Breast milk collectors are devices designed to collect breast milk that drops from the other breast side while you are breastfeeding or manually pumping. They are very useful for nursing mothers who want to take advantage of every drop of milk their body produces, as they prevent any milk from getting lost. Furthermore, another function is to help prevent your bra from getting wet or soaking breast pads, which can cause discomfort or irritation to the skin.

What are breastmilk collectors?

There are different types of breast milk collectors, but in general, they are small silicone devices that are placed on the breast to collect leaking milk. Some are simply reservoirs with an opening that fits the shape of the nipple and is placed inside the bra. Others, such as silicone or suction milk collectors (like the famous “Haakaa” model), are attached to the breast by vacuum and allow more significant amounts of breast milk to be collected while feeding the baby or expressing milk with a breast pump.

When should they be used?

Well, they are often used a lot at the beginning of breastfeeding when a lot of milk supply is common, but milk collectors are also handy in other situations:

1. Throughout your breastfeeding journey: When you are feeding your baby from one breast, often, the other breast also leaks due to the milk ejection reflex that activates both breasts. This usually happens in the first few months, but some mothers experience this throughout their entire breastfeeding journey. Instead of letting that milk go to waste, stain clothing, or collect it in breast pads, you can use a breast milk collector to catch it and store it.
2. During pumping: If you are using a single breast pump, you can take advantage of the dripping from the other breast and collect that milk with a breast milk collector, thereby maximizing the amount of breast milk you can store. Once you finish pumping, you can mix breast milk from both sides.
3. If you have a high breast milk supply. Mothers with an overproduction of breast milk may find those breast milk collectors helpful, as they can collect excess milk and help relieve pressure on the breast without needing a full pumping.
4. To avoid constant soaking: Wearable breast collector shells are also useful to avoid the discomfort of having constantly wet breasts due to leaking between feeds, which could lead to skin or nipple irritation.

How do you store the collected breast milk?

The collected breast milk must be handled very carefully to avoid contamination. Here are some important guidelines:

• Hygiene: Wash your hands before handling the collectors or the collected breast milk.
• Avoid contamination: Wash the collector thoroughly before and after each use. It needs to be cold-sterilized and then cleaned with soap and water, or in the dishwasher after each use.
• Store quickly: The breast milk you get from the collector can be closer to your body, which keeps it warm. For proper storage, putting the breast milk in the fridge (or freezer) after about 20 minutes of placing the collector on your breast is important.
• Correct storage: The breast milk you collect should be stored in a clean, freezer-safe container if you don’t use it right away. You can store it in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 6 months. Make sure to label containers with the date of pumping for better tracking.

What you need to consider

1. Comfort: These breast milk collectors should be comfortable to wear. Some models can put pressure on your breast, which can be uncomfortable in the long term and cause swelling or bruising in the area, or if they are not used properly.
2. Prolonged use: It is not recommended to wear breast collector shells for a long period of time, as they can trap moisture and prevent the nipple from being aired; this is especially important if the mother has sore nipples or cracks.
3. They are not a substitute for a breast pump: Although these collectors can passively collect milk, they are not a substitute for active pumping, especially if you are trying to maintain or increase your milk supply. Remember that they do not have the same function.

To summarize, breast milk collectors are a simple but effective tool in breastfeeding to take advantage of the milk that would otherwise be lost through leakage. With proper care and use at specific times, they can help mothers optimize the amount of milk collected for their babies and avoid losing breast milk.