A Haakaa works well for many because it's simple, hands-free, and uses strong, passive suction to catch let-down and extra milk, often more effectively for some than electric pumps, especially when used on the opposite breast during nursing to prevent waste, though it's not a full pump replacement for building a stash and can cause oversupply if used too much due to signaling more milk production. Its ease of use (one piece, dishwasher safe) and portability make it convenient for collecting milk without cords or setup, but its discreetness is limited.
How does Haakaa increase milk supply? The Haakaa removes breastmilk from the breast which can encourage your body to make more milk. However, it will not be as effective at increasing milk supply as a traditional breast pump or a baby as it lacks the nipple stimulation through the repetitive sucking/squeezing motion.
A hakaa silicone pump can increase your supply if you suction it to your breast rather than just using a passive collection method. I used it to increase my supply when I was not making enough. The suction actively draws milk from the breast, increasing demand, and therefore can increase supply.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Breastfed babies have fewer infections and hospitalizations than formula-fed infants. During breastfeeding, antibodies and other germ-fighting factors pass from a mother to her baby and strengthen the immune system. This helps lower a baby's chances of getting many infections, including: ear infections.
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.
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.
A single breastfeeding session might produce between 54-234 mL/1.82-7.91 oz of milk. A mom might nurse between 4-13 times every day depending on the baby's appetite, how much milk is removed each session, and other external factors. The average breastfeeding session lasts between 12-67 minutes.
The "120-minute rule" for pumping is a guideline for exclusive breast pumpers, suggesting a minimum of 120 minutes (2 hours) of total pumping time daily, spread across sessions (e.g., 8 sessions of 15 mins, or 4 sessions of 30 mins), to help signal the body to maintain milk supply, though it's a general guideline, not strict science, and can be adjusted based on individual needs and your lactation consultant's advice. It emphasizes consistent nipple stimulation to tell your body to keep making milk, especially important when not breastfeeding directly.
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.
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. For mums who just want to catch their letdown and maybe have a smaller amount of milk in the fridge, 1-2 times per day may work.
Taken altogether, saggy breasts are a result of pregnancy, not necessarily the technique of providing milk to the baby. There is no direct correlation of sagging being worse with breastfeeding or pumping.
"You may not get any additional milk after the first 10-minute session of your power pump, but it's important to continue throughout the hour," Schindler said. "After moms do this once a day for 4-5 days, they may notice a small increase in their overall milk supply."
Breast milk does not need to be warmed. It can be served room temperature or cold.
Alcohol levels are usually highest in breast milk 30 to 60 minutes after a woman consumes an alcoholic beverage. Alcohol can be generally detected in breast milk for about 2 to 3 hours per drink after it is consumed. The more alcohol a mother consumes, the longer alcohol can be detected in breast milk.
As a general rule, exclusive pumpers need 120 minutes per day of quality breast stimulation with a hospital strength pump to maintain milk supply.
Pumping or expressing milk frequently between nursing sessions, and consistently when you're away from your baby, can help build your milk supply. Relax and massage. Relax, hold your baby skin-to-skin, and massage your breasts before feeding to encourage your milk to let down. Take care of yourself.
Signs of Oversupply - Mom
In the first few weeks of life, breastfeeding should be "on demand" (when your baby is hungry), which is about every 1-1/2 to 3 hours. As newborns get older, they'll nurse less often, and may have a more predictable schedule. Some might feed every 90 minutes, whereas others might go 2–3 hours between feedings.