Hand Expression of Breastmilk
Breastfeeding is a very personal journey, filled with triumphs and challenges. While many mothers may use breast pumps to express milk, learning the skill of hand expression can be empowering and beneficial. Whether you’re managing an oversupply, dealing with engorgement, or simply want a convenient, pump-free way to express milk, hand expression is a valuable tool for every nursing mother.
What is Hand Expression?
Hand expression is the process of using your hands to manually stimulate your breasts to release milk. It’s a technique that has been used for centuries, well before the invention of electric or manual pumps. Hand expression can be particularly helpful in the following situations:
To express colostrum in the first few days after birth
If you’re experiencing engorgement
When you’re trying to increase your milk supply
When you’re separated from your baby and don’t have access to a pump
The Benefits of Hand Expression
While pumps have their place, hand expression offers unique benefits:
Convenience: it requires no equipment, which means you can do it anywhere, at any time
Efficient for Colostrum: Colostrum, the first milk produced after birth, is very dense and comes in small amounts, and hand expression is often more effective than pumping during the early postpartum days. Research also shows that hand expression early in postpartum improves eventual breastfeeding rates at 2 months after birth compared with breast pumping.
Helps Prevent Engorgement: Manually expressing milk can prevent your breasts from becoming overly full, which may help you avoid complications such as clogged milk ducts and mastitis.
Helps Increase Milk Supply: Hand expression after a nursing or pumping session has been found to increase supply
Increase Fat Content in Milk: Fat and energy contents of milk obtained through manual expression were higher than those obtained by a pump according to research.
Gentle on the breasts: hand expression allows you to control the pressure, making it a gentler option for moms with sensitive breasts
How to Hand Express:
1.Prepare
Wash hands and gather a clean cup/container to collect milk
Find a quiet, comfortable space where you can sit and relax.
Start with light breast massage, including the nipple to tell your body that it’s time for your milk to let down.
2.Position Your Hands
Make a “C” shape with your thumb and index finger
With your thumb on top and your index finger on the bottom, place your hand just behind your areola on the breast
3.Start Expressing
Gently pull back towards your chest then compress your breast forward with your thumb and index finger at the same time in a gentle, rhythmic pattern, about 1 compression per second, similar to baby’s suckling
Release compression, but try to keep fingers in one place rather than sliding your fingers on the skin
Milk may not flow immediately, so keep repeating this motion until you see drops or a stream of milk.
4.Rotate and Continue
Once the milk flow slows, reposition your hand and move to another spot.
When you finish with one breast, you can move to the other.
Tips for Success
Practice Makes Perfect: Like any new skill, there is a learning curve. Milk output is going to vary so don’t get discouraged if you are only able to hand express a small amount initially.
Be Gentle: Hand expression should never be painful. Gentle, rhythmic movements will yield more output.
Hand expression is a simple, effective method that all breastfeeding mothers can benefit from. Whether you’re facing breastfeeding challenges or just looking for an alternative to pumping, knowing how to hand express provides greater flexibility and autonomy. With practice, it can become a quick and efficient way to manage your milk supply and ensure your baby has access to your breast milk, even when you’re apart.
If you find that you are struggling with clogged milk ducts or mastitis, we are here to help! Research shows that therapeutic ultrasound has been found to decrease the severity of symptoms and improve milk flow.
Schedule a visit with us here
