The Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump: What All New Moms Should Know

If you’ve begun diving into the deep pool of breast pumping options, I’m sure you’ve noticed the unusual name of the Haakaa Silicone Manual Breast Pump. This manual pump has become a cult favorite and there’s a good reason for that!

Haakaa Silicone Manual Breast Pump

As I’m currently six months pregnant,

I’ve been badgering all of my mama friends for their suggestions for all things baby.

To my surprise, every friend that has recently had a baby suggested the Haakaa! With all of the praise, I felt it was about time to do some research for myself to find out why there’s such a huge hype behind this small and affordable pump.

Today I’m going to run through the ins and outs of the Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump so you can see if it might be a good fit for your breast pumping needs.

If you are new to pumping, you might benefit from Demystifying Pumping and Breast Milk – it’s just $19.99!

[the_ad id=”2107″]

What is a Haakaa?

Now let’s get down to it, what is a Haakaa?? The Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump is just like the name states, a simple silicone breast pump with no strings, tubes, loud machines, etc attached! The most basic and popular Haakaa pump costs only $12.94 on Amazon making it an easy and affordable option.

How Does a Haakaa Work?

The Haakaa works its magic by suctioning to your breast and using that suction to draw the milk out.

It creates a secure suction to the breast without being too harsh or causing any pain. This suction process allows you to catch the letdown milk you typically wipe on nursing pads, shirts, bras, rags, etc in a container to save for later.

The longer you keep the pump attached to your breast, the more milk you will be able to catch and save.

Typically women attach the Haakaa to their other breast while they’re breastfeeding their baby so the entire pumping process is effortless and convenient! You might call this Haaka Breastfeeding.

When you first purchase your Haakaa Breast Pump it’s important that you sanitize it before your first use. An easy way to do this is to place it in boiling water for five minutes to sterilize the pump, you then want to make sure you dry your Haakaa completely before you use it.

How to Attach and Use a Haakaa

After the pump is properly sterilized you’re able to attach the pump to your breast. You do this by squeezing the bottom of the pump and positioning the opening over your nipple. And then releasing the bottom of the pump allowing it to suction to the nipple and breast.

Many users feel they get best results by folding back the flange before attaching the pump. After the center of the opening is suctioned over the breast you fold the flange back down around your breast.

The next step is the simpler part, you just sit and allow the pump to collect and draw out your milk while you’re breastfeeding.

After your breast milk stops flowing, you can remove the pump and transfer the milk into a proper storage container. If you need some guidance for how to properly store your milk, check out this article How to Properly and Safely Store Breast Milk.

Is the Haakaa Dishwasher Safe?

One of the biggest questions you may be wondering after all is said and done is “Is the Haakaa dishwasher safe?” yes it is! It really is one convenient little piece of silicone 🙂 Make sure to check the instructions on your silicone pump for more details on care instructions.

Who is the Haakaa Made For?

I’m sure you’re wondering who is the best fit for the Haakaa, and while I’ll dive into who it could be most convenient for – really it’s a great option for any moms! The Haakaa is small and convenient enough for all women to silently and discretely express their milk while on road-trips, at restaurants, family gatherings, and more.

While the Haakaa does a great job drawing the milk out of your breast, it might not be the best option all of the time for full-time working mothers or women who will be away from their child for a length of time.

For these women, an automatic pump will likely be necessary to collect the necessary amount of milk to feed their babies. Women who are breastfeeding the majority of the time and want to save a little bit of extra milk on the side might be more fit to use the Haakaa exclusively.

However, many moms find that it’s a convenient way to catch extra milk in the early weeks. A lot of moms have said they’ve been able to collect a lot of milk for their freezer during this.

Will a Haakaa cause an oversupply?

In general, it’s best not to pump or stimulate the breast more than necessary during the early weeks of breastfeeding, as to not cause an oversupply.

Prior to what some believe, the Haakaa is still a breast pump – and it does stimulate the breast. With that said, it is far more gentle than a regular pump, and I haven’t worked with any moms who have said it has negatively impacted their supply.

Where to Buy a Haakaa?

These handy silicone pumps are available at many places now – you can often even find them in Target, which is great if you need to get one immediately (hello, Target Drive Up)! Amazon has lots of options – some aren’t the “Haakaa” brand, but that’s okay! Just read the reviews and make sure to buy one from a legitimate source.

If you’re a mother who wants to breastfeed primarily and use the Haakaa on the side, check out our Online Breastfeeding Class to gain confidence with feeding. We want to help you simplify your breastfeeding experience!

[the_ad id=”2070″]

If you think the Haakaa sounds like a good option for you, try it out and let us know in the comments what you think of it! Or if you’re already a major fan of the Haakaa let us know what you love about it.

For more of your breastfeeding or pumping questions read the articles below! 🙂

• The Five Best Hands-Free Pumping Bras (For All Budgets!)
• Breast Milk Supply and Pumping Class
• Breastfeeding Essentials Class
• 27 Common Breastfeeding Questions – and Answers!