Haakaa Breast Pump Review

Haakaa Breast Pump: A Mom’s Breast Friend

If you’re a nursing mom, you know the struggle of nursing your baby on one side, only to have your milk let down on the other side. If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Wow, I wish there was a way I could stop wasting milk on the other side!” then prepare to have your mind blown by the Haaka.

The Haakaa Breast Pump is a simple, inexpensive alternative to using a manual or electric breast pump and you can use it to effortlessly collect milk on the opposite breast from where you are nursing. The Haakaa is a silicone device that has a place to put your breast and you all you have to do is squeeze the bottom area, which applies a gentle suction that collects the expressed milk. The Haakaa is simple but so useful that I think all breastfeeding mothers should have one.

The Haakaa is also easy to clean and sanitize. The company recommends sanitizing the pump in a pot of boiling water for 2-3 minutes. But it is also dishwasher safe, so you can just throw it in the dishwasher to sanitize it. The Haakaa pump is make of 100% food-grade silicone, which makes it very soft and comfortable to use. The Haakaa only comes in one size, and works for most women. The beauty of the Haakaa is that it doesn’t require batteries and it doesn’t have any plugs or wires that you or your little one can get caught in. The Haakaa uses gentle suction to express milk and isn’t as aggressive as many conventional pumps. You can even use the Haakaa with one hand while holding your baby in the other. Many mothers actually use the Haakaa while nursing to collect milk on the breast not being nursed on by baby.

Simple + Effective

The Haakaa pump is made of clear silicone and comes in a convenient size–the top of the pump will fit your breast and the bottom is a collection cup ,which is marked in ounces (measured up to 4 oz. but you can fit more in). That’s it, plain and simple.

There are also accessories you can buy with the Haakaa that can make it even easier to use, such as silicone suction cup for the bottom of the pump, so when you put it on your coffee table it will stick to the surface and prevent spills. There’s also a stopper for the top, so once it’s sanitized the stopper can be put in place to keep the inside clean and reduce spills.

Squeeze, Apply, and Voila!

Although my first baby nursed very well and I had a great supply of breast milk, I also wanted to have a tiny bit of freedom so I decided to also use a breast pump. I used a double electric pump at first, which produced a lot of expressed milk. However, the downside was all the parts that are included in order for me to pump. Washing + pumping + storing = not fun.

In sharp contrast to the tons of parts that are required with most breast pumps, the Haaka is just a simple, all-in-one piece. It was so easy to travel with and required basically no thought or preparation (other than cleaning the one piece). I built up quite a stash of breast milk just from using the Haakaa while I was nursing my baby; without it, I would leak from the other side and it would have be wasted if the Haakaa wasn’t on.

It only comes in one size but, you are able to place the pump on your breast and increase/decrease the pressure needed by simply squeezing the bottom of the pump. This can be done with one hand, while holding baby in your other arm. With other pumps, you often have to be sized to see which flange will be comfortable.

Helpful Even for Exclusive Pumping

Fast forward to my second baby: my sweet baby girl had some issues with latching and I ended up exclusively pumping. That meant that every single bottle I gave her had to be pumped. Every precious ounce she drank was pumped and it was so exhausting. I had to bring a pump everywhere we went. I also had a toddler at this point, so leisurely sitting down to pump for hours throughout the day were not happening.

Fortunately, I was able to pump with the Haakaa because my body responded well to it. I could bottle feed, pump with the Haakaa, and drink a coffee all while watching my toddler play. It took a very short time to sanitize and I was always able to throw it in my bag when we were going out. Total life-saver!

I also loved that the Haaka is so discreet–there is no need for a separate bag to carry this pump. You can throw it in your purse or diaper bag. You also don’t need batteries or a plug, so it’s travel friendly—plus, it doesn’t make a pumping sound so it’s totally worry-free if you need to use it out in public. I use to have coffee with my friends and pump; they usually didn’t realize I was pumping.

Cleaning is super easy and sanitizing can be done in the dishwasher or in a small pot on the stove. When I used to sanitize my double electric pump I had to use the biggest pot I could find or resort to using multiple pots. Who has time for that?

A Must-Have for Breastfeeding

I believe this is a must-have product, unless you are strictly formula feeding.  Any person who is going to breastfeed should get this pump. Even if you’re not planning to express milk at all, the Haakaa can be used to collect the excess milk that leaks from your other breast so it doesn’t go to waste. Expressed milk can also be stored in the freezer in case of an emergency–or just a mom’s night out.

And frankly, the Haakaa is so versatile and cost-efficient, that even if you end up rarely using it, it’s not going to break the bank. Bottom line? Add this bad boy to your registry ASAP or pick up one for yourself so you can add even more multi-tasking mom awesomeness to your days. What else is new, right?

Buy the Haakaa Manual Silicone Breast Pump