So haakaa is actually a brand and they sell many different baby things now. One of the first was this silicone breast pump you see here.
So often I get asked “should I use a haakaa?”. However, to answer this question I would have to know the full situation. So let’s get into it. The haakaa definitely has its pros and cons and there are different ways that it can be used.
Usually you would hear women talking about the haakaa when they are using it to catch the let down of the opposite breast while nursing. I’ve also heard women say that they use the haakaa instead of the regular pump, and they don’t pump at all.
Before you get too excited about this new idea you may have just discovered, let me tell you when this would or would not be recommended. The haakaa provides suction, causing stimulation. This can be helpful or not depending on your situation.
When not to use it: If you are using a silicone pump every time you are nursing and you have an oversupply, it could be what is keeping you at that oversupply because of the extra stimulation, that some women just don’t need. In this case I would usually recommend a consult to talk about your goals and symptoms, but also switching to something with less suction for that catch milk; such as the haakaa lady bug, or breast shells (no suction). If you are using your silicone breast pump in place of pumping in this case, it would provided less suction than more pumps but could still be too much if you are using it all the time.
When to use it: Now say you have the opposite situation. You are a just-enougher, or even an under-supplier. The haakaa style pumps can help you provide extra stimulation to make more milk. However, keep in mind that this will not replace the regular pump in most situation. This would be another situation where I would recommend a lactation consult to make sure you are getting everything back on track.
The is the haakaa lady bug as mentioned before. These cute little products are shaped they can sit in your bra and help collect that leaking milk. These do still provided some suction but not as much as the original haakaa. These also would probably be great right after a shower if mama tends to leak after from the water and the warmth. Although my favorite thing about them is that they are not as easy to kick by an active tiny tot.
