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With my first baby, I never successfully pumped. Not one time.
I couldn’t ever get things to work with the electric pump, and the couple of times I tried with the manual pump it was just too uncomfortable to be sustainable.
Because of that, I had NO milk in the freezer. I was tethered to my baby for 15 months because she had no way of drinking milk without me being there!
There was absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I do feel more at least having milk in the freezer this go around.
I ordered the Haakaa whenever I was in the hospital right after having Lucy. I remembered being soaked with milk for the first few weeks last time, and wanted to avoid that!
It was super cheap and honestly, I just expected it to catch the milk that was already coming out. I figured if I got 1 or 2 ounces a day that would be just fine.
At this point, any milk was more than I had collected with Rosy!
Little did I know just how much milk I would be dealing with this go around!
As soon as my milk came in after having Lucy it was insane. I had SO much milk and a baby who really struggled to eat (she had undiagnosed reflux).
Whenever the Haakaa pump came in the mail I tried it out and it was AMAZING!
I was collecting 6 to 8 ounces of milk just while she was nursing on the other side. By letting out the pressure on one side, it made it much easier for her to eat comfortably.
The Haakaa breast pump doesn’t just collect the milk that would have already been coming out.
It suctions on and pulls milk out without being painful or uncomfortable like a lot of manual breast pumps. Also, the fact that it’s working while you’re nursing takes a to-do out of your already insane baby caring day.
I think that I really struggled with pumping prior to the Haakaa because it wasn’t a natural thing to me.
I would be in my head when trying to pump. Lots of pressure on myself, and my milk would refuse to let down.
By using the Haakaa, I am already nursing. My milk has already let down because I’m feeding my baby. There is no pressure. It is wonderful!
Thanks to the Haakaa, I have pumped somewhere around 3000 ounces of milk without trying.
Now, my baby never was able to take a bottle due to lip and tongue ties. But, I have been able to donate that milk through The Milk Bank.
Lucy also takes a sippy cup now, so I know that if I need to be away, she has a way to get milk!
Is the Haakaa easy to use?
Yes! A million times yes! When you are nursing, you literally suction it to the side your baby isn’t on. When you’re ready to switch sides, just pop it off and you’ll be amazed at what you collected! And what didn’t get all over your clothes!
Is the Haakaa easy to clean?
Again, as far as breast pumps go, the Haakaa takes the cake for simplest everything. It is literally a silicone cup. No small parts. No tiny hoses. It is the easiest to clean ever! I have heard horror stories about people putting it in the dishwasher though, so don’t try that!
Are the knock off versions just as good?
I have no clue, and I will never know. The Haakaa is so good, and so affordable I don’t plan on ever trying anything else. I am a loyalist!
How much milk will the Haakaa collect?
I think this is totally dependent upon your personal supply. For me, using the Haakaa on both sides when I nursed, I usually got anywhere from 6 to 8 ounces in the early days.
9 months in, I now only use the Haakaa along with a manual pump before I nurse first thing in the morning. I get anywhere from 6 to 8 ounces a day!
Does the Haakaa cause oversupply?
I wouldn’t think that the Haakaa would cause oversupply. I had extreme over supply this time, but I don’t think it was aided at all by the Haakaa. Whenever I didn’t have it close by and had to nurse, I had a huge mess instead of a few collected ounces of milk.
I think the oversupply was going to be an issue for me regardless.
Will my baby get enough milk if I use the Haakaa?
Yes. Mothers bodies are incredible. Your milk supply will meet the demand of your baby. The Haakaa just saves you the mess of leaking milk and collects a few precious ounces while you’re at it. It does not take milk away from your baby.
Is the Haakaa breast pump uncomfortable to use?
Not for me! While other pumps were wildly uncomfortable for me, I hardly even noticed the Haakaa.
How long does the Haakaa last? Will it wear out quickly?
I have used my Haakaa for 9 months every single day. It is still going strong! It may have just a little bit less suction than it had originally, but it still gets the job done.