Welcoming a newborn into your life is a beautiful, albeit overwhelming experience. As a new parent, you may find yourself navigating the world of breastfeeding and expressing milk. Hand expression is a valuable skill that can help you manage your milk supply, relieve discomfort, and provide your baby with precious breast milk. In this blog post, we’ll explore the basics of hand expression and discuss the importance of reaching out to a lactation consultant for additional support.
Please remember that, while learning, hand expression can yield only drops (or completely nothing!) in the first 1-2 days post partum. Like anything, with regular practice, it will become easier!
Hand expression involves using your hands to gently squeeze and compress your breasts to extract milk. This technique can be incredibly beneficial, especially in the early days of breastfeeding when your baby is still learning to latch or if you're experiencing challenges with your milk supply.
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Find a quiet space where you can relax. Sit or recline in a position that feels comfortable. Make sure your hands are clean and that you have a clean container ready to catch the milk.
Gently massage your breasts with your fingers to encourage milk flow. A warm compress can also help stimulate milk let-down.
Place your thumb on top of your areola and your index and middle fingers underneath it, forming a "C" shape. Your fingers should be positioned about an inch from the base of the nipple. Use your areola as a guideline of where to place your fingers.
Using a rhythmic motion, press back in toward your chest while simultaneously squeezing your fingers together. Be gentle; you don’t need to use excessive force. If you’re doing it correctly, milk should start to flow.
After a few minutes, adjust the position of your hands around the areola to ensure you’re expressing from different areas. This can help drain the one, of many, ducts with breastmilk and will stimulate milk production.
Use a clean container to collect the milk. If you’re storing it, follow safe storage guidelines to ensure your milk stays fresh.
While hand expression is a useful skill, it’s completely normal to encounter challenges along the way! If you find yourself struggling with any aspect of breastfeeding or hand expression, don’t hesitate to seek support from me, an international board certified lactation consultant! Here are some signs it might be time to reach out:
A lactation consultant is a trained professional who can provide personalized guidance based on your unique situation. They can help you:
Hand expression is a handy skill that can enhance your breastfeeding experience and provide much-needed flexibility. Remember, you’re not alone on this journey. If you encounter difficulties or have questions, reaching out to a lactation consultant can make a significant difference in your confidence and success. Embrace this new chapter with patience, and trust that with practice and support, you and your baby will thrive!
Lactation consultant -support with breastfeeding. Servicing areas in York region (Markham, Stouffville, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Newmarket, Vaughan, Woodbridge), Durham region (Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa) and Toronto region.
