10 Questions Mums Ask About Breast Milk Collectors (Answered!)

“A breast milk collector? What’s that? Why do you need one of those? Couldn’t you just hold a mug to your nipple?” - a real conversation I had as a newly breastfeeding mum. At the time I didn’t have the answer, but I just knew I needed and wanted all the tools (not a mug!) to make breastfeeding simple with minimal confusion.

Breast milk collectors, also known as milk collection cups, are growing in popularity because of how convenient they are. With so many questions about what it is, how to use it and what a milk catcher can do, we’re going to equip you with the answers - because there’s a far better alternative to using your coffee mug!

1. What Is a Breast Milk Collector?

A breast milk collector is a small breastfeeding accessory made from soft silicone. It sits inside your bra to passively collect milk throughout the day, saving your clothes from leaky boobs and catching your letdown during nursing sessions.

Breast milk collection cups can be used for daily wear and emptied when full. They can be worn on one breast whilst you breastfeed your baby on the other, or whilst using a single electric breast pump. There are multiple times in the day when you can use a milk catcher to passively collect breast milk.

2. How Does a Breast Milk Collector Work?

When your baby or breast pump stimulates the breast your letdown triggers milk flow from both breasts. Without a milk catcher, the breast milk would just seep into your clothes, a muslin cloth or breast pads. However, with a breast milk collector, you can catch the milk and collect it in a wearable cup.

Like the MilkCatch+, some breast milk collectors use a gentle suction to sit against the breast whilst other designs rely purely on gravity. It’s non-invasive and can simply be worn inside your bra with no cords or noise from a motorised pump.

When your milk does come in, wearing a milk collector can help to manage the excess milk that your body is producing in the early days as your supply adjusts and settles.

3. Do Breast Milk Collectors Increase Milk Supply?

Milk collection cups are used purely for the sake of catching milk leaks and letdown. It will not actively stimulate the breast to produce milk like a breast pump does. Therefore, it cannot be used as a breast pump substitute, especially if you are trying to maintain or increase your breast milk supply.

Breast milk collectors are ideal for use in tandem with feeding at the breast or pumping to prevent breast milk on the other breast from being wasted. Once your nursing or pumping session has finished, you can pour the collected milk into a breast milk storage bag to start building a stash of milk. Creating a milk stash and storing it in the fridge or freezer allows other caregivers to share feeding times and responsibilities.

4. Are They Safe for Everyday Use?

Breast milk collection cups are made using soft silicone. You can check to see if they use BPA-free materials and other safety considerations, such as being REACH-compliant.

You can wear breast milk collection cups throughout the day and empty them when you need to. Although they can be worn at night, you can only wear a milk catcher for up to 3 hours. Any milk that is collected over a longer period is not safe to feed your baby.

Some mums say they prefer to use a milk collector because it is more comfortable to wear against sensitive skin and nipples. The breast milk collector keeps their skin dry and doesn’t chafe against disposable breast pads, protecting their nipples from further irritation in between nursing.

5. How Do I Use a Breast Milk Collector Correctly?

Once you have unpackaged and prepared the milk catcher for the first use, follow these steps to position it correctly:

1. Position the collector so the nipple is centred in the hole.

2. Gently press to create a slight suction or secure fit.

3. Wear it inside your nursing bra.

4. Regularly check for fullness to avoid overflow.

5. Pour milk into a storage bag or bottle as needed.

Once the breast milk collector is sitting comfortably inside your bra, you can wear it during the day and while nursing your baby.

6. Can I Use a Breast Milk Collector with a Breast Pump?

Yes! Breast milk collection cups are a great accessory to use alongside a breast pump. They complement each other because you can wear a milk collection cup on one breast and pump on the other. Both will be collecting milk, except one breast is collecting milk passively without stimulation, and the other is actively stimulated to encourage milk flow and production.

This dual-use approach saves every drop of breast milk and can be particularly handy if you have a strong or heavy letdown. As breast milk collectors don’t stimulate the breast to increase or maintain milk production.

7. How Do I Clean and Sterilise a Breast Milk Collector?

A breast milk collector has very few parts and is made with materials such as silicone that can be easily cleaned and sterilised. To ensure the milk collector is sanitised for use, follow these steps:

1. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.

2. Wash all the parts with hot, soapy water or in the dishwasher.

3. Sterilise the breast milk collector once a day using boiling water or a steam steriliser, particularly for newborns.

4. Check all the parts are in good condition and there are no signs of wear and tear before using.

It is essential for feeding accessories to be thoroughly cleaned and sterilised before use to ensure the milk is safe for your baby to drink and you’re not exposing your baby to any risk.

8. How Long Can I Store Collected Milk?

Safe breast milk storage guidelines are important to follow to protect your baby from breast milk that has gone bad. Milk that has been collected over extended periods shouldn’t be fed to your baby. We discuss this further in our breast milk storage guide.

As well as collecting breast milk, it’s important to consider the transfer of breast milk to a sterile bottle or milk pouch as soon as possible so you can feed with it at a later date. Some breast milk collectors, like Lola & Lykke’s MilkCatch+, have a pouring spout to make decanting breast milk seamless.

Top tip: Label your bottles or breast milk storage bag with the date and time it was expressed so you can feed with it in date order.

9. Are Breast Milk Collectors Suitable for Everyone?

Whilst some nursing mums swear by them, others don’t find a need for them. Some women are happy to use reusable breast pads because these are much thinner than wearing a breast milk catcher.

If you feel engorged, wearing something extra inside your nursing bra may not be comfortable. Wearing a breast milk collector is about personal preference and using breastfeeding accessories that work for you.

10. Do Breast Milk Collectors Have Any Drawbacks?

Let’s be real, breast milk can get messy! As useful as breast milk collectors are, some mums can find them:

• Messy if they overfill

• Not as discreet as nursing pads under tight tops

• Not a direct solution for latching issues or milk supply boosts

However, many mums who use milk collection cups find them a convenient and eco-friendly tool to reduce breast milk from being wasted to build up a milk stash.

In a nutshell

Breast milk collectors make a great breastfeeding accessory to wear during the day to passively collect breast milk. Whilst they’re not a solution for actively pumping or resolving latch issues, you can reduce milk waste and safely store breast milk that would have otherwise soaked into your clothes or a breast pad.

With any breastfeeding accessory, giving it a try first to see if it works for you can help you decide whether to incorporate it into your breastfeeding routine. With every breastfeeding journey being unique to each mother and child, every experience is valid and you will know what feels right.