Breastfeeding basics Breastfeeding basics - South West Health

82 B REASTFEEDING B ASICS
Hand expressing
Hand expressing is more like breastfeeding than
pumping is. When you use a pump, you draw
the milk out of your breast. When you hand
express, you compress your milk reservoirs,
which is what your baby does while breastfeeding.
It often takes some practice to get milk
out at first, so be patient with yourself. Some
women find hand expression better than any
other method. It is also cheapest, because it
requires no special equipment.
Remember that the milk must be gently
squeezed from the back of the milk reservoirs.
Try this method for hand expressing:
• Hold a wide-mouthed clean container under
your nipple. Or place the container on a table
in front of you.
• Position your thumb on
top and first two fingers
under the areola, a few
centimetres behind the
nipple. That’s 1 to 1 1/2
inches.
• Press in straight toward
your chest wall about
1 inch.
E XPRESSING, STORING, AND U SING B REASTMILK 83
• Roll your thumb and fingers forward toward
the areola. Roll as if you were making a finger
print. This action compresses and empties the
milk reservoirs without damaging sensitive
breast tissue.
• Repeat rhythmically and collect the milk.
When the stream of milk
slows, vary the position of
your hand. Rotate around
the areola to reach more
milk ducts. Change hands
and repeat. After 5 to 7
minutes, change breasts.
Massage, stroke, and shake
your breasts. Express again
for 3 to 5 minutes at each
breast. Repeat once more.
The whole procedure can
take about 30
minutes.