amazon or Haakaausa.com but are definitely available on both websites. Cost- $28 but bottles and nipples are interchangeable!
Ice it up!
In the early days of breastfeeding when engorgement is ever present, inflammation is complicating discomfort and baby is frequently eating causing general and consistent pain to be present - stick your Haakaa in the freezer. When the next feeding session is starting, grab it out and place it with its typical suction to the breast baby is not yet feeding on. This can really work to help relieve the discomfort and improve inflammation from engorgement and frequent breast utilization!
And right now - the Haakaa pump is one of the most commonly discussed breastfeeding tools that moms are adding to their registries and sending their husbands out for after baby is born and engorgement suddenly hits!
So here we are to talk about what it is, why it's cool, where to get it & the helpful hacks along the way that will make your purchase ALL the more worth it than it already is.
What is it??Haakaa silicone breast pump is a manual way to remove milk one side at a time by squeezing the pump to apply suction once applying the pump onto the breast. There are two versions of this pump in production and circulation - only varying in size/mL limit that can be accumulated during use. It is a natural way to release milk into a container that can be beneficial in collecting milk related to a few particular instances in a mom's breastfeeding journey. Milk can be removed from your breast for the first 5 to 10 minutes of a feeding to merely remove some initial fullness or, if not contributing to additional supply availability, can be used the entire feeding or until suction is naturally released.
Where do I get it?
Target, Amazon, Buy Buy Baby, Haakaausa.com
How much is it?
$12.95-27.99
(Varying price levels based on accessories purchased w/ pump)
How can it help me??
The three primary ways in which you can benefit from using a Haakaa pump are:
- Engorgement
- Overproduction long term
- Milk collection for future use (freezer stash)
In the first days after baby arrives, the body's natural way in releasing an unregulated and copious amount of milk is helpful in beginning to quickly expedite baby's growth and instill a plentiful milk supply that remains available to utilize. A woman's body and breasts cannot begin to understand the exact amount of milk needed to sustain one baby compared to another, until your baby's mouth can uniquely and intelligently demand and establish this once he or she arrives. Your supply level becomes regulated by the time baby is about four weeks old merely from the force and specific motions your baby uniquely provides during feeding sessions. Until that regulation occurs, breast fullness can be an uncomfortable sensation to endure as stimulation from an automatic pump only contributes to further signals sent to your brain to increase hormone levels and send even more milk to be available for baby.
With Haakaa, the suction applied to the pump before placing it on your breast will gently work to remove milk from your breast when the let down reflex is stimulated on the side your baby is feeding on. Once the let down occurs, the suction will begin to slowly release milk from the side being 'pumped' and will stop once suction completely loosens or until you manually remove it from your breast. This will not completely empty your breast which leaves it available for you to allow baby to feed on after your other side is emptied - but will also relieve enough pressure to make it to the next feeding is your baby ends up being a "one sided feeder" while young and small!
Long Term Over Production
If you become the lucky mama who produces large amounts of milk long term (extending well past the first month of baby's life), it is sometimes uncomfortable and difficult to maintain comfort when your baby can't keep up with the demand your body is offering per feeding. At times, moms may experience frequent episodes of baby "vomiting" as opposed to spitting up because of how much they are taking in and unable to hold in their stomach. If this is the case, a block feeding schedule may be recommended by lactation support staff which would leave one breast completely full until that side is ready to be utilized in the block feeding rotation. Haakaa can be helpful in relieving enough pressure to achieve comfort until it is ready to be utilized for the next three hour block of time that baby will feed on.
Long term, if or when production doesn't seem to slow down well into your breastfeeding journey, Haakaa is an easy way to always collect and save that extra milk for use during work or times away from the home.
Saving for a Freezer Stash
The cool thing about this pump is that it is an effortless way to begin to slowly but surely save milk not utilized by baby during feedings. Automatic breast pump usage is not recommended for the first four weeks of baby's life in order to streamline the amount of hormone and milk production is asked of your body by any extra stimulation provided. However, Haakaa is considered an appropriate mode of milk removal in that it does not make the same motions a baby's mouth does or perhaps even cause the same amount of strength in suction force that an automatic pump would.
Utilizing the Haakaa even before milk supply is established, one to two times a day during a breastfeeding session can work to slowly accumulate around 1-3oz per feeding session which can be stored and saved in the refrigerator or freezer for future use. This will help a working mom or mom who otherwise has commitments away from the home to feel secure in having milk available prior to any imminent need to leave baby.
Accessories & Their Uses
- Is inserted into the open space of the pump to save/store milk until put into a pump bag or other bottle for longer storage times
- Also can be inserted to not worry about spilling milk if left on the couch before taking to refrigeratore
- Comes automatically with the $20.99 and $27.99 Haakaa purchase and can also be purchased separately
- Super cute colors and flower styles
- Extra safe way to save milk and ensure no spillage occurs
- Helps to transport milk in original Haakaa pump bottle
- Made from 100% food grade silicone, BPA free
- Dishwasher safe & fits all Haakaa pump models
- $9.99 for 1 pack
Haakaa Care
1) Clean between uses with some Dapple dish washing soap - this is used specifically for pump and bottle parts. Dish washing soap is considered SAFE to wash your Haakaa with but will eventually make the silicone material cloudy in the long run!
2) Sterilize every 24 hours with a steam method - dishwasher is considered safe but also can be boiled for 3-5 min in water for adequate sterilization.
Haakaa Hacks!
Clogged DuctUtilizing warm water and epsom salt in the bottom of your Haakaa pump and suctioning it to the affected breast can help to loosen the clog you have within your breast. It helps to provide the warm, moist heat environment that is optimal for loosening the clog and allowing it to be suctioned out. This may take a few tries, so apply it consistently to the affected breast when not feeding on that side and for as many times as is needed for relief. If you notice a stringy, thick portion of milk floating in the water after your let down reflex is stimulated on the other side - it is likely that the hack worked and you are on your way to saying "see ya!" to that clog.
Pump into the Bottle
Grab one of these generation 3 Haakaa's and pump straight into the bottle, remove the top suction portion of the pump and put on the bottle nipple portion to go straight from pumping to feeding your baby. This decreases dishes to wash, effort in preparing the bottle of your milk and logistics all around!
These may be difficult to find other than on Amazon or Haakaausa.com but are definitely available on both websites. Cost- $28 but bottles and nipples are interchangeable!
In the early days of breastfeeding when engorgement is ever present, inflammation is complicating discomfort and baby is frequently eating causing general and consistent pain to be present - stick your Haakaa in the freezer. When the next feeding session is starting, grab it out and place it with its typical suction to the breast baby is not yet feeding on. This can really work to help relieve the discomfort and improve inflammation from engorgement and frequent breast utilization!
I hope this helps & that you find your Haakaa to be the tool
you needed to get you through whatever it is you are encountering
along the way.
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