"I've just had my baby, when can I start using a Haakaa pump?"

There’s no set time frame for when you can use a Haakaa pump – you can use it as soon as you feel comfortable after birth. Remember, though, it may take a couple of days after birth for your breastmilk 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 breastmilk, and you will likely only get a few drops at a time. If your baby is unable to nurse directly during the first few hours, it's best to hand-express the colostrum for them. This is important because expressing within the first few hours after birth can help mothers 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 breastmilk 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 breastmilk, it is recommended that you see a lactation consultant or other health professional.

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

No, because you are just collecting the letdown. As baby starts feeding on one side, the other side will start leaking. Simply attach your Haakaa pump using very light suction so it does not express on that side but still helps to collect the letdown that would otherwise have gone to waste in a nursing pad. When you swap sides and attach your Haakaa onto the “empty” breast, the pump will draw the rest of the milk out and empty your breast completely.

Does the Ladybug work the same as a Haakaa pump?

No – they are different. The Ladybug is a passive milk collector, and the Haakaa pump is an active milk expresser. A Ladybug sits in your bra and collects the leaked milk from your natural letdown. In contrast, a Haakaa pump uses strong, continuous suction to help draw out milk from your breast and can be worn with or without a nursing/pumping bra (provided it has been applied correctly). The suction the Ladybug produces is not strong enough to express milk; it is only effective in holding the Ladybug against your breast in your bra.

Will using the Ladybug increase my milk supply?

No. The Ladybug will only catch the milk that comes out naturally from your breast during your letdown. Even though slight suction is applied, it is not enough to extract your milk as a breast pump would do. We recommend purchasing a Haakaa pump instead of a Ladybug to help increase your milk supply if you want to achieve this.