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Using a Haakaa To Build A Freezer Stash

A few weeks ago, while aimlessly scrolling through Instagram, I came across the photo below and it took me a few minutes to figure out exactly what I was looking it. This my friends, is how woman pumped breastmilk 200 years ago:

The old school beast pumping days.... oh how times have changed! And thank goodnes they have!

Ohhhh how the times have changed… and thank goodness they have!

We’ve luckily evolved to having electric breast pumps, hands free pump bras, even breast pumps that can be work discreetly inside your shirt! All of these are great ways to express milk but out of all the items I have used to pump and build a freezer stash, the Haakaa is by far my favorite.

If you are not familiar with the Hakka, here’s the one I use religiously with my daughter Nora. At first glance, it looks so simple, but I assure you it can produce big results! Take some time to read through the comments here on the product. Moms are RAVING and I totally understand why.

How To Use A Haakaa

One of the most useful ways to utilize the Haaka is to place is on your non-nursing breast while breastfeeding your baby. This will allow the Haakaa to catch milk from your let down that would otherwise be wasted in your nursing pad.

To attach the Haakaa, you simply place the opening over the center of your nipple and create suction by gently squeezing:

Photo courtesy of Haakaa.co.nz

Getting your Haakaa to properly secure with suction may take a little practice but you will get the hang of it. Once it is attached, you simply feed baby as normal and let the milk from your other breast collect in the Haakaa.

How Much Milk Will You Get From a Haakaa?

The answer depends on your and your production. I have been an over-producer of milk in both of my nursing experiences and would collect anywhere from 1-3 ounces per feeding. But ANY amount you collect is more than you had stored up before and it adds up quicker than you might imagine!

You honestly may be surprised at how much milk you get! The let down that you have when your baby is at the breast is better than any let down you will get with a breast pump. Again, even if it is just an ounce or two, it’s totally worth it and after a few weeks, you will be surprised at how much you have collected!

If you are looking for ways to increase your milk production, be sure to read this post. 

How to Store Milk Collected from Haakaa

Milk collected from your Haakaa can go straight into a milk storage bag and into the freezer. However, if you do not want to freeze just an ounce or two (and I wouldn’t suggest you do. I aim for 4-6 ounces in each bag), you can simply place your haakaa milk in a storage bottle and place it in the fridge. You can then combine your milk collections at the end of the day and freeze.

You can browse through various Haakaa options here. 

Keep on pumping, mama! You’re doing a great job!

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