What's a Haakaa?

It started as the Haakaa, and then everyone made a version. The Ladybug, the Elvie Curve, the Boon Trove...what do they do and why would a breastfeeding mom use one?

It's soft, pliable, and easy to clean!

A Haakaa and all of its copycats are passive milk collectors that will start to work when your milk volume increases, as your mature milk starts to come in. The original, standard Haakaa is pretty cheap at $12, although different brands and fancier versions can be more expensive. They are meant to be attached to one breast while baby nurses on the other side. Baby triggers a let-down, which occurs bilaterally, so the faucet on the other side turns on, and that breast will begin to run into the Haakaa. This can occur even if you aren't a leaky type of mom. The Haakaa suctions to the breast, creating negative pressure, so it is not just a milk catcher. Some moms respond better to the Haakaa than to a pump, because baby triggers a stronger hormonal response than a machine. The Haakaa usually doesn’t fully drain a breast, but rather, collects a little bit of milk, which you can use for supplementation or storage. If you are on a triple feeding program, you should start to experiment with a Haakaa when your milk comes in. Sometimes, it works so well that it makes pumping unnecessary!

Use the Haakaa to build your stash of milk in the freezer, but be careful that you don't create an over-supply by tricking your body into thinking that you have a twin baby. (unless you have a twin baby!) In some cases, moms respond so well to the Haakaa, that they begin collecting several ounces with every nursing session. Chances are that you are only responsible for feeding YOUR baby, and not the whole neighborhood. So to avoid the headache of complications that go along with an over-supply, such as an increased risk of clogged ducts and mastitis, as well as a gassy, fussy baby who may be reacting to lactose overload, use the Haakaa to put away just a few ounces everyday, and not more than five ounces.

#haakaa #boonetrove #passivemilkcollectors #elviecurve