This is a Haakaa!
A Haakaa is a pliable silicone bottle that is used to collect milk that leaks from your breast. It has a large opening so you can hand express your milk and easily capture the random sprays of milk. Or, you can suction it on your breast and let milk drip into it. Some moms leak a lot, but others - not so much.
The first few days
The Haakaa isn't very useful in the first few days as your milk is coming in. Perhaps you could use it to collect hand expressed colostrum or milk if your baby won't latch. Or, perhaps to relieve some initial engorgement as your milk first comes in. Or, you can remove a few drops of milk to soften a very firm breast so your baby can more easily latch on.
The first couple weeks
As your milk volume increases during the first couple weeks, your free breast might leak milk as your baby nurses from the other breast. If you're a leaker, rather than waste milk in a towel, you'll be tempted to capture the milk in the Haakaa. However, if you allow milk to flow freely, the Haakaa will steal milk from your baby. He might need to finish the feeding on this second breast, but now the milk is gone. To keep your milk inside your breast, maintain pressure over your nipple as your baby nurses the other breast.
After the first couple weeks
Some moms produce a lot more milk than their baby needs. If that's you, you'll be tempted to relieve breast fullness by letting milk freely leak into the Haakaa as your baby nurses the other breast. This, however, will ramp up your supply and set you up for mastitis. Excess foremilk intake can also make your baby fussy.
Using a Haakaa wisely
There are a couple circumstances in which a Haakaa will be handy, as long as you understand its use.
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In the beginning, as your milk supply is adjusting to your baby's demand, use the Haakaa to remove milk for comfort. You'll remove just enough to be comfortable, and it's easier to clean than a pump.
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If your baby won't latch, hand express into the Haakaa and feed this to your baby with a syringe, cup, or spoon. Or hand express directly into the cup or spoon.
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After a couple weeks, when your supply is established and there seems to be plenty, collect milk for your freezer stash. Mornings are the best time for this, because your production is peaking after you've rested (hopefully).
Kay Anderson MD, IBCLC
5/23