Question 1

Will I need an electric pump as well, or is a Haakaa pump enough?

Accepted Answer

The Haakaa Pump is enough. It is very easy to use as it works with suction and does not require any power or any cords to function. The Haakaa Pump creates continuous suction once attached to the breast, drawing out your breast milk and collecting every drop of your let-down. And all of that is hands-free.  It also really depends on what you are pumping for. If you need to pump large quantities of milk, regularly express full feeds in a single session or are exclusively pumping then you’ll probably need to use your Haakaa in conjunction with an electric pump. If you’re just looking to build a breast milk stash, or pump every now and then, the Haakaa alone is ideal. What works for some Mums may not work for other because every body is different, and it’s all about finding what best suits you. The pump helps you collect both foremilk and rich hindmilk. It’s silent, lightweight and portable so you can express breast milk anytime and anywhere that’s convenient – whether that’s at work, sitting in the car or even on a day trip!

Question 2

I've just had my baby, when can I start using the Haakaa?

Accepted Answer

There’s no set time frame for when you can use a Haakaa, really – you can use it as soon as you feel comfortable after birth.  It may take a couple of days after birth for your breast milk to come in. Before this time, you will express colostrum – a thick, sticky, yellow ‘first milk’ that will provide the foundations for your baby’s development. Because of its thicker consistency, colostrum is more difficult to express than breast milk, and you will only get a few drops of it at a time. If your baby is unable to nurse directly during the first few hours, it is best to hand express the colostrum for them. This is important because expressing within the first few hours after giving birth can help mothers to produce more milk in the early stages of their baby’s life! If you have chosen to use a breast pump to complement your breastfeeding, it is widely recommended that you wait a few weeks after giving birth before you start pumping. This is because in those first few weeks, you and your baby work together to build your milk supply and establish a routine based on how much and how often bub feeds. If your baby is unable to breastfeed or you choose to pump exclusively, you should pump breast milk as soon as you can to better establish your milk supply. However, if you are experiencing any difficulties or have any concerns regarding the expression of breast milk, it is recommended that you see a lactation consultant or other health professional.

Question 3

My Haakaa pump is sticky / cloudy / discoloured / has a residue. How do I fix this? Is it safe to still use?

Accepted Answer

Silicone is an absorbent material and can absorb the colours and smells of substances it comes in contact with. Although your silicone products can go in the dishwasher, we recommend hand washing with hot, soapy water. To sterilise, we recommend boiling in water for 2-3 minutes of using a steam steriliser. We strongly recommend not using any bleach-based agents or sterilising tablets to clean your Haakaa products as it can affect the clarity of your product. Although your products might become cloudy after using detergent to wash them, silicone does not leach and it is still completely safe to use. If you are still concerned, you can sterilise your pump again by boiling in water, just to be safe! Some mums have said that boiling the pump in water with a touch of white vinegar can help improve the clarity of the pump, so you may wish to give this a go.

Sometimes silicone can act like a magnet as well and can attract its surroundings or absorb smells, colours etc. We suggest hand washing the breast pump under hot, soapy water with a slightly rough sponge and gently scrubbing the exterior. This usually helps!

Question 4

Why does my Haakaa has a strong smell of plastic / food? Is it still safe to use?

Accepted Answer

Silicone is a 100% natural material. It has a low reactivity to other chemicals and does not leach because it contains no chemical fillers, making it incredibly safe to use. The Haakaa may have adapted the smell whilst stored during shipment. Or maybe during storage in kitchen draws. Silicone is porous, so instead of leaching, it will absorb the substances it comes in contact with so the reason why it may have a smell is due to this factor. In saying that, it is completely safe to use as it won't leach. One of the most common suggestions for getting smells out of silicone is to soak your silicone item in a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and water for a while. Afterwards, you can just sterilize in boiling water for 2-3 minutes to sterilize before use. We strongly recommend not using any bleach-based agents or sterilising tablets to clean your Haakaa products as it can affect the clarity and the lifespan of your product.

