Expressing breast milk by hand

Milk isolation is the most important mechanism triggered after childbirth. Without maternal milk, it is difficult to grow a healthy baby, since not only nutrients are transferred to the mother's milk, but also immunity (antibodies to various diseases).

Sometimes there is a need for decanting milk. Usually it happens when its allocation is just beginning, and you need to get rid of excess milk to avoid mastitis. But there are times when mom can not come on time to feed the baby. In this case, milk can be cooked in advance.

Expressing breast milk by hand should be correct. This is the key to producing enough milk, as well as preventing breast disease. Expressing milk, we use oxytocin reflex and provoke further production of milk.

How do I express breast milk by hand?

Consider the rules of how to express breastmilk by hand.

1. First, it is necessary to help the triggering of the oxytocin reflex. 10 minutes before pumping, you should drink something hot (tea, mors, cow's milk). You can also take a warm shower, put something warm on your chest.
2. Secondly, for easy and effective pumping it is recommended to stay in a relaxed environment, as well as to physically contact the baby or at least see him or think about him. This will stimulate the production of the hormone oxytocin , due to which milk is produced.
3. Thirdly, it is necessary that both the breast and the hands of the woman are clean during the expression. It is completely undesirable to get microbes into milk or into the milk ducts, which can become inflamed. The dishes for expressing must also be sterilized or baked with boiling water.

Expressing breast milk by hand is a skill that comes with experience. However, if possible, contact the doctor directly at the hospital with the request to teach you to express. The sooner you begin to regularly perform this procedure, the better for you and for your baby.

Technique of expressing breast milk by hand

So, the manual expressing of breast milk is technically carried out as follows:

1. Place the thumb of the right hand 2-3 cm above the right nipple, and the remaining fingers under the breast. In this case the position of the fingers of the hand will resemble the letter C. It is necessary to press the thumb and forefinger on the areola, imitating the movement from the inside out. Push the nipple is not worth it, because the milk is not in it, but is distributed throughout the mammary gland. It is necessary, massaging the breast, gently squeeze the milk.
2. After 2-3 minutes of expressing the right breast, go to the left breast. In general, it is necessary to perform a uniform alternation, and also to ensure that all segments of the breast are freed from milk. To do this, you need to move your arms around in a circle while decanting.
3. Remember that expressing breast milk by hand should not be painful. If pain does arise, then you need to change the technique of decantation, since it is wrong.
4. If a minute or two after the start of decanting milk does not appear, you should not stop the process. Milk necessarily will appear. Perhaps, more active use of oxytocin reflex.
5. It is important to avoid excessive friction of the chest with your hands, as well as pressing on the mammary glands. All movements should look like skating.

Expressing milk should take at least 20-30 minutes, with the implementation of the transition from one breast to another. Expressions should be frequent, so that milk production does not decrease.