How to Use the Haaka Breast Pump (when you have no clue)
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If you’re wondering how to use a Haakaa breast pump then you’re in luck, because we’re going to cover everything you need to know.
I owned the Haakaa silicone breast pump when I had my second and third babies. It was absolutely amazing to use as a milk collector. I only used it in a passive way on the opposite breast I would nurse on.
Even so, the precious milk I was able to collect enabled me to create a milk stash.
I nursed my first baby until 6 months, but with my second baby, I had issues that meant I couldn’t nurse her for long. Having that milk stash really was wonderful.
So, let’s get into how to use the Haakaa breast pump.
What is the Haakaa Breast Pump?
Breastfeeding is a rewarding way to nurture and bond with your baby. Many moms experience problems with getting the baby to nurse out one side or the other. That’s why many moms also swear by the safe, silicone Haakaa breast pump.
The Haakkaa pump uses natural suction, which means that you don’t have to worry about running out of batteries or plugging into an electrical source when going about your day.
It’s affordable, easy to clean, eco-friendly, and made from a single piece of high-quality, 100% food-grade silicone. No more worrying about extra parts, hands-free bras tubing, or accessories since it’s just one piece.
A Haakaa pump is also quiet, discreet, and small enough to easily fit into a purse or diaper bag. Not only does it help catch milk that would get wasted by leaking onto a nursing pad or shirt, but a Haakaa helps relieve painful engorgement by creating some movement and flow.
Related: How to Know if Breastfeeding is the Right Choice
How to Use the Haakaa Breast Pump
When you nurse or pump, milk letdown typically occurs on both sides of the breast. This means that some milk can spill and get lost during the nursing or normal pumping process.
A Haakka ensures that this precious liquid doesn’t go to waste, avoids milk spraying everywhere, and can give you a few extra ounces from each session to add to your freezer stash.
The Haakaa breastfeeding tool helps moms catch and express milk naturally with little effort. It’s a gift for moms who struggle to empty during nursing sessions. It’s also useful when you’re in a rush or don’t want to get out all your regular pumping gear. There are a few things that you’ll want to know about getting started and how to use your Haakaa pump.
Unlike most breast pumps, you don’t need to use electrical power from an outlet or battery or use hand suction to extract milk with a Haakaa.
If you’ve never used a Haakaa before, here’s how to use this simple pump in 5 easy steps:
1. Evert the Pump Flange
Make sure that the silicone pump is sterilized by boiling it in hot water for 2-3 minutes. Air dry. Next, pull the top flange down and fold it open until it forms an open lip.
2. Connect the Flange to Breast
Place the everted flange over your nipple. Make sure that the pump flange is positioned directly over the nipple area.
3. Squeeze the Bottom of the Pump
Next, squeeze the plastic bulb, or bottom part of the pump, to exert pressure. The suction helps the pump attach to the breast and draw milk outward.
4. Flip the Pump Flange Outward
Now, unfold the everted silicone flange up and out so that it cups the areola and breast. This suction helps catch and extract extra milk on one side while you nurse on the other.
Keep the pump attached for the duration of your nursing session or how long you’d usually pump for to catch as much milk as possible. This can help you feel less engorged and more balanced if the baby doesn’t finish nursing out both sides.
5. Squeeze the Bulb for Extra Suction
If you don’t see or feel milk start to flow, keep squeezing the bulb at the base of the pump until milk starts to come out. You can then either continue squeezing with your hand or simply let the pump do its work.
How to Use the Haakaa Pump Effectively
If you’re using the Haakaa while nursing, instead of exclusively pumping, you can just attach it to the side opposite your nursing baby. It’s often easier to attach it to one breast before latching your baby on the other side.
How to Use a Haakaa Pump to Clear a Clogged Duct
One of the Haaka’s best uses is its ability to help unclog a clogged duct. Many nursing moms have used Epsom salts in a Haakaa pump to relieve discomfort a restore function to a clogged duct.
Here’s the best hack to use a Haakaa pump to get rid of a clogged duct:
- Fill a sterilized Haakaa pump half full of warm water
- Add 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts to the pump
- Let it sit a minute to dissolve
- Attach the pump flange to your breast. Make sure that the nipple is submerged in the warm water and Epsom salt solution.
- Leave the pump attached with your nipple submerged for about 10-15 minutes.