Question 5

My Haakaa pump keeps losing suction.  What can I do? Is it faulty?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes, when our bodies are constantly changing after the birth of our babies, the suction strength needed changes as well. When attaching, do you fold the flange back, squeeze the bottom of the pump, centre it onto your nipple, unfold the flange and release? This is the most effective way of attaching. The more you squeeze the bottom of the pump, the stronger the suction will be. Just make sure your Nipple is in the centre of the Flange and not touching the Silicone Walls. Always check your Pump for any small holes that could cause air to escape to prevent poor suction. Another tip would be to assist your breast by holding or cupping it in one hand while attaching the pump in the other so you can really get a centre onto your breast and allow the pump to grasp a bigger area. If you find none of these tips work and it still won't suction on properly, it may be that the silicone material has worn and lost its suction. Sometimes this can happen depending how often it is used and sterilised, as well as the method of how it's washed and sterilised – the more you sterilise your pump, the faster it will lose its suction. Some mums find they need to replace their pumps after a few months while others have theirs for years. It really differs for each person based on each of those factors.

Question 6

My Haakaa pump is hurting when I'm pumping. How can I stop it feeling this way? What causes the pain?

Accepted Answer

If your Haakaa Pump is hurting, then the suction might be too strong. Maybe try to just lightly squeeze the base and attach to your breast making sure your nipple is in the centre of the pump and not touching the sides of the Pump. The more air gets squeezed out, the stronger the suction will be.

Question 7

I feed off both breasts for each feed. If I collect the let down on one side, while feeding off the other, and then swap, am I not taking milk away that baby would have otherwise consumed during that feed?

Accepted Answer

No, because you are just collecting the let-down. You can attach your Haakaa Pump with a very light suction, so it does not express on that side. The light suction will help collecting the let-down that would go otherwise to waste in a nursing pad. Once baby starts feeing on one side, the other side starts leaking. When you swap side and attach your Haakaa on the “empty” side, the suction will draw the rest of the milk out and empty your breast completely.

Question 8

What is the difference between Generation 1 , 2 and 3?

Accepted Answer

To give you a little bit of information, all of our pumps work off of suction and have the same size flange:

Generation 1: 100ml one-piece silicone with no suction base

Generation 2: 100ml or 150ml one-piece silicone with suction base

Generation 3: 160ml or 250ml with thicker silicone walls and a slightly stronger suction. Can be interchanged from a pump to a baby bottle, 
feeding spoon, sippy spout or even a storage container.

Many mums love our Gen. 1 & 2 Breast Pumps for their compact, lightweight, single-piece construction. Alternatively, the Gen. 3 pump features a thicker silicone body that is perfect for mums looking for a stronger level of suction from their pump. We designed the Gen. 3 range to be future-proof and added to over time, growing with a baby from breastfeeding to their solids journey and beyond as they gain more independence and confidence to self-feed.

Question 9

Can I use the Haakaa pump without baby feeding on the other breast?

Accepted Answer

A lot of Mums do use the pump on the other side of feeding but yes, it can also be used when bub is not feeding on the other breast and you are needing to express. It would probably be best to express when bub is usually due for their feed as your milk will be ready to come through around that time. In saying that, if bub is only a newborn and your feeding routine may be all over the place (which is very normal), it may be harder to know when bub is due for a feed. Just finding the right time to express will be the main part.

Ways to help stimulate and encourage let down will be to attach the pump to your breast and to squeeze the base every second (a motion that mimics bubs sucking to stimulate the breast) and do so for about 45 seconds – 1 minute. You can gently massage the breast as well to help encourage the milk to flow. Be sure to only squeeze the base gently, to avoid the suction from coming away from the breast.

If you are still unsure on whether this would be the best pump for your particular situation, we recommend talking with a Midwife or Lactation Consultant about this, as they are the experts in this area and will have plenty of tips and advice to help you make the best decision.

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions