Breastmilk Oversupply and Overactive Letdown? Your Haakaa Pump Might Be Making it Worse!

[@stardustnights]

The same thing happened to me and my lactation consultant explained that it’s possible to overuse the haakaa - she suggested I only use the pump 1-2x a day max to limit risk of lumps/mastitis. I didn’t know about the ladybug catcher! Thanks for sharing

[@mikokitton]

I’m glad to share my experience, as I didn’t see this info out there for those of us with oversupply. I had to stop using the haakaa during the worst of my oversupply. But I’m slowly bringing it back because my supply dipped ever since returning to work. And I love the ladybug catcher so much, it has been my most useful item on my breastfeeding journey. It’s pretty comfy too, I’ve fallen asleep with it on. 😅

[@Goldenbudgetsavings2]

Your lucky I only get .5-1oz plus I can’t get him to latch

[@MotherBear811]

Needed this video ASAP! Having trouble the past couple of days with uoSet stomach and forceful letdown. Funny after having a low supply and now we've gone to oversupply!

[@mikokitton]

Glad this video can offer any help. Yes the haakaa is such a powerful tool. Sometimes too powerful! 😅

[@YouTubeSelf]

This came in such a timely manner!! My baby is only 4 days old and I’m wondering how often I should use the haakaa and thought maybe I should just use it in the morning when I’m most full! Now I know 😅 thank youuuu

[@mikokitton]

Congratulations! Yes, I would recommend using the Haakaa sparingly if you naturally overproduce. 🥰

[@pratypatthu9952]

This helps alot mama thankyou for sharing ur story I am currently 35 weeks pregnant confused to buy hakka or not this helps alot to make my decision I will not buy it unless it necessary

[@mikokitton]

Congratulations! What an exciting journey! I’m glad my story can help. Wishing you a safe and peaceful delivery. 🥰

[@tusakyeja6101]

Thank goodness i ran into your video. I bought the haakaa but only used it a couple of times and i noticed that when my baby feeds on one breast, he seems so satisfied not like before i started using the haakaa. Now i know what to do.

[@mikokitton]

I’m glad to hear my video can help in any way. Congratulations on your baby! 🥰

[@Bianca-vo5cp]

How did you handle the pain of overfullness between feeds when you initially got off the hakaa? How did you avoid mastitis from prolonged blocked ducts?

[@mikokitton]

@@Bianca-vo5cp When the pain was really bad I would take Advil and lightly express/massage my breasts. During warm showers, I would also lightly express them too just enough to take the pressure off. But yes it did really hurt a lot until my milk re-regulated. There were times I had really painful nodes in my breast that I would massage while breastfeeding. I also took some of the Legendairy supplements to prevent clogged ducts and I’m not sure if they helped but I never got mastitis through this process.

[@laurafinann4172]

This!!! Due with first baby in 2 weeks. My husband and I were asking our doula last night how he could help with overnight feedings so I could get a little more sleep during the first weeks. We were thinking I could pump/use this Haakaa I had heard of in order to get just a little extra milk for him to give the baby at night once in a while... The doula said, "do not use the Haakaa pump or any pump for at least the first month!" for the exact reason you're talking about here. She said it tricks your body into thinking it needs to produce more milk than it actually does, and could lead to pain and even mastitis in the breasts. So sorry you went through this; it sounds really unpleasant. I'll be trying the Ladybug instead to catch the passive letdown without using suction, thanks to your suggestion! *Note: Doula suggested other ways for hubby to be helpful while I'm exclusively breastfeeding, such as doing all overnight diaper changes, taking baby for increments during the day when she's alert but not fussy or needing to feed so I can get short naps in, etc. I think we'll try her suggestions!

[@mikokitton]

Congratulations on your baby! 😍 And I am so glad to hear you have a wise and experienced doula. For our situation, my husband and I took 6 hour shifts with our newborn (except I still had to wake up to feed baby every 3 hrs). Our baby was very fussy and needed to be held 24/7. 😂 Blessings on your baby and I hope you have a smooth journey. 🥰

[@laurafinann4172]

@@mikokitton Thank you so much!

[@vicvic180]

This was my experience too! People said "The Haakaa catches letdown but doesn't mess with supply and demand"...such false information! I had such problems from oversupply from removing milk with the Haakaa. Wanted to add though even a ladybug catcher can increase supply. Whatever comes out, your body thinks baby needs. I usually try and prevent any milk in the early days coming out on the side I'm not feeding on, to prevent increased milk production. Thanks for sharing.

[@mikokitton]

Wow, I didn’t know the lady bug catcher could increase supply too. That’s good to know! Appreciate the info! 🥰

[@porshamoore4769]

thank you for this!! it took me days to realize this! i thought i was going crazy. i never felt “relieved” or empty. i can barely put my arms to my sides and my baby is only 10 days old and my freezer is almost full of milk. i was using the hakka at every feed about 8-10 feedings a day!

[@mikokitton]

Hello! Sorry for the super late reply, I’ve been juggling returning to work and taking care of baby. Congratulations on your baby! The Haaka pump is such a useful tool for moms who need to increase supply. But it can backfire for moms like us with oversupply. I’m glad to be able to share my experience with you. You’re not alone! 🥰

[@My_daddyFN123]

Hi what a cute baby boy! What type of blanket is he laying on? Looks really comfortable thank you

[@mikokitton]

Hi there! Thank you! 😊 My baby is resting on a waterproof mat called “BlueSnail Bamboo Quilted Thicker Waterproof Changing Pad Liners.” I purchased it on Amazon. It is one of my most used items! We use it when we do diaper changes and during naps to catch any leaks or blowouts. It has been a lifesaver!