- Remove the Haakaa and rinse your nipple and the pump.
- Repeat as needed until the duct is unclogged.
Related: 5 Helpful Tips for Bottle Feeding
FAQ
Here are some answers to common questions about How to use the Haakaa breast pump.
How Long Do You Use a Haakaa Pump?
Most recommend attaching and leaving your pump on for about 5-10 minutes. Due to its natural sucking abilities, you don’t need to keep pumping like most manual or hand pumps. Once you’ve finished expressing milk, just peel back the flange to break the suction, remove, the pump, and cover it with a lid or transfer the milk to another container to keep it from spilling.
Can You Use a Haakaa Instead of Pumping?
It’s possible to use the Hakkaa as your main pump instead of a manual or electric pump. You can use it to catch milk that might otherwise leak onto your shirt or nursing pad. It also does a decent job of expressing milk as many times per day as you would normally nurse or pump.
Keep in mind that if you aren’t exclusively breastfeeding or if your baby is unable to nurse each side effectively, a Haakaa may not pull out as much milk as an electric or manual pump. You can expect a Haakaa to catch or suck out anywhere from 1-2 ounces during each nursing session. In contrast, most moms can express 4-5 ounces with other types of pumps.
When Can You Start Using a Haakaa?
You can begin using this popular breastfeeding tool at whatever time feels right for you. Due to its simple, portable, and hands-free style and effective function that works to catch and extract natural letdown, you can use a Haakaa pump when you first start breastfeeding or at any later stage in your breastfeeding journey.
Can You Use the Haakaa if You Have an Inverted Nipple?
Yes! In fact, the Haakaa is perfect for this situation. You can use it to collect milk, but because of the suction, it will help to draw out the nipple so that a baby is able to latch well. Use it while you’re nursing on the other side and then you’ll be all set to go.
How to Use Haakaa Breast Pump for an Oversupply Issue?
I can speak to this because oversupply issues were something I dealt with a lot with my firstborn. He often wasn’t able to latch because the force of the milk coming out was too much.
Using the Haakaa to deal with that initial onslaught of milk would have been a really great alternative to just letting it soak into a towel. In my option, it’s a much better option than a traditional pump or milk saver.
How to Clean the Haakaa Pump?
This is possibly my favorite thing about the Haakaa pump. New moms don’t have time for much aside from just surviving and keeping their baby fed and happy.
The Haakaa pump is so simple and easy to clean. You just need to wash it with warm, soapy water or run it through the dishwasher. You can then sterilize it using any traditional sterilizing method.
You’ll definitely want to make sure you do this before its first use as well.
Seriously though, it is so easy to clean and maintain, which is one of my very favorite things about it. We don’t need more hard work when we’re already overwhelmed with all the newness that a newborn baby brings.
Is It Worth Owning if You’re Not a Breastfeeding Mama?
This depends. If your milk supply is still there but you’re not actively nursing, then yes, it can definitely be worth having. I appreciated being able to collect excess milk that I could give to my babies before we moved on to formula.
It was also good to help relieve engorgement as I tried to dry up my milk supply. It was a great way to take the edge off without encouraging growth in the milk supply. Plus, it was good for helping to avoid mastitis.
However, if you don’t have any milk supply then I don’t believe that the Haakaa pump would be of any use to you.
Using the Haakaa can be a great option if you have sore nipples and need to give yourself a break from nursing. Just remember that this needs to be a short-term solution so that your milk supply isn’t affected.
Final Thoughts
New moms will love this breast pump. As a nursing mom, it’s a really easy way to collect milk without having to spend hours cleaning and sterilizing like you would with an electric breast pump.
In the early days when your milk supply is far more than your baby needs, you can use the Haakaa to help relieve the engorgement but still save up milk.
The gentle suction doesn’t hurt and means that a breastfeeding mom can essentially do two things at the same time.
Instead of milk just soaking into a breast pad, you’re able to make the Haakaa work for you.
It can also be helpful when you have a clogged milk duct (ouch!). With the suction and then gentle massage, you can work to clear any clogs and not lose your milk production.
I honestly loved my Haakaa breast pump and was able to pass it on when I was finished having babies.
The only thing I wish I had was the flower stopper. I had one of the original Haakaa pumps which meant it had nothing to seal it, nor did it have the suction base.
Those are two really great additions.
