Can you actually pump with a haaka?

[Cindy1802]

Or is it more designed to collect leaks/let down?

I am leaving baby all day in a few weeks time and I'm trying to figure out the best way to relieve boobs while out in town/restaurants/bars without having to carry my large electric pump around with me.

I can but I think everyone is different. I get milk let down using the haaka really well in fact better than my electric pump.

It’s not a pump no, they collect letdown from the other boob when feeding but with a suction so do collect a bit more milk. They aren’t really suitable for out and about tbh! Are you planning to pump and bottle feed? Otherwise if you’re feeling quite full, I’d just pop the baby on to feed

Sorry I missed the part about being away for the day!! Haakaa would probably remove enough to stop discomfort for me

This may sound like a silly questionnl but how does it work, do I just put it on and let it do its thing? I don't need to keep squeezing it do i?

The other option is hand expressing to relieve pressure. Would this be enough for the day or would I be at risk of mastitis?!

Once you've triggered let-down, it works by suction pressure. I liked it but I did find that it would pop off as my boob emptied and I'd have to catch and re-suction it. But mine aren't exactly massive so it might not be an issue if you are average or larger.

On your second point hand expressing should take the edge off. How much will depend on how often you are feeding at the moment. I never ended up with mastitis but in the early days my boobs got very full and painful after missing just one or two feeds

Depends on your supply. I had an over supply so I had to put a haakaa on before feeding otherwise it would shoot out and upset my baby. I'd fill the haakaa and then baby could feed comfortably and I'd put another haakaa on the other breast to catch let down while he was feeding.

I loved them and never used any kind of pump. But it just depends whether or not they suit you. They're either a miracle or they're utterly useless. I filled a freezer with breast milk using haakaas

Try hand expressing, but depends on baby's age and how many feeda you'll miss

Baby is 6 months and ill probably miss about 3 feeds.

I don't think a Hakka would cut it personally, you'd be better off hand expressing into a sink or if only a small amount then a tissue.

When I expressed a small amount I found it was only a temporary fix in my experience until I could pump properly.

@MrsTeepee how long were you away from baby from while just hand expressing? I'd rather do this every hour than have to carry my pumps around with me and sit in the toilets and do it... but if needs must!

I wouldn't take one out and about because it doesn't reliably stay on. I think what you're wanting would be better achieved with breast shells or something like the Elvie.

The Haakaa did nothing for me except when I was very engorged.

I use it as a pump but find I get much more when baby is breastfeeding at the same time. You don’t have to keep suctioning but I do occasionally to get more. To stop it falling off (which it does a lot) I use a maternity bra with the clips to hold it in place

Have you considered getting a manual pump like a Medela harmony? Would only take up about as much space as a water bottle in a bag and light.

My nurse told me it will only collect excess and that if I wanted to pump properly I would need an electric pump . I've ended up on antibiotics so can't breast feed but was surprised by the advice .

I'd take a Medela Harmony pump, it's tiny and silent, you'll easily get enough milk off in 5 mins in the loo to be comfortable. Presuming you don't want to bother with storing the milk to take it home, I'd hand express for first few hours when uncomfortable and then use the hand pump when you're within 6 hours of home/fridge, so you can take that milk home with you to freeze for another trip out. 6 hours at room- 6 days in the fridge - 6 months in the freezer.
Smear coconut oil on the pump flange, it really helps breast and nipple slide more easily and comfortably and thus get more milk.
(I exclusively pumped for my eldest for 9.5 months and am now nursing youngest)

I had a Haakaa for let down whilst feeding - worked a treat.

I used my Fraupow for doing the school run/ironing and later expressing at work when I went back (bf for a year at that stage)

I loved that Fraupow. Best thing I've ever bought, it might be suitable for you.

I used to use the Elvie Curve rather than a Hakaa as it's smaller and goes in the bra. Baby used to kick the Hakaa right off 😂
However I did just use it to collect let down from the other boob, not as a pump. For that I used the Bella baby wireless - worked much better

I’d buy a manual pump OP.

You can breastfeed on most antibiotics - if you want to, you might want to seek advice about protecting supply?

I actually find I get more with my Hakka than the electric pump 🤷‍♀️ I put one on each boob and the Hakka always wins

My midwife gave me one because she was also a lactation consultant so had them from the brand but I'm really glad I didn't get one. I relied on expressing a certain amount of extra milk per day as I was returning to work and it was useless for that. It never stayed on unless I was engorged and I couldn't have used it while feeding baby as it would have just fallen off.

*pay for one I mean

Thanks all. I've bought a medela harmony, sounds pretty perfect for what I need. MN to the rescue!