How to Squeeze Your Breast for Milk?
Hand expressing breast milk is a gentle technique to remove milk from your breasts. It's a useful skill for supplementing breastfeeding, building a milk supply, or relieving engorgement.
Follow these steps for effective and comfortable hand expression:
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Preparation: Find a comfortable, relaxed position in a warm environment. Using a warm compress on your breast beforehand can help soften the tissue and increase milk flow (as noted in the CDC's information on hand expression).
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Positioning: Place your thumb about an inch or two above your nipple and your fingers an inch or two below, forming a “C” shape around the breast tissue. Avoid pinching the nipple itself. (Reference: CDC, and multiple other sources including Northern Health, show this positioning)
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Compression: Gently press your fingers and thumb back towards your chest wall. The key is to compress the breast tissue behind the nipple, not to slide your fingers across the skin (Alberta Health Services advises against this).
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Squeezing and Releasing: Gently squeeze your fingers and thumb together, creating a “milking” motion to express the milk. Release the pressure and repeat this rhythmic pattern: press, compress, release. (This technique is echoed across all referenced sources.)
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Change Position: Change the position of your fingers around the nipple to express milk from different areas of the breast. This helps ensure thorough milk removal. (CDC recommendations)
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Consistency: Continue this process until you've removed the desired amount of milk. Remember to be gentle and patient; forcing milk out can be uncomfortable and potentially harmful.
Benefits of Hand Expression
- Supplement to Pumping: Useful after using a breast pump to remove additional milk.
- Relieving Engorgement: Reduces discomfort from overly full breasts.
- Building Milk Supply: Regular expression can stimulate milk production.
- Early Milk Expression: Helpful for mothers of premature babies to establish a milk supply.
Important Considerations
- Start with a few drops of milk on your nipples to keep them healthy. (Northern Health recommendations)
- If you have any concerns or experience difficulties, consult a lactation consultant or healthcare professional.
