Public pumping and the Haakaa breast pump

[DanceDisaster]

Has anyone tried one of these Haakaa breast pumps please?

I am thinking of getting one to put on one side while I’m feeding off the other, as my boobs seem to leak a lot and this is apparently quite good for catching the milk without having to hook yourself up to an electric pump.

I’m just wondering if it would also be ok to use on the sly when I’m out and away from my baby and need to pump? It’s meant to be very quiet, so thought I might be able to get away with sticking it up my top in a cafe or something? Would this be weird? I have a girls’ lunch coming up and I will probably need to pump at some point.

www.haakaa.co.uk/collections/breastpumps/products/150ml-natural-silicone-breast-pump

I’m not shy about breastfeeding in public but I wouldn’t feel comfortable using any kind of pump including the Haakaa.

I have the Haakaa and it only worked for me when I was feeding from the other side. It’s not “very quiet”, it’s completely silent as there is no mechanism. You just stick it on your boob, let down and gentle suction does the rest.

How long are you planning to go out to lunch for? It should be fine for 2 or 3 hours without pumping surely?

Just get some good breast pads to contain the leaks!

Yes I had one and it was great. I had a lot of let down though and also a lot of milk so sometimes needed to drain one side with it as she would only need one side and there was so milk. I would either catch the letdown or pop the baby on one side to get it started then quickly shove the haakaa on and put her on the other side. It didn't work as well for me just trying to get it going without the baby though.

I wouldn't have pumped in public! I gave however used an accessible loo or mother/baby room out and about to pump when I need to. Breast pads help with the leakage.

Thanks both. It’s a lunch in another city, so it’s a bit of a shlep to get there. Door to door it might take me about an hour and a half or two hours. Add on the time for lunch and I think I’ll be leaking a lot...

I actually pump more than I bf at the moment, (not by choice - dodgy latch problems which we’re still trying to fix), so I think we’re going to have to public pump at some point! I don’t relish the prospect though. Why don’t I feel weird about bfing in public but I do about pumping ?

Because breastfeeding is actually quite discreet, the baby’s head covers your breast, and it’s also totally natural.
Pumping feels unnatural to me, there is more breast exposed and frankly I feel like a cow when I’m doing it.
Plus there is the practical element of storing the milk afterwards, it’s a faff.

You could buy a manual pump (eg Medela Harmony) and call the lunch venue in advance to ask if there is a small private room you could pump in for 10-15 minutes, they might be accommodating. Worst case scenario you could pump in the loo.

Has your baby had a proper tongue tie assessment by someone trained and qualified to do it (ie lactation consultant, not midwife or HV?) With latch issues tongue tie is usually the culprit.

We’re waiting for an appointment with an ENT consultant. He was assessed by a mw twice when he was tiny and once by the gp at 6 weeks, but they thought no serious TT. Went back to bfing drop in this week (11wo) and they said he dies have a bad TT, so we’re being referred to consultant. I’m hoping that’s actually the problem as there’s something we can do about it!

You’re right about feeling like a dairy cow too! Also, there’s something weird about decanting bodily fluids into a bottle in front of people.

I'm not shy and really I would say its probably fine using a haakaa in public if you are able to cover up a bit with a spare muslin or scarf or something?

I’ve got a bf coverup thing which I can use. I might have to do it. Or else use it in the loos

If you’re going to buy a haakaa you should try it at home first to see if it works without feeding from the other side. I’m not convinced tbh.

Oh and your tongue tie story is a very familiar one sadly. Midwives and GPs aren’t properly trained on it. They’re always telling parents that babies don’t have it when they do. Makes me angry.

Yeah, I’m a bit about the TT assessment at the beginning. A very authoritative mw banging on about how wonderful “natural birth” was when I’d told her we had a cs. She also took the hump that we’d had the baby out of area. Sorry, I’m sounding very bitter, but I’m miffed!

I’m persevering due to pure bloody mindedness atm.

No need to apologise. I’d complain to PALS about the midwife’s attitude and comments tbh. Not that anyone has the time or energy for that when they’re recovering from birth and trying to breastfeed a baby with tongue tie!

The haakaa doesn't actively pump, it's just to catch let down when you're feeding on other side.

My Phillips Avent manual pump is relatively quiet, but I wouldn't use it in public unless it was a very noisy place with lots going on.

I think pp are right about asking for a quiet room or (unfortunately needing to) use the toilet to pump.

I also have a TT baby. I specifically asked them to check at the newborn check and they refused. I got it cut privately at 7 days after experiencing agonising pain with feeding.

I'm glad I knew what I was and how to fix it, or DS would be on formula. (Nothing against that, DD was FF, but it's expensive and inconvenient)