Expressing milk
The ability to express breast milk is invaluable in supporting and prolonging breastfeeding, I believe. Of course, it is possible to fully breastfeed a baby for months without expressing a single drop, but it is useful in many ways:
- Premature/sick babies: mum can express milk to give to her baby, even if he is too small to take milk directly from the breast.
- To encourage milk to flow before baby starts to feed, if he is reluctant or impatient, or if the nipples are sore.
- To soften the areola if the breasts are engorged, to enable baby to latch on.
- To relieve engorgement if baby is not doing the job! Mum can take off just enough with the pump in order to feel comfortable again.
- To empty the breast if there is a blocked duct or mastitis and baby is not ready to feed.
- To encourage/build up the milk supply, in addition to baby suckling.
- Milk can be stored in the freezer for emergencies.
- Expressed milk can be used to ‘top up’ in the early evening if the mother’s milk supply is lower then.
- Introduction of a ‘top up’ bottle of breast milk after the 3rd week can reduce the risk of baby refusing a bottle later.
- A whole feed can occasionally be given by someone else other than mum after the 4th week – giving her some well-deserved time-off, or sleep!
- If using the breast-pump to relieve engorgement, it is important to only take off the small amount necessary to make mum comfortable – remember that the more milk is taken off, the more will be made!
Types of Breastpump
There are 3 main, different types of breast-pump:
- hand-held manual
- single electric pump
- double electric pump
How to Express
- Stimulate the let - down reflex before you start to pump if the milk does not flow very easily. Do this by having a warm bath or shower or placing warm flannels over the breast, and then gently massage the breast with the flat of the hand. Expressing from one side whilst feeding from the other is effective as the baby is doing the job of stimulating let-down for you!
- Having sterilised and assembled the pump, place the pump centrally on the breast. Begin to pump gently and increase the amount of suction as far as is comfortable.
- Depress the lever as far as is comfortable; hold for a second or two, release then repeat. Do this gently but quickly at first to stimulate the let down reflex, then as your milk starts to flow slow it down and increase the vacuum/strength of suction
- Continue pumping until the milk flow ceases then swap to the other side. When flow on the second side ceases, return to the first.
- It may be helpful to continue to gently massage the breast towards the nipple throughout, as this could help with let-down.
- The reason why you are expressing will determine how long you carry on for and/or how much milk is expressed.
Important!
Successful expressing depends various factors - being relaxed, comfortable and unhurried are very important. However do be aware that many mums express less from their breast than the baby would take at that time. Most babies feed more quickly and take more volume of milk than the same time spent pumping. Don’t be disheartened if you express less than you’d hoped. With practice you’ll find what works for you.
Storage of Breast milk
Expressed milk can be stored in the refrigerator and used or frozen within 24 hours.
It is possible to add to expressed milk within this time. Do not add freshly expressed milk to chilled milk. Allow the fresh milk to chill first before adding.
Milk can be stored for 3 months in a home freezer.
Using Frozen Breast milk
If the milk is to be used later in the day, simply stand the container of milk at room temperature until defrosted, then at the point of defrosting, stand in the fridge until you wish to use it.
Always use defrosted milk within 24 hours or within an hour if it has been warmed up.
If the frozen milk is needed straight away, stand the container in a warm container of water or in an electric bottle warmer until defrosted thoroughly, then warm up to use in the usual way.