[@marymurphree8071]

Yes! I have almost 300oz of milk in my freezer at three weeks pp from my hakka but have noticed I am uncomfortable and have an oversupply now from it.

[@mikokitton]

Thanks for sharing! It’s always nice to have that extra stash of milk, but sometimes the pain from the oversupply can be a bit too much. 😅

[@hamsterlove685]

Thank you for the useful knowledge. Appreciate it a lot

[@mikokitton]

Thank you! I’m glad it was useful! ☺️

[@msavarymath]

great information thanks for sharing!

[@mikokitton]

Thank you. ☺️

[@tinadsouza2167]

Thank you for this. Unfortunately I already purchased the haakaa. But I haven’t delivered yet. Was planning to pack it in my hospital bag. Did you try to just place it on the breast without the suction? Not sure if that’s even possible

[@mikokitton]

Hi there. It is a little bit difficult to place on without suction, but it might work with a pumping bra on. For me, after I realized that it wasn’t working for us, I used the ladybug catcher instead. The ladybug has almost no suction as it acts like a little cup that catches letdown. I will say though that the haakaa was helpful when I returned to work and my supply dropped. I used it at that time to increase my supply. Wishing you a safe and happy delivery!

[@imgrii2794]

Here i am thinking i should get that pump and see if it helps me actually get a nice supply, i don’t breastfeed my baby she doesn’t latch i just pump but i only make about 3-4 oz a day (on good days, bad days I barely get anything) … 🙁 i had eaten the lactation cookies, lactation drinks and i just don’t make enough i had to give her formula and a bottle of breast milk once i have enough milk stored for her, it’s so frustrating.

[@mikokitton]

Hi there. I’m so sorry to hear what you are going through. At the start of our journey, my baby struggled to latch properly too. I hired a lactation consultant who came to my home to help us and it was fully covered by insurance. It helped us immensely. Could that be something you are interested in? No pump drains the breasts better than a properly latching baby. And that may, in turn, help increase supply. I think the haakaa could help if you try manually expressing with it. Sometimes I used to manually express with the haakaa Bc the electric pump would be too uncomfortable. In my personal experience, the only thing that helped me increase my supply was to power pump or breastfeed every 3 hours. Which meant waking up in the middle of the night multiple times. Breastfeeding/pumping is so hard. It is honestly one of the toughest aspects of postpartum. I’m sure your baby is healthy and happy whether they are fed formula or breastmilk. 🥰 I’m wishing you the best.

[@carolynwatson4301]

If someone is drinking the milk then it isn't an oversupply. Momma's who have multiples can sometimes make a half gallon a day. If you have a strong let down and baby can't keep up then try the laid back nursing position or hand express before putting baby on. I have breastfed 7 babies. I always make enough milk for mainland China. I continue to give my babies breast milk until they are three years old even if it is in a cup.

[@carolynwatson4301]

I only use it to catch the milk that runs out when nursing. Otherwise me and the baby are soaked before we are done.

[@mikokitton]

Appreciate your input. Congratulations on your babies! How did you raise 7? I am so tired from chasing around one toddler. 😭😂

[@carolynwatson4301]

@@mikokitton Two were my birth children and the other four were my grandkids. My grand daughter was allergic to formula and my daughter has Renault syndrome and it makes breast feeding excruciating. So I induced lactation and was a wet nurse for my grandkids. I took care of them during the day and pumped to send milk home with them at night. I did that until each one was in kindergarten.

[@unerevuese]

My sister had an oversupply issue. She found pumping pointless. Especially since she was at home with my niece. I am lucky I made enough for breastfeeding and bottle feeding for my husband.

[@mikokitton]

Thanks for sharing! Glad to hear you guys found what works best for you. 😀

[@barlevi2045]

thank you for this video ❤

[@mikokitton]

❤️ I hope it was helpful! ☺️ Thank you!

[@stargazerlily7016]

What about using the Haaka or pump for five minutes on the same breast that you just finished feeding baby with? So essentially, baby “empties breast” and then you get any last dregs just in case.

[@mikokitton]

Hi there. I think that would help if you wanted to increase your milk supply. If you empty your breast each feeding, your body will probably signal that it needs to make that amount or more each time. For me, since I had oversupply issues, I actively chose to not empty my breast even though it was quite painful.

[@AlexisRanae]

I stopped using it, but maybe I should start using it again to build a stash up lol

[@mikokitton]

The haakaa will definitely help with that. I would sometimes use it again when I saw dips in production.

[@kayceeamor]

Same. But wasn’t using the haaka. Just hand expressing before my baby nurse. She’s 10 weeks and I’m still having the same problem.

[@mikokitton]

Congratulations on your baby! I had the oversupply issue for almost 3 months. But it regulated when I stopped using the haakaa. And I would only lightly express to relieve the pressure. What really helped was when my baby started sleeping longer stretches and I just didn’t need to nurse as much. It was very painful during those longer stretches of not nursing, but my body responded quickly. Wishing you the best!

[@imathumb]

i love how you chose to just show your bub for the whole footage, so cute! ☺️🍼

[@mikokitton]

Thank you! 🥰 I tend to feel more comfortable and focused when I’m behind the camera. 😂

[@carlacorre4925]

Thanks for sharing this. More power to your channel!❤️

[@mikokitton]

Than you! ☺️