You get more milk from a Haakaa than an electric pump because its strong, continuous suction effectively draws out milk beyond just the initial let-down, signaling your body to produce more, while also capturing leaked milk; it's essentially a gentle pump that tricks your supply-and-demand system, unlike some pumps that might miss milk or have less effective settings for your body, especially if the flange size is wrong.
You can definately use the Haakaa as your primary pump. Some women use our pumps simply to catch excess milk that would otherwise be lost in a nursing pad. However, you can use it to express as you would with any manual pump.
Breastfeeding operates on a supply-and-demand principle: the more milk removed, the more milk the body is signaled to produce. Although a Haakaa is less intense than a pump, regular and frequent use can trick your body into thinking that more milk is needed.
Yes, the Haaka can create an oversupply due to the suction. I had crazy engorgement with both of my babies, but especially bothersome with my second babe (especially in my right breast), and lasted for about a week. I basically leaked all day.
You can try to encourage your baby to feed more from the less-used side:
The "4-4-4 rule" for breast milk is a simple storage guideline: fresh milk is good for 4 hours at room temperature (up to 77°F/25°C), for 4 days in the refrigerator (39°F/4°C or colder), and up to 4-6 months (or longer) in a standard freezer (0°F/-18°C). It's a handy mnemonic, though some organizations like the CDC recommend up to 6 months in the freezer and the AAP up to 9 months, with deeper freezers offering even longer storage.
The 30-30-30 pumping method is a power pumping technique to increase milk supply by mimicking cluster feeding: pump for 30 minutes, rest for 30 minutes, then pump for another 30 minutes, totaling a 90-minute session designed to signal your body to make more milk. It's a demanding but effective strategy for building supply, often done once daily, focusing on frequent milk removal to boost demand, with consistency and patience key for results.
Frequent clogged ducts: With milk being removed more than needed, your body can't keep up with the extra milk, leading to clogs and even mastitis. Disrupted feeding rhythms: Your baby might end up feeding less efficiently because your body is out of sync with what your baby actually needs.
Many mothers will find they pump for 10-20 minutes per side, or until their milk stops flowing. This can be a great time to have two pumps - to double pump and save time! If you're in NZ you can phone Plunket on 0800 933 922 who can assist you with an appointment with a lactation consultant.
Breast pain (mastalgia). Breasts that don't empty completely during feedings or feel full again soon after. Clogged milk ducts. Milk leaking frequently from your breasts.
The Haakaa controversy centers on accusations of Māori cultural appropriation by the New Zealand-based baby product company, stemming from its name, logo (featuring Māori design elements like the koru and whetero), and claims of being a "Kiwi" brand, which clashed with Māori cultural sensitivities, leading to public outcry, apologies from the company, and commitments to change and learn about tikanga (Māori custom).
Breastfeeding frequently—especially in the first hours, days, and weeks—is the main way to increase your milk supply. Your body will make milk to meet your baby's demand.
Lactation consultant Johanna Sargeant advises her clients to slip a baby sock over their pumping bottles so that they can't see the milk collecting in them. The result: up to three times more liquid gold per pumping session.
What is Exclusive Breastfeeding? Exclusive breastfeeding is what it sounds like. From the moment your baby is born, “you give your newborn only colostrum/breastmilk and no other liquids or solids” (2) (formula, glucose water, infant cereal, or foods).
Breast milk backup stash: How to pump enough milk to store
The Haakaa is a PUMP, not just a milk collector. It doesn't just 'catch' the milk that leaks with your let-down, but will continue to pull milk out of your breast.
5 Common Breast Pumping Problems and Solutions
Rule #2: The Breast Milk Storage Guidelines.
The 4-4-4 Rule. Or the 6-6-6 rule. Basically, breast milk is good at room temperature for 4 or 6 hours, in the refrigerator for 4 or 6 days, and in the freezer for 4 or 6 or 12 months. Different professional organizations have varying recommendations.
It Can Damage Breast Tissue
Unlike electric breast pumps, the Haakaa doesn't allow you to adjust the suction strength. This can be a problem because the suction might be too strong for some mums, leading to pain, discomfort, or even damage to your breast tissue.
Lactation consultants often caution against the Haakaa due to its potential to cause oversupply, engorgement, and clogged ducts from constant suction, which signals overproduction and can leave fattier milk behind; it also lacks proper flange sizing, potentially causing nipple pain and tissue inflammation, and can even lead to low infant weight gain by taking milk the baby needs. While useful for catching leaks, using it with suction can disrupt natural feeding patterns, so they recommend hand expression, nursing pads, or non-suction collectors for milk collection instead.
Q: How many times a day should I use my Haakaa? This really depends on how much milk you'd like to collect! For mums who may want to build a bigger freezer stash and/or introduce a bottle, using their Haakaa for a couple of feeds each day may yield the best results.
If your mixed feeding involves exchanging some breastfeeds for baby formula, then your baby will not receive as many benefits as they normally would if they were exclusively breastfed. As such, their immune system may not be as well protected from certain infections1.
Signs of Oversupply - Mom
In an average fifteen to twenty minute breast milk pumping session, most moms express between . 5 ounces and four ounces of breast milk total. Some moms called “superproducers” are able to express four to eight ounces of breast milk per pumping session, but that is definitely not standard.