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Why I love my Haakaa silicone breast pump

I was late to the Haakaa game and only purchased it when I battled a bad bout of engorgement. (That story deserves its own post). After I started using the Haakaa pump, I found myself wishing i discovered it earlier. While other mamas I know didn't seem to have much use for their haakaa, It’s been a great addition to my armoury of essential breastfeeding products. 


What is the Haakaa silicone breast pump?

It is a 100% silicone cup that can be applied to the breast easily and draws out milk out through continuous suction. The breast pump comes in 2 sizes (100ml/150ml) and has a silicone lid you can purchase separately. The newer generation has a suction base to help prevent pesky spills.


Image credit: haakaa.co.nz



How to use the Haakaa silicone breast pump?

Follow the instructions in the pictorial below, or watch this YouTube tutorial video on how to apply it to your breast.


Image credit: amazon.sg



Why I love the Haakaa and what I use it for:

  1. Collect milk that would otherwise be lost. When I’m nursing from one breast, I find myself leaking lots of milk from the other breast.  Now, I stick the Haakaa pump on the breast to catch the milk. It prevents wastage of milk and helps build up a freezer stash! On average I can collect anywhere between 30ml - 50ml of milk in less than 10 minutes of nursing.
  2. Clearing clogged milk ducts and engorgements. The Haakaa pump has saved me many times when I needed a clogged duct cleared. I fill the pump with warm water (make sure you don’t burn yourself!)  and stick the pump on the engorged breast, ensuring that the nipple is bathed in the warm water. The pump’s suction effect, coupled with the gentle heat that opens up ducts, helps to draw out milk. Some people mix Epsom salts in the water although I’ve not tried it. Watch this YouTube video for a demonstration on how to clear clogged ducts with a Haakaa..
  3. Collect manually expressed milk. Some days, I manually massage and express milk when I am sore from pumping and nursing. With its wide and angled opening, the haakaa pump is great for catching milk compared to a bottle with a narrower opening.
  4. Quick relief of a full breast when I’m out. Because of its small size, I can easily fit the pump into my bag when I head out. When I’m going somewhere that has no convenient spot for me to pump or nurse, I bring the Haakaa out with me. For quick relief of a full breast, I slip it discreetly under my blouse and let the pump do its magic. (I usually do this on the drive home, in the loo, or a quiet spot with my nursing cover).


In 7 minutes, my Haakaa pump collected 30ml of milk from the right boob while I was nursing bub on the left.



While the Haakaa silicone breast pump cannot replace nursing or a proper electric pump to empty the breast, it still finds its place in my list of essential breastfeeding items.


Link to Haakaa silicone breast pump with lid and base here


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