You’ve been researching breast pumps and the Haakaa keeps coming up! Not surprising considering it’s one of the simplest and quietest pumps to use for collecting breast milk. While it can be used throughout the day, you may be wondering how to store Haakaa between uses. And, do you have to clean it after each use?
The Haakaa can be stored in the refrigerator between uses. You can pour the breast milk into a bottle for your child’s next feed or stash it into a milk bag for freezing. The Haakaa can be washed or sterilized at the end of each day, in preparation for the next morning’s feed.
Should You Use Your Milk Stash Vs Use Haakaa Throughout the Day?
Breastfeeding mothers mostly use pumps to collect milk for stashing in a mini fridge’ freezer. This way, you can ensure there’s always a supply of breast milk available whenever you or a carer need to bottle feed your baby.
Alternatively, you can collect milk in the Haakaa during breastfeeding and store it in a bottle for your baby’s next feed. This means you can save your frozen milk stash for emergencies or later use.
By using the Haakaa throughout the day, you can collect milk every time you breastfeed your baby but also do a bottle-feeding session once you have enough breastmilk. This allows for switching between breast and bottle feeding throughout the day.
If you’re interested in the differences between a Haakaa and a Milkies Milk Saver, it’s worth noting that the Haakaa pumps do hold more milk. This means you can use the Haakaa throughout the day, combining breastmilk after each pump before stashing or using it for a bottle feed on the same day.
Can You Put Haakaa in the Fridge (With Milk Inside)?
Many mothers wonder if it’s safe to put the Haakaa in the fridge after expressing milk and storing it inside the pump. The answer is yes, making this product an extremely convenient pump to use!
The Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump and Silicone Cap allows you to store both the pump and milk inside the fridge. The leakproof seal of the cap keeps the breast milk clean and hygienic in between uses.
The pump stores up to 150ml of breastmilk which can be decanted into a bottle for feeding or stashed in a milk bag for freezing. The design of the pump also includes a flat suction base, making it easy to store securely upright, preventing any spills.
Should You Clean the Haakaa Pump Between Uses?
The manufacturers of the Haakaa pump recommend cleaning it between uses. However, it’s also safe to store in the refrigerator in between breastfeeds especially if you keep the silicone cap on.
Some mothers will give the Haakaa pump a rinse once they’ve poured the milk into a storage bottle or milk bag before placing it into the fridge for the next pumping session.
It’s essential to always give your breast a good wipe to remove any moisturizer or sweat before placing the Haakaa pump for collecting milk. This way, you can rest assured the pump is clean before using it again at the next feed.
How to Clean Haakaa
The Haakaa Silicone Breastfeeding Manual Breast Pump is really easy to clean. Its one-piece design is simple, with no fiddly flanges or cords to clean. Made with 100% food-grade silicone, you can clean the Haakaa in various ways.
Using the Dishwasher
All Haakaa pumps are dishwasher-safe. Always place the pump on the top rack of the dishwasher. You also want to make sure it’s not washed in the same cycle as heavily soiled dishes that may cause discoloration of the pump.
The manufacturers do point out that using the dishwasher may eventually result in your Haakaa pump turning cloudy in appearance. This is the same way your baby bottle nipples turn yellow. They do recommend washing the Haakaa pump by hand to avoid this from happening.
Cleaning By Hand
Handwashing your Haakaa pump ensures the silicone material stays clear without becoming discolored or cloudy. Use hot, soapy water and the Haakaa Silicone Cleaning Brush for a thorough clean.
Avoid using harsh detergents that may scratch the silicone construction and don’t use any bleach agents.
Use Boiling Water or a Steam Sterilizer
The Haakaa pump can also be cleaned by placing it in a pot of boiling water for two to three minutes. Alternatively, use a steam sterilizer. However, avoid using UV sterilizers as this will cause the silicone to break down over time, shortening its lifespan.
The manufacturers also recommend not using sterilizing tablets as this will result in your pump becoming cloudy in appearance. However, the cloudiness of the silicone doesn’t impact the quality of the pump and it can still be used without any hygienic concerns.
Storing Milk From the Haakaa
If the room temperature is below 25 degrees Celsius, you can store fresh breast milk for up to four hours outside of the fridge in a sealed storage bottle. The Haakaa Silicone Milk Storage Bag is an eco-friendly solution to stashing milk when using your pump multiple times in one day.
Simply pour expressed milk into the storage bag after each use and place in the fridge (or at room temperature) if you’re topping it up at the next pumping session. It’s absolutely vital to store all expressed breast milk in the fridge after four hours to prevent it from going off. Once full, the milk storage bags can be placed in the freezer for use at a later stage.
You could also store your pumped breast milk in a feeding bottle if you’re planning to bottle feed your baby on the same day as pumping. Top up after each pump and bottle feed when you have enough to do a full feed without breastfeeding.
Watch this video by Haakaa New Zealand channel which demonstrates how to use the Haakaa Ladybug Milk Collector during breastfeeding for storage purposes.
Conclusion
When thinking about whether Haakaa can replace an electric pump, you’ll be amazed by how easy it actually is to use the manual pump. The Haakaa pump is convenient, especially for traveling or using it at the office.
Read my comparison review on Haakaa or Bumblebee vs Naturebond manual pumps if you want to find out more about these products for breastfeeding moms. I’ve also rated Haakaa as my top manual pump in this review!
Last update on 2024-12-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API