How to Use a Haakaa and Cimilre Pump Together
By Kindred Bravely | Nursing Bras, Maternity Clothes & Mom Must | Published: 2026-10-14
Category: How-to Guides
Pair a Haakaa with your Cimilre pump to collect more milk without extra pumping sessions. Here's a step-by-step routine for new moms.
Quick answer
Use your Haakaa on the breast you're not pumping from while your Cimilre pump runs on the other side. The Haakaa catches letdown that would otherwise soak a pad, and the pump does the main work. Keep the Haakaa suction gentle, empty it before it gets heavy, and never treat it as a replacement for a full pump session if you're trying to protect supply.
Why pairing a manual collector with an electric pump works
A Haakaa is a passive silicone collector. It doesn't pull milk the way an electric pump does, but it takes advantage of the letdown that happens on both breasts at once. When your Cimilre pump triggers a letdown on one side, the other side often releases milk too. Without a collector, that milk ends up in a nursing pad or a bra.
This is why the pairing is popular: you're not adding a pumping session, you're capturing milk you were already making. The tradeoff is that a Haakaa alone won't empty a breast, so it's a supplement to pumping, not a substitute. If you're pumping to build or protect supply, the Cimilre still does the heavy lifting.
What you need before you start
Set up a station you can reach one-handed. You'll want your Cimilre pump with flanges and tubing, a Haakaa, a hands-free pumping bra or a well-fitting nursing bra that holds flanges snugly, and a clean bottle or storage bag for the Haakaa milk. Keep a burp cloth nearby for drips.
A bra that actually holds the flange matters more than most people expect. If you're constantly pressing the flange with one hand, you can't manage the Haakaa with the other. The Sublime Bamboo Scoop Neck Maternity & Nursing Longline Bra Top is a seamless knit with a lift-up nursing opening and light support, which makes it a reasonable base layer for a hands-free setup. The Every Stage Crossover Bra is another option: its modal spandex jersey is stretchy and designed for pull-aside access, so it works for lounging sessions where you're switching sides often.
Step-by-step: running both at once
The order below is the one most parents settle into after a week or two. Adjust the timing to your own letdown pattern, but keep the sequence.
Common mistakes that cost you milk
The biggest mistake is over-suctioning the Haakaa. It's meant to sit lightly and catch letdown, not to be cranked on like a pump. If it's uncomfortable or leaving a ring mark, you've gone too far.
The second mistake is leaving the Haakaa on too long on one side while the pump runs on the other. If you're prone to clogged ducts or have an oversupply, that extra stimulation can work against you. Cap the Haakaa side at the same length as your pump session unless your lactation consultant says otherwise.
The third mistake is combining the Haakaa milk with pump milk in the same bottle without checking temperature rules. Both should be chilled before combining, and you should follow your local health guidance on storage windows. When in doubt, keep them separate.
Cleaning and storage between sessions
Rinse both the Haakaa and your pump parts in cool water first, then wash with warm soapy water and a dedicated brush. Silicone collectors can hold a milk film if you skip the cool rinse. Air-dry on a rack with parts separated so no water pools in the flange or valve.
If you're storing milk, label with the date and time. The Haakaa milk and the pump milk from the same session can go into the fridge separately and be combined once both are cold. Don't top off a frozen bag with fresh milk.
Your Haakaa and Cimilre routine, step by step
- Step 1: Start the Cimilre on the side you want to empty first: Begin pumping on the fuller breast. Let the pump run through its letdown phase before you attach the Haakaa to the other side. This way you're not wasting the Haakaa's gentle suction before milk is actually flowing. Checkpoint: if you feel a strong tingle or see sprays, letdown has arrived and the Haakaa is ready to go on.
- Step 2: Attach the Haakaa with light suction only: Fold the flange back, center it over the nipple, and squeeze the base just enough to create a gentle seal. You should feel a soft pull, not a pinch. If it hurts, break the seal and reattach with less squeeze. Common mistake: pumping the Haakaa like a bulb syringe. More suction does not mean more milk here.
- Step 3: Pump for your normal session length: Run the Cimilre for the same duration you usually would, typically 15 to 20 minutes per side or until the flow slows. Leave the Haakaa on the opposite side for that same window, then remove it. Checkpoint: if the Haakaa fills past the halfway mark, empty it into a bottle and reattach. A heavy collector can slip and spill.
- Step 4: Switch sides and repeat if you're pumping both breasts: Move the pump to the second breast and, if you still have letdown on the first, put the Haakaa there. Some parents only use the Haakaa on one side per session, which is fine if that's where you leak. Common mistake: assuming you must use the Haakaa on both sides every time. Use it where you actually collect milk.
- Step 5: Combine, label, and store: Pour the Haakaa milk into a separate bottle or bag. Chill both the Haakaa milk and the pump milk before combining. Label with date and time, and use the oldest milk first. Checkpoint: if you're unsure about storage windows, follow your pediatrician's or lactation consultant's guidance rather than guessing.
- Step 6: Clean everything before the next session: Rinse the Haakaa and pump parts in cool water, then wash in warm soapy water and air-dry. Silicone and valves need to be fully dry before reassembly to avoid mildew. Common mistake: letting milk sit in the Haakaa between sessions. It's harder to clean and the fat residue clings to silicone.
Products that support this routine
- Sublime® Bamboo Scoop Neck Maternity & Nursing Longline Bra Top | Oatmeal Heather: A seamless bamboo blend bra top with a scoop neckline, lift-up nursing access, and a longline silhouette for light support. The lift-up opening lets you switch sides quickly between the Haakaa and the pump without fully undressing, and the stretchy knit holds flanges close enough for a hands-free session.
- Every Stage Crossover Bra | Cocoa: A modal spandex jersey crossover bra with pull-aside nursing access, designed for everyday wear, sleeping, and lounging. If you pump at night or during contact naps, the pull-aside design and soft jersey make it easier to start a session without waking a sleeping baby.
- Organic Muslin Nursing Pillow Cover | Lavender Cosmos: An organic cotton muslin cover with a snug zipper closure that fits many nursing pillows, including the Boppy. A washable cover means you're not stuck hand-washing a pillow after every leaky pumping session, which matters when you're already washing pump parts daily.
