How to Use a Haakaa to Unclog a Milk Duct

Last Updated on February 3, 2023 by Avi Steen

So your breast feels full, tight, and you feel like there’s a knot that won’t go away. You may have a clogged milk duct that needs to be released. It may or may not be painful, in my case the pain was there. but I want to show you how to use a Haakaa to unclog a milk duct.

If you’re a visual person check out this video on YouTube for a more visual explanation.

How to Use a Haakaa to Unclog a Milk Duct

Here’s how to do it:

1. Fill up the Haakaa with warm water, making sure to cover the tip of the nipple.
2. Add 1-2 tablespoons of epsom salt
3. Apply the haaka to your breast as normal and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.

Another way to release a blocked milk duct with a Haakaa is dangle feeding. Apply the Haakaa to the affected breast like usual when breastfeeding simultaneously. But allow your breast to dangle with the haakaa pump on by leaning forward during the feed.

With having your baby on the other breast I find that a football hold is the best hold for this type of feeding.

The last way you can unclog a milk duct is pretty simple. You will not need a haakaa, just your baby.

To unclog a milk duct during a feeding, change the baby’s position from your normal feeding position. for example, If you usually feed in a cradle hold, try football instead.  This will allow the baby to latch at a different angle on your breath to possibly pool from the duct that is affected.

Also changing position with each feeding can help you decrease the chance of having a milk duct that is blocked again.

How does Haakaa increase milk supply?

There are numerous ways that you can use a haakaa to increase milk supply. The simplest way is to apply the haakaa pump whenever the baby is feeding on the opposite side. Another way is using a manual pump or hand expression along with the haakaa. Pumping before baby feeds is another way to increase supply as well.

Applying the haakaa during each feeding tricks your body into making more milk. It kind of tells your body like “oh you have two babies?!”

No… Body I just have one baby. There’s a haakaa on the other side…

It tells your body to produce more milk because you are pulling from both sides. Really, when I would feed my baby I would switch sides so that she also empties the breast that originally had the haakaa on it.

So those are my best tips for unclogging a milk duct with a haakaa and increasing supply. Do you have any tips that have helped you along your breastfeeding journey? Share them below in the comments!

Avi Steen

Octavia Steen is an NBDA certified fertility doula, health coach, certified fitness nutrition specialist, aspiring missionary with the COGIC, and owner of Mother Mindset. She helps future and current mamas become more consistent in faith + fitness and grow closer to God so they can create a healthier lifestyle from the inside out!