Milk Collectors and Oversupply

gulfcoastlactation
Dec 14, 2025
3 min read

When Catching Leaks Affects Your Baby's Intake

Diagram of a Haakaa milk collector attached to the breast. — Haakaa milk collector attached to the breast. (Haakaa)

Most people are familiar with Haakaas and milk collectors—“cups” that suction to the breast to catch extra milk from the opposite breast while a baby nurses. I was first introduced to the Haakaa in 2017 when a local pediatrician referred a baby to me for evaluation due to poor weight gain.

The Unexpected Problem with Milk Collectors

While taking the history, the mother mentioned she had over 100 ounces of breastmilk stored in her freezer. Despite this, the baby was not gaining weight as expected. Mom appeared to have an ample milk supply, the baby was latching well, nursed well on both breasts in the office, and mom denied any pain with latch, yet the baby wasn’t gaining weight. It just didn’t add up.

One of the first things I consider when a baby isn’t gaining weight is total milk intake over a 24-hour period. Based on feeding observations, this baby should have been receiving enough milk. I then asked more about pumping and how she had accumulated so much stored milk. She explained that she was using a Haakaa on one breast while nursing her baby on the other. She leaked a lot, didn’t want to waste the milk, and was also planning to return to work, so she wanted a large freezer supply. That’s when the lightbulb went on.

While the baby nursed on the first side, mom was essentially “pumping” the other side before baby had latched on. Even though the Haakaa isn’t a traditional pump, it uses suction and removes the letdown and additional milk that the baby would normally receive. It is common for babies to need to nurse from both breasts at a feeding in order to take in enough volume and gain weight appropriately. When that milk is removed ahead of time, the baby may latch, nurse briefly, then lose interest and fall asleep. This gives the mama the impression that the baby is full and satisfied when they may not be.

Some babies will then take a decent nap, while others may fuss, seem gassy, or appear uncomfortable. Parents often look for other explanations for the fussiness rather than offering more milk.

When to Use Your Haakaa or Milk Collector

After recognizing this pattern, I changed the way I educate families about Haakaas and milk collectors. For most babies to get what they need, they must nurse from both breasts at a feeding. If desired, a Haakaa or milk collector can be applied after the baby has latched to help collect a small amount of extra milk for storage. These devices can also be helpful for mothers who truly have an oversupply and whose babies are satisfied with one breast per feeding, but this is not the norm.

For working mothers, there is usually enough time during maternity leave to build an appropriate supply. Pumping once a day after a feeding and collecting a little extra after giving an occasional bottle is typically sufficient to build a week-to-week stash. Remember, once a mother returns to work, she will be pumping during the day and bringing milk home to replace what the baby consumed. There is no need to have a deep freezer full of breastmilk before returning to work.

Building a Freezer Stash Without Compromising Supply

The original Haakaa requires suction to stay in place. Newer milk collectors fit inside the bra and simply catch leaking milk without suction. These can be helpful for women who leak while breastfeeding and want to keep their clothing dry. However, not all women leak, so these devices may be useful for some and unnecessary for others. You won’t know how your body responds until your milk comes in and your baby is nursing.

At the end of the day, feeding the baby comes first; storing extra milk comes second. When babies are full and gaining weight, most are content and take good naps between feeds. Some will nap in their bassinets, while others want to be held more, even when they are full. This is normal.

Final Feeding Thoughts for Content Babies

Nursing 8–12 times in a 24-hour period is normal for exclusively breastfed babies. Introducing bottles around 3 weeks of age helps ensure your baby will take bottles when you return to work. Snuggling your baby in the early weeks and feeding on demand 8–12 times per day helps establish a healthy milk supply and appropriate weight gain.

For more detailed guidance and a customized plan, private appointments are available and encouraged, especially if you are planning to return to work.