With my first child, I considered my breastfeeding journey fairly successful. I pumped for 11 months and continued on for an additional 14 months afterward. I never gave up even though it was tough when I returned to work with almost no stash stored. Going in that first time around, I had no idea what to expect and frequently postponed the loathsome task of pumping, thinking there’d be time later. When I returned to work, I put a hefty demand on myself for day to day output that could have easily been avoided with a little preparation. The worst was when our daughter started sleeping through the night (around nine months), and yet I was still up at 3 a.m. every night to pump, ensuring enough to send to Grandma’s the next day.
I was not compensated in any way for this product recommendation. This post does, however, contains affiliate links for which I receive a small percentage of any sale from products purchased through the links on this site at no cost to you. Read more.
When I found out I was pregnant with my second, I knew I needed to build a
larger stash from from the get-go. I’d heard great things about the Haakaa for night use and at less than $30 it seemed worth a whirl. If you’ve never heard of a Haakaa, it’s essentially a self-suctioning, silicone pump, perfect for use on the opposite side that you’re nursing baby on.
Let me tell you, that $30 is the best I’ve ever spent! Baby is 10 days old and I have over 100 ounces in my freezer. I still use my electric pump once a day, but I’m pulling approximately 6-8 ounces every night, plus another 2-4 with the Haakaa during the day, as well.
If my calculations are right, I can have enough stored when I return to work to last approximately two months (or will have sufficient to donate). This is a huge weight off my mind as I was in tears after returning to work last time, running my small stash out in a few short days.
So my advice to all new moms or moms-to-be-again, buy a Haakaa. It is — by far — the least intrusive or time consuming way to pump. As a new mom, I hated sitting in front of the electric pump; I hated spending time away from baby to do so; I hated buying different sized flanges; I hated pumping after feeding; I hated wasting all those drips in the middle of the night; and I hated the never ending stream of dishes. All of these are avoidable with the one-piece, easy-to-clean, one-size-fits-all Haakaa.
(Note: An electric pump is still the most efficient way to express milk and I recommend having one, buying appropriately-sized flanges, and becoming familiar with it if you plan to return to work. If you’re insured, your plan should cover it.)
As far as style, I opted for this one, as it has a larger base, so I’m not as likely to knock it over. I also like that it comes with a cap so I can chuck it in my purse, diaper bag, or luggage and not worry about dust, etc. getting inside (although the cute flower stoppers were quite enticing). Unfortunately, you’ll still want to carry an extra bottle around to transport your milk home (or make sure it stays upright), but that’s definitely not the least convenient thing you’ll be carrying around as a parent these days.
Do you have a Haakaa? If so, did you find it easy to use? Did you find it helpful in building your stash? Comment below with your experience. I’d love to hear from you!
— Funky Crunchy Mama
I am so unorganized I lose all my haakaas!!!